Reviving a Legend: Indonesia’s Hand-Built Vespa 98 ‘Serie 0’ Classic Scooter Replica

Handcrafted Heritage - Riding down a quiet street on a bright morning, the soft hum of a classic scooter can make anyone turn their head. There’s a sense of nostalgia in its rhythm — a connection to simpler times when machines were built with heart, not haste. Among the timeless icons of that golden era, the Vespa 98 “Serie 0” stands as a legend. It wasn’t just Piaggio’s first scooter back in 1946; it was the spark that ignited a global culture of freedom and style on two wheels.

Replica of Vespa 98 'Serie 0' built handmade by an Indonesian builder named Hery Widodo. (Cautions: This is just a replica, not a real one.) (Picture from: MotoPlus)

Yet for most enthusiasts today, owning an original Vespa 98 is little more than a dream. With its extreme rarity and astonishing auction prices reaching well over $195,000, this piece of history sits far beyond the reach of ordinary collectors.😢 But where scarcity builds walls, creativity often opens doors — and that’s exactly what happened in a quiet town in Central Java, Indonesia.😉

The original world's oldest Vespa scooter with a chassis number 1003 had sold at the price of $195K back in 2017. (Picture from: Catawiki)

There, a talented craftsman named Hery Widodo decided that legends shouldn’t remain locked away in glass cases. Since 2018, Hery has been handcrafting faithful replicas of the Vespa 98 “Serie 0”, giving enthusiasts a chance to feel the same charm and spirit that defined Piaggio’s earliest masterpiece. His work isn’t about imitation — it’s about preserving a legacy through craftsmanship, patience, and respect for design.

Replica of Vespa 98 'Serie 0' uses a 2-stroke 150cc engine taken of the Indonesian commonly used Vespa Super 150 scooter model of 1970s. (Picture from: MotoPlus)

Hery’s journey began long before his workshop became known among Vespa lovers. Back in 2012, out of pure curiosity and admiration, he started shaping a Vespa 98 replica entirely from photographs he found online. Without access to authentic dimensions, he relied on instinct and skill — until one day, Vespa Italia themselves reached out and sent him the original manual and measurements. That moment changed everything. It validated his work and gave him the precision he needed to recreate the scooter exactly as it was in the 1940s.

Starting with the production of the iconic Vespa 98 scooter in 1946, and for more than 70 years of the Piaggio's journey in the world's automotive industry, it turns out has produced hundreds of models. (Picture from: iNews)

In his workshop at Jl. Raya Jatilawang No. 32, Banyumas, Purwokerto, Central Java – 53174, Hery continues to build each scooter by hand from scratch, forging metal like an old-world artisan. The process begins with 1.2 mm galvanized steel plates for the body and 1.5 mm plates for the chassis — shaped and joined without the aid of large industrial machinery. Every curve, from the front fender to the handlebar, is manually crafted. The seat, wrapped in genuine leather, pays homage to the elegance of the original design, while the gear stick and switches are positioned just like those on the 1946 model, giving riders the full vintage experience. 

While the authentic Vespa 98 costs as much as a luxury car, Hery’s handmade replica is priced at around $4,891 (approximately Rp 71 million). (Picture from: MotoPlus)

Underneath the timeless silhouette, though, beats a slightly stronger heart. Instead of the original 98cc engine, Hery’s replica uses a 150cc engine from the 1970s Vespa Super 150, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. It’s a clever adaptation that balances authenticity with practicality — ensuring that the scooter not only looks like history, but also rides like it belongs in the present day.

Replica of Vespa 98 'Serie 0' parts such the horns and electrical switches, they are made as similar as possible to the original but with a slightly larger size and placed on the right handlebar. (Picture from: MotoPlus)

The design, however, remains loyal to its roots. Hery deliberately leaves parts of the body unpainted, exposing the raw steel that tells its own story. Only select areas — such as the front fender, body sides, and sections near the fuel cap — receive a touch of paint. Some might find the slightly protruding engine less tidy than the factory original, but that imperfection adds character; it reminds us that this isn’t a product of mass production, but a handmade labor of love. 

On some parts of the body of Vespa 98 'Serie 0' replica looks unpainted, aka left to look like cans and only the front fender, the right-left of the bodies, a little parts that near the fuel-cap and under the seat were painted. (Picture from: MotoPlus)

And then comes the best part — the accessibility. While the authentic Vespa 98 costs as much as a luxury car, Hery’s handmade replica is priced at around $4,891 (approximately Rp 71 million). It’s not a small amount, but it transforms a distant dream into something attainable for enthusiasts who appreciate craftsmanship over exclusivity.

In a world racing toward electric vehicles and futuristic designs, Hery Widodo’s handcrafted Vespa 98 “Serie 0” replicas offer a gentle pause — a reminder of where beauty in motion truly began. They capture the warmth of history in metal form, merging Italian heritage with Indonesian artistry. And perhaps that’s the real magic here: through hands that refuse to forget the past, the spirit of the Vespa 98 keeps rolling forward, alive and gleaming in the sunlight of today’s world.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA [08102020] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORPLUS-ONLINE | MOTORCUSTOM ]

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