March 2021. How it began.

I hadn't bought a scooter in about 15 years, and in that time continued to trimmed the collection. Spring of 2021 - pandemic-related? maybe - I was a little twitchy, I guess. I saw a Contessa come up on fb Marketplace in Dec... but then it went away. Then one apeared on Craigslist in CT. A couple of the locals talked it up. I waited, and I missed it. It disappeared. But then it came back on Craiglist... even closer, now in MA. (By now it's Jan 2021). Ok! The guy who bought it (James, a firefigher and really nice guy) has a couple of Triumph motorcycles, among other things. He decided this was too much project. I bought it. I've been lucky and I've been shrewd in varying amounts in my scooter-buying life. Here I was neither lucky nor shrewd; not a great scoot. Missing a lot, and some serious rust and other corrosion.

Then the one on facebook turned up again. I sent the seller (Lewis) a ping every once in a while. It took a month and a half, but he responded. Got it. Not shrewd, but luckier... way better scoot. All but complete, in ok shape. (Among the things I know are missing: key, but that might only be a column lock; battery compartment cover. Headlamp lens has holes -- BB shots! neighbor kids, Lewis thought -- and some general corrosion. Given to Lewis' dad by a neighbor as collateral on some Model T work. The neighbor was a Vietnam vet, owned this thing when he was in the service and stationed in NJ. (Last time it was registered was 1964.) Might make me the third owner.

Between the two of them, might be able to make a working and complete scoot. (Oh, and with the help of Tom and Anna, of course! Thankful for their encouragement, parts, and wisdom, as ever!) Getting rusted steel out of aluminum... that's the first step.

I love the smell of aged fuel-tank residue. Reminds me of all the negelected machines I've worked on... VSOG. (Very Special Old Gas.)