Fancy a Soviet-era copy of a GS? If you do, check out this 1960s Vjatka WP150 scooter on eBay.
Vjatka was a brand of Russian scooter between 1956 and 1979, but the WP-150 (also known as the VP-150) was built from the mid-1950s through to 1966. The model here dates from 1961.
Why the halt in 1966? Well, after a decent run, production was halted after complaints from Piaggio. But with a fairly lengthy run (around 300,000 in total), scooters obviously survive, not least because of their sturdy construction.
After all, they were made of thicker steel than the Vespa to cope with the poor-quality Russian roads. They also had slightly thicker tyres and an adjustable headlamp. But otherwise, not a massive difference, badging aside.
This is one of the survivors. Although survivor probably does it a disservice. This one is described as being in ‘collector’s condition’, with a total mileage of just 4,968km. You would struggle to find out in this condition in a hurry.
Its condition is down to both the surviving model and the word done on it to bring it back to its best. But the original ‘nitrocellulose varnish’ and the two-tone coffee-cherry finish are still present. boosted by some ‘perfectly done’ paint corrections.
According to the seller, ‘everything from the smallest screws, washers and details is authentic’. The factory tyres are also in ‘excellent condition’, as are the cotton braided cables, seat cover and the entire electrical system.
It also comes with the original Russian certificate of leaving the factory along with the instruction manual in Russian.
The full breakdown of work is on the listing, along with more photos and details. If you want something just a little different, this one is up for £6,500, but you can make a cheaper offer.
Find out more at the eBay website
