The last scooter I owned was my beloved 1979 Vespa PX125. I brought this back in the early 90s and eventually modified it with a wide tyre conversion kit, reed valve and big carb. During this time I also owned a Vespa T5 Classic, which was also modified with a wide tyre conversion, but this was stolen unfortunately in 2001, and I parted with the PX a few years later.
I had distractions with various other vehicles in the form of cars, motorbikes and campervans since that time, but I guess it was only a matter of time before I got the longing for another classic scooter again. This time I decided that it would be a Lambretta due to the fact they tend to be a little rarer, as they stopped making them in the late 70s / early 80s, many years before the Vespa’s, whose last scooter came off the production line in 2017.
I briefly owned a similar scooter some years back, and always regretted selling it, but it was a case of last in, first out at the time. I never really rode it as it was brought as a project bike, so I guess I had unfinished business from that perspective.
So for a period of time I casually browsed Facebook marketplace, and as you do the algorithm feeds you more and more of the same. There were a lot of Lambretta’s that had been completely overhauled with a nut and bolt resto. This certainly wasn’t what I was after. I wanted something with original paintwork and all of the patina that comes with that. I saw one of two, but I was on the fence at the time.
Then this 1966 Lambretta Li 125 came along just a few miles away.
We arranged to view later that evening, and after a chat with the owner, who told me he brought the scooter off of a friend that had it in his barbers shop for a few years before selling to him, the deal was made.
This bike was spotted on Facebook Marketplace for the princely sum of £150.
This was an offer I couldn’t refuse. My thought process is a classic, and it needed saving! But the Corona Virus lock down happened a day after i agreed to collect the bike. However, confident I would be able to save the bike from the scrap heap, i committed to purchase to show my commitment. Long story short, it took a further week to get the bike collected.
Trying to piece the project together…
So then the next process was to establish exactly what parts were there and usable, and what parts i needed to order.
It soon became apparent that the engine, wiring loom, tyres were all shot. So this meant it was going to be a propper ground up restoration. The wheels have been stripped back to just the alloys and these have been sent away to be powder coated. Bearings and seals have been ordered, along with a new set of Bridgestone performance tyres.
I am rapidly refurbishing the parts I can can do myself with elbow grease, patience, metal polish and paint. I have sourced an engine, wiring loom and a few other parts, along with an exhaust. I don’t thing I am going to be selling this bike short term, but I have to be mindfull that this is probably never going to be worth a fortune. At least i know when its finished, it will be lacking a lot of the issues bikes of this age tend to have due to the fact it will have had a complete overhaul.
It’s very strange to find ourselves in this position after feeling that Wolfgang Junior was the be all and end all of campervans. We know that the T3 camper is one of the most versatile and coveted campers to have been produced in Wolfsburg, Germany under the VW marque. It’s internal space has never been matched by any van with its footprint (old or new), because of its rear engine format and 1970 design.
Our T3 was made in 1990 but there was another offering at the time by VW as a factory conversion that offered more space. This was based on the LT chassis and the coachwork was still undertaken by the very well respected partner for all of the factory VW installs of the time, Westfalia. More in depth information can be found at the following link…
Both mandy and I would be lying if we said we hadn’t cast the occasional eye over an LT Florida, more out of curiosity than anything. We have been impressed with what we have seen with the layout and quality, still apparent after 30 years or more. But it seemed like owning one was for the future, and in no way anytime soon.
First view of Wolfgang Senior :0
That said, and by a total fluke, we ended up collecting a part for a friend from the owner of this Florida. We saw it, showed some interest, and It turned out they were just about to put the van on the market. This was just one of those “right place right time” kind of moments. After some discussion regarding our ability to finance such an investment, we decided that this opportunity was too good to miss.
3.1 meters high
I know from experience how much it costs to take a van that has been neglected for years, and turn it into something that has the reliability of the original vehicle. Wolfgang Jnr has had the best attention to make sure it is just about as reliable as it ever could be. The thought of taking on another project that required that degree of time and investment wasn’t something I wanted to get involved with. It’s the unknown, and when your hit with a failed holiday because the gearbox has packed up, and a £2,000+ bill for a repair, that always takes longer than it should, you tend to err on the negative side of things!
