“You just never know what we’ll have in” is a common expression here at the shop- and for good reason. From historic 1940’s models to shiny 2021’s, metric to American, a mere 50cc’s to a sizeable 2300, pristine perfection to a real piece of … okay, you get the point. We do it all! Even for our shop this was the first of its kind though. This 75-pound, 2.8 horsepower 2-stroke Valmobile scooter is from the 1950’s-1960’s era, a fact that is highlighted by its Robin’s egg blue paint.
It was designed to be portable and folds up like a suitcase to easily fit in a plane, boat, car, or trailer. Requiring no tools, you simply lift the seat, pull out the front end and lock it into place with a pin to begin assembling. From there, the handlebars slide into a post with a tang that ensures they won’t move. A thoughtful detail is the tail/brake light which folds in during transportation to ensure it isn’t broken. It features an extremely simple suspension system, consisting of just rubber bands and leather straps. Scroll down the photos to watch it [literally] unfold.
It was acquired during a house clean-out where it was found stored in a closet, mistaken for a generator, and almost thrown into the trash! Under its generator guise, it made its way home with its new owner completely for free, a story that made our entire staff green with envy. Why can’t we ever accidentally take home what we think is a free generator just to find out that while its designed with a luggage-like look, it is actually secretly housing a little scooter inside? Some people really do just seem to have all the luck, am I right?!
Although it sat for many years in that closet before finding a new home, the owner was able get it running and rode it for a period of time to car shows and the like. Eventually, it was parked and sat for another ~7 years before being brought to us.
As always, our first goal was to get it running. We began by cleaning the carburetor and repairing a few wires that were chewed through. Similar to the Bridgestone, this scooter features a rotary valve 2-stroke which has fallen by the wayside but makes for an extremely reliable ride.
Once running, we replaced the tube in the front tire, noting the split rims which aren’t seen very often these days. Instead of the rim being 1 solid piece, split rims are comprised of 2 separate pieces that are held together with one giant snap ring. Although once popular and found on many semi-trucks, split rims were eventually outlawed in by the National Transportation Safety Board in the 1960’s due to their inherently dangerous nature. If they exploded while under pressure, the offshooting debris could severely injure or even kill those nearby. That might be difficult to envision on tires this small, but particularly with larger applications, the risk is very real.
We also adjusted the rear brake as it needed tightened up a bit and replaced fuel line. After some general cleaning, we gave it a test ride and gave it the green light to return home.
We have no doubt that the owner will enjoy getting to ride this uncommon piece once again and bet they’re sure to catch the attention of anyone they pass by!
