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Wooden Vespa By Carlos Alberto Is A Work Of Art
These days scooters are not restricted to simply being modes of transportation. They are flouted as a style/lifestyle statement. This particular trend is best represented by the legendary Vespa. The Italian wasp has almost single handedly defined the scooter segment. The now iconic Vespa scooter styling has inspired many a different manufacturers as well as artists. It is the work of one such artist that we have featured here today.
Carlos Alberto, a 43 year old carpenter residing in Lousada, Portugal is also passionate about two wheelers. One fine day in 2001 he hit upon the idea of employing his talent with woodcraft to build motorcycles. After facing some initial hurdles, which included convincing people to take his idea seriously Alberto managed to first all-wooden bike.
The images you see in the gallery below are of the beautiful wooden incarnation of a classic Vespa, crafted by Carlos Alberto.
The wooden Vespa is named Daniela. That's also the name of Alberto's daughter. It's only fitting since the wooden Vespa was designed for his daughter and it is she who travels on it most.
Alberto was initiated into the wooden Vespa project by a friend from the Vespa Club Freamunde, who insisted the second wooden two wheeler made by him be a Wasp.
Alberto was set begin work on the Vespa by 2004, but received a setback due to a serious accident. After recovering he finally began work in mid-2007.
Finally, on July 12, 2008 Alberto, with aid from his wife and daughter, completed crafting the beautiful, one of a kind wooden Vespa.
As you can observe, the body has different shades of wood. This results from the use of several different types of wood that were glued together to achieve the final finish.
Rosewood, ebony, beech, satin-wood, jatoba, tacula, efi zelia, panga, sucupira, sycamore are the different varieties of wood used in the Vespa.
Alberto says, Vespa's monocoque chassis design presented some challenges. The other difficulties faced were in finding the exact engine from the original model. Crafting the scooter's handlebars, accessories and rear wheels were the other difficult parts.
Complete Spec Sheet
Single cylinder, 2 -stroke gasoline
Displacement 123.67 cc ( 54 x 54mm )
Air cooled
Maximum power 5 HP @ 4850 rpm
Dell Power carburetor - Orto MA 19C
Ignition flywheel I.E.S. Piaggio 36 W. to 4850 rpm
Start by pedal
Direct transmission, 3 speeds
Frame & Suspension
Table Monoblock self-supporting wooden
Mono front arm with hydraulic shock absorber and spring
Coaxial , diameter 37.5 mm , 144mm travel
Rear Mono - shock absorber attached to the motor , stroke 84mm
Brakes & Tyres
Front 126mm drum diameter
Rear 126mm drum diameter
Front 3.50 x 8 "
Rear 3.50 x 8 "
Fuel Tank - 5L
Weight 107 kg (20 kg more than the original)
Seat height 760mm
Wheelbase 1170 mm ( +40 mm than the original model )
Length 1715 mm ( +60 mm to the original model )
Maximum speed 75km / h
Images courtesy of:carpintariacarlosalberto
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