So no way would consider buying a van that would effectively put me back into a situation where I was chasing my tail financially, just to have a vehicle that we would one day believe in. On reflection I feel that those negative experiences have given me a reality check.
But if we go back to the chance meeting, this Florida had been owned by the previous owner for 2 years. He is a trained mechanic by trade, has a love for VW vehicles, and has left no stone unturned in making sure this van is one of the best and most reliable examples of a VW Westfalia, Florida.
Truly awesome! We are very lucky!
Fully rebuilt engine including brand new cylinder head in 2017 (including new injector nozzles and new turbo CHRA)
• Factory Power steering • Opening front quarter lights • Full engine undertray • Westfalia Towbar • Double glazed windows • Factory fitted curtains and blinds • ISRI captains high back front seats • Electric windows • Full roof rack with ladder access at the rear • 4 Berth Camper (2 double beds) (can be 5berth with a bunk in the cab if needed) • On board LPG tank for cooker and hot water boiler (around £5 to fill from empty) • Truma Gas hot water boiler, supplies hot water to kitchen tap and shower • Wet/ shower room with hot shower (absolute blessing when camping!!) • Eberspacher diesel night heater with timer • 2 ring burner • Vitrifrigo compressor fridge • 100L fresh water tank on board • 70L waste water tank • Porta-potti in bathroom (included in the sale) • Large wardrobe with shelves • Under seat storage • 220ah leisure battery and solar set up for off-grid camping (CTEK equipment used) • 2 lap belts in rear and there is included in the sale a 3-point belt which was fitted to the centre bench for use with a child’s seat (I removed due to only being my partner and I using the van) • Fiamma F45 wind out awning • Large roof top box for extra space and storage included with the sale of the van • Included in sale is pair of LHD headlights as well • Cab window thermal screens included with sale • Original VW owners manuals (in German) also Have translated version in english Below Details the work carried out in my ownership Mechanical work • Complete Engine Rebuild carried out by AW Engineering including: Complete Brand-new cylinder head, brand new pistons and rings, brand new Bearings throughout, Re-Bored and Honed, new oil pump, new water pump all new Gaskets (See receipt for proof) • All 6x Injectors Rebuilt with Brand New Monark Nozzles and Pressures set correctly (155Bar) • Turbocharger Brand new Mellett Core Fitted and turbo charger rebuilt • Brand new radiator fitted • Replacement Header tank fitted • Brand new WAHLER 87degrees thermostat fitted • Brand new Mocal oil cooler fitted • Brand new exhaust silencer and tailpipe fitted with new hardware as well • Brand new clutch kit fitted at the same time as Engine Rebuild • Brand new viscous fan unit fitted • Timing belt, fuel pump belt and water pump all brand new at time of engine re-install • New Starter battery 2017 • New alternator voltage regulator All Above work carried out Winter 2017 • Complete new brake pipes throughout out in copper • Brand New master cylinder • Brand new rear brake drums and brake shoes • Brand new rear wheel cylinders • Front brakes fully stripped and rebuilt with a new TRW fitting kit • Brand new Monroe LT35 Heavy duty front springs fitted • Brand new Monroe Van-Magnum shock absorbers fitted all round • New tie rod bushes and hardware • Wheeliams 3” lift kit fitted • Full wheel alignment after suspension lift fitted (including camber and castor) • All oils in axle and gearbox changed for brand new correct grade oil • All gear linkage bushes replaced with genuine VW items (precise gear change now) • VDO gauges installed to monitor oil temperature, oil pressure and boost pressure while driving and a VDO rev counter fitted as well • Turbo downpipe heat wrapped for engine bay heat management • 4x New rear leaf spring buffers Wheels and Tyres • Full Set of 5x (4+1 spare) Ford custom 15” Steel wheels fitted with correct wheel bolts • Full set of brand new Hankook Dynapro All Terrain Tyres fitted 235/75R15 Camper Conversion Repairs and Improvements • Onboard Propane tank removed and stripped and checked and then repainted correct colour with red identifying stripe and pressure tested • Stainless steel LPG valve cover with key lock as well • All waste pipe replaced with fresh re-enforced pipe • Brand new Whale Elite kitchen tap installed • Both sink and kitchen hob removed and resealed to worktop • Original Westfalia fridge removed and replaced with a vitrifrigo C50i Compressor fridge for better refrigerating and increased battery life • Brand new 150Watt solar panel mounted on the roof • 2x Brand new 110Ah Leisure batteries fitted • CTEK Smartpass120 fitted alongside a CTEK D250sa to give a complete leisure/ off grid power system
