1962 Vespa GS160 For Sale by Auction

National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
26th March 2025 - 9:00AM

1962 Vespa GS160
Understood upgraded to SS180 spec. by 'Grimsteads'

Estimate
£5, 000 - £7, 000

Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: VSB1T (SRU 3281)
MOT: Exempt

Believed sold new by Grimsteads on 21st May 1962, the day of GS160 release in Great Britain.
Understood to have been upgraded by Eddie Grimstead to SS180 specification
Absolute time warp
Original green continuation logbook

Launched in 1962 the GS160 was quite a departure from the earlier 150 version and marked the beginning of the new era of the more powerful and many would say more reliable Vespas. With a larger cylinder and clutch the engine case being altered and with spare wheel mounted on the left side of the body. Almost every internal engine part was changed and a different air box and carburettor were used. This necessitated even wider engine cowls than the 150 and the most pleasing and the widest (yet still rounded) ‘behind’ ever seen on a Vespa. And it helped credibility being the fastest standard Italian scooter on the road for a short period in 1962 before Lambretta could launch their TV200 in 1963 (it was reportedly faster than the TV175). Overall, with a fairly blistering performance of 8. 9HP and with rounded design features that hid the spare wheel and internalised the luggage, the GS160 is regarded by many as the pinnacle best combination of Vespa performance and style. Eddie A. Grimstead & Son Ltd was a London scooter dealer with 2 premises in the east of the city. By the time of the GS160 release in 1962 scooter sales to older buyers were beginning to wane. 'Grimsteads' specialised in the sale of GS Vespas with the emphasis on tuning and the fitting of attractive accessories. It became a Mecca for younger scooter buyers and was in tune with the Mod culture of the time.

In current ownership for over 15 years, we are advised the vendor traced this 1962 Vespa's history through the details on the original continuation logbook, deducing it was sold new by Eddy Grimstead’s dealership on May 21st, 1962, the day the GS160 was released in Great Britain. It was said to have been upgraded at 'Grimsteads' to SS180 specification, featuring a 180 top end, an SS180 leg shield badge and the original ‘Grimstead Hurricane’ speedometer. The scooter was re-framed onto a Mk2 Service Replacement Chassis (SRU), but the engine remains the original GS160 engine, number 549 off the production line. The continuation logbook, which lists the engine size as 180, picks up from when the last London owner moved to Norwich. The scooter comes with tax discs from its last years on the road, the last one dated 1977. The engine is free and turning, although it hasn’t been started since 1977. Adorned in Grimstead style, the scooter features original accessories from the era, including an Ulma horncast, wheel discs, leg shield trim, Florida bars and Vigano Jag lights. It also has two spare wheels and Miller spotlights mounted on the front Ulma crash bars. With unique patina, the scooter’s originality is remarkable, making it a true time warp piece of Mod history.

This scooter is adorned with a full array of period accessories all from the era and probably sold with the scooter including Ulma horncast, wheel discs, leg shield trim and Florida bars and other accessories including Vigano Jag lights and rear rack and a Metalplast GS mudflap. In keeping with the mod tradition the scooter has 2 spare wheels. And the front Ulma crash bars have Miller spotlights mounted. We note that the headset was highly polished at some point and that the side panels had been chromed and the resulting patina that time has allowed quite simply cannot be replicated.