Interview Sud-Gironde: Passionate about the mods movement, Benoit restores Vespa scooters from the 1950s

By Margot Delpech Published onLe Républicain Sud-GirondeSee my news

In Cadaujac (Gironde), Benoit Mallemouche, 38, is a real scooterist. Vespa restorer, he could have been a real 1950s mod… And to understand, all you have to do is open the doors of his “Coty scooters” garage. On a background of soul music, he declares his love for these cars.

News: You restore Vespas that are 70 years old… Do the parts for these old models still exist?

Benoit Mallemouche: “Honestly, yes, it's not complicated to find one. Most of the parts are still made today, and like all mechanics, there are good and bad builds. We manage to redo machines that date from the 50s to the 90s, without any problem. So far, I've never given up, I've always managed to tweak and get the Vespas I've had in my hands going again! »

Why did you specialize in the Vespa?

BM: “It was in 2006… Out of passion. I have a background in the restoration of old vehicles, but it is mainly through the English musical culture with the mods culture. Little by little, seeing this counter-culture rolling around with these machines, I got into it. I did one, then two, then three… Now I have plenty. In fact, I associated my mechanical know-how with the culture. I fell in love with scootering in the broadest sense! Both the mechanics and the counter-culture that goes with it. I integrated an environment interesting by its diversity. I even had a René Coty scooter club association, hence the name of my brand. It's a Bordeaux club, a club of friends, which made it possible to meet up for a good ten years. »

Last night I had the honor of attending @slowfoodtoronto hosted by my friend and Korean Chef hansommchef. Chief Han… https://t.co/pfe7flMsaN

— Joanna Sable Sat Feb 29 22:15:37 +0000 2020

As an average driver, how can you spot a good scooter from a bad one?

BM: “You can't. You have to go through a professional and be guided. We quickly put 4,000 or 5,000 euros in a machine, and get fooled. »

So, you have to push open the doors of this garage… At home, it feels like time has stopped.

BM: “Yes, I froze time. I wanted an old fashioned garage. We are not at Piaggio what (laughs), here, we are taking a leap back into a kind of… organized bazaar. These are small bouclards as we could see in the 50s! »

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