CTEC solar battery charger
• New fuse panel fitted to allow fitment of blade fuses as compared to original ceramic fuses • Original Eberspacher D2L re-commissioned with all new fuel pipe, new heater ducting pipe externally and internally of the van and new exhaust pipe • Truma 10L water heater removed and checked for condition and thoroughly cleaned prior to re-installation all working correctly (red hot for showering!) • New Micro Heki Skylight fitted in the bathroom due to the original westfalia item being previously damaged • Bathroom sink removed to make more room for showering • Brand new Reich shower fitted for better showers than the original westfalia item
New Shower
• Brand new Oceanair dry roll toilet roll holder fitted in the bathroom • Brand new Hansgrohe shower hose • Brand new TRUMA boiler external vent fitted to roof • Brand new 12v and USB sockets fitted using high quality CBE parts • Genuine VW westfalia control panel repaired with 2x new fuse holders fitted • All interior lights converted from fluorescent tubes to LED lighting • Shelving made for the wardrobe to utilize the space the best • 2x brand new fire extinguisher installed • 1x fire blanket installed • Front bench seat latches repaired to aid correct operation • Carpet matting custom fitted one piece in the rear of the camper • Bathroom/ wetroom completely re-sealed • Brand new fresh water tank drain valve installed • Internal blinds fitted to roof side windows with flyscreen’s and blind • New clips on seating area blind External body • All front panels replaced with genuine VW panels in winter 2018/2019 and front end resprayed original white with all new decals (common issue on LT’s around windscreen, all rot cut out and repaired with new metal. • New right-hand side cab step welded in place, all rot removed • New windscreen seal fitted after respraying (original VW windscreen re-fitted) • Wheeliams Spare wheel carrier fabricated, and powder coated to fit the rear door using the hinges and allow proper use of the door and rear window • Brand new Hella Rear fog light fitted into rear bumper and re-wired to original VW switch located on the dash • Pressed aluminium plates fitted • Roof mounted 150Watt solar panel fitted • Dubflecta wind deflectors fitted • Pressed aluminium number plates fitted showing correct UK markings • RHD Genuine VW headlights fitted for UK roads (Also have LHD headlights, included in sale with van) • Brand new genuine VW front indicators fitted all with new seals • 2x new 3 jet windscreen washers all with new pipe work behind dash • Headlights all re-wired to now run through individual relays and fuses for optimum lighting when driving at night • Fiamma F45i wind out awning fitted (winding handle clips internally inside the camper out the way) • New pair of wing mirror lenses to replace old units • New rear mud flaps and brackets Cab Area • VDO gauges mounted in dashboard to monitor engine performance while running (RPM, oil temperature, oil pressure and boost pressure) • Sony CDX-G1200 CD player fitted (can run from starter battery or leisure battery when parked up) • Blaupunkt windscreen mounted amplified aerial fitted • Additional 12volt and USB sockets fitted in dashboard all powered from leisure battery • All dash lighting replaced with new brighter bulbs • Drinks holders mounted to dash • Lower dash section fitted from facelift model LT Florida • Heater matrix removed and back flushed, and heater box rebuilt with new insulation for better heating during those winter months • Heater rheostat replaced and modified to use an Audi 80 unit rather than the problematic LT rheostat, so now has all working fan speeds
My enjoyment of vehicles started with the motorbike. The freedom I found in the mid to late 1980 was something that has stayed with me to this very day. I had a whole raft of learner legal bikes throughout this period, flitting from a trail bike to road bikes and back again. The vast majority were Yamaha, and almost every one was stripped to the bare frame, painted and rebuilt so that I had an understanding of the bike, and confidence in its reliability. My dream bike at the time was the RDLC350, but sadly it was out of reach due to my lack of commitment to progress my licence from provisional to full.
Yamaha RDLC350
In anticipation of passing my test i purchased a RD250 DX which was the earlier air cooled version of the LC (liquid cooled)
RD 250 DX in Kenny Roberts colours. Brought this bike on a whim and had to sell it because i hadn’t passed my test 🙁
However, I eventually moved more towards cars, and this became the transport distraction for the next five years or so.
In the 1990s I found an interest in classic scooters, and it was at this point I decided to take my full bike test. After passing this I was content with scooters, but passing my test would stand me in good stead for my most recent purchase years later.
I saw the bike on ebay and the looks, quality of build and the price made me want the it instantly.
The bike was paid for and couriered from Scotland to the Midlands in less than a week. After few small running issues that turned out to be timing related, its an absolute dream to ride. It pulls like a train and it encompases all that I love about two wheeled transport.
My love of two stroke bikes and scooters started back in the mid 1980s. My first bike was a second hand Yamaha RS100, which i promptly stripped down and did a frame up restoration. This was the first in a long list of two stroke vehicles that followed a similar path during my ownership from the mid to the late 80s. These included Yamaha DT100, DTLC, DT175MX, RD125, RD250DX Suzuki TS125 etc, etc. In the early 90s I got the bug for scooters. My first was a Vespa PX125 none runner, brought from a neighbor which i sold on to a friend a couple of years later, Following this was a second PX, then a Vespa T5.
So the late 90s became the stage for one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful scooters ever mass produced, the 180cc two stroke Gillera Runner FXR. In standard guise they were pretty rapid, but with the heavy baffled exhaust system which choked the engine, and the standard carburetor and air box fitted from factory, it didn’t quite reach its full potential. Owners soon became wise to the tuning capability, and the market was there to offer a verity of third party options for those that wanted to get the best performance from the new kid on the block.
This era was short lived and the ever tighter EU standards for emissions ruled out large two stoke bikes as being too polluting. The only way the manufacturers could meet regulations for all but the smallest of scooters was to move to a 4 stroke engine. This offered less potential BHP, and were substantially heavier. So the old power to weight ratio for the later scooters was reversed. This is why the sweet spot for anybody wanting a scooter or motorbike with the best power to weight was towards the end of the 1990s.
The FXR was the earliest incarnation of the 180cc Runner which came with a rear drum brake. The later scooters were branded ‘SP’ and came with a rear disk brake. As you can see mine is one of the earlier scooters, and unless I am mistaken was the rarer of the two, as production moved on to the SP after a relatively short period of time. I do not see this as a negative as the disk brake was really just a marketing gimmick, and offered no better stopping power.
I never owned or ridden one of these scooter before, but I knew of their reputation for being the scooter to have in its day. However, the reputation was enough for me to make the decision to buy when one came up at the right price in 2011. It may come as no surprise after reading the above, that the scooter i purchased came in kit form….
Incomplete project 2011
If I am honest I had always had a project ticking away in the background so its condition was not concerning in the slightest. This particular scoot was an import from Gurnsey so it needed registering before i could ride it in the UK. I tackled it in fits and starts. Here you can see the scooter in my garage the first time i started it. Looking at the paperwork this could quite possibly have been the first time the scoot had ran in ten years. I didn’t realize just how smokey it was until i opened the garage door. Oops! It sure smelt nice though 🙂
I was in no great rush to get the scooter road worthy, which was just as well really as i didn’t finally get it on the road until 2014. I must admit, from a performance point of view, once registered, moted and insured it exceeded all expectation. What a blast!
