Meep Meep! The 252cc Vespa inspired by Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote

A tribute to the most inept hunting machine in history and his failings to ever catch his prey, Fastius Tastius.

As a child in the 1970s, you had two options on a Saturday morning when it came to television. Either the safe offering on BBC1, where it got a bit as exciting as swapping a worn-out Monopoly game for a set of glued-together Subbuteo players. The alternative option on ITV was three hours of complete and utter chaos, as custard pies and buckets of water rained down on the young audience. Sandwiched in between were film clips and short five-minute cartoons, one of which was for a wolf-like long-legged character going by the name of Wile E Coyote.

His sole obsession was to catch the character known as Road Runner, a small, wiry bird with lightning-fast speed, whom he intended to make his next meal. No one can forget the wide array of ACME-branded items that he used, such as rocket-propelled roller skates and human-sized catapults. Every time they would fail, with him ending up at the bottom of a ravine, often with a huge boulder landing on his head shortly afterward. The hopeless actions of Mr Coyote have earned him a cult following over the years, and that following has now spread into the world of scooter customisation.

Surprise

Heiko Ruepp has had a somewhat sporadic relationship with scooters, owning one at 18 only to leave the scene for a while. He entered it once again in 2010 and has stayed loyal to the Vespa ever since. A few years back, he acquired a Vespa Sprint Veloce and, fast approaching fifty years of age, took it upon himself to restore it in 2021. Replacing the 150cc engine with a much more powerful Malossi 221cc conversion, this allowed Heiko to travel longer distances with ease. This was a good thing, as that’s his idea of scootering: travelling thousands of miles to rallies and events, some up to 2,000 km at a time.

All that took a toll on the paintwork, which Heiko admits might not have been to the highest standard when he did it. Looking a bit tired and battle-torn last year, the decision was made to repaint it. Having toured with Michael Zocher and Michael Zinnen from Aachen on several occasions, they, too, couldn’t help but notice the ageing paintwork and suggested repainting it. Michael Zocker had an idea for a custom design, having done several in the past and featured in this magazine. Michael Zinnen from Z-design needs no introduction, and many of his paint creations have graced these pages.

Heiko agreed and allowed them to do it, but when asked what the theme should be, he answered: “Surprise me; you have complete creative freedom—just do whatever you feel like.” While that was music to their ears, being left to their own devices, it was perhaps slightly dangerous, as they are known to be outlandish at times with their creations. Regardless, that was the decision Heiko made, and the next time he would see it was when it was complete; whatever the result, he would have to stick with it.

Apetitius giganteus

Now, in the hands of Mr Zocher and Mr Zinnen, they began to draw up a design suited to the Vespa bodywork’s large size. Having produced machines in the past with a film background, such as those from Batman, and other cartoon-related titles like The Simpsons, it soon became obvious in which direction this was going. With plenty of options to choose from, the scope was narrowed to the Road Runner cartoon series so that the creative aspect could begin.

First up was the base colour, which didn’t pan out the way it normally does. While the majority of it is a burnt orange colour, it has been interwoven with a carbon-fibre finish. It has been done in a way that makes it look as if the orange paint has begun peeling off, exposing a carbon-fibre shell underneath. It’s clever stuff; not only that it could be thought of in the first place, but the level of Michael Zinnen’s skill to pull it off and make you believe in the effect.

Next up were the cartoon characters, and it turned into a chase around the machine’s bodywork. Road Runner, as always, happily smiling while Mr Coyote paints an angry, frustrated hunter that you soon tell never wins. Cartoon characters are perhaps easier to paint than real-life images, but they have to be done to the highest degree to look like the originals; otherwise, they don’t look right. There was never any question that Michael wouldn’t be able to pull it off, and it looks like it’s come straight out of the Looney Tunes studios, where it was originally produced; it’s that good.

Rocket powered

One thing is certain: despite the custom paintwork, Heiko will still use this as his touring machine; nothing will change in that respect. Therefore, it needs an engine powerful enough for his requirements. There are no ACME rocket-powered roller skates or anything like that, but perhaps equally as powerful is the kit he has chosen. The base is a Quattrini M244 cylinder, combined with a UT crankshaft that has a 62mm stroke, which gives the engine a whopping 252cc.

Add in the usual necessities, such as a 30mm Dellorto carburettor, a Vape ignition, and a little bit of porting work by Heiko, and there you have it. Kicking out 30+bhp and plenty of torque to match, it’s not an out and out BHP monster, but a more powerful and reliable fast-road set-up. Perhaps if Mr Coyote had chosen such a set-up, then he might have caught his prey after all. The front disc and suspension have also been upgraded to increase stopping power, as has the rear shocker, ensuring a comfortable ride and a stable machine under hard acceleration.

Reaction

With the goal of finishing the machine in time for the MadMoselle custom show 2026, the pressure was on. Given the attention to detail both of them bring to their builds, it would run close to the wire, but thankfully, they did it just in time. All that remained was Heiko’s approval, even though there would be little he could do about it if he didn’t like it. There was never really any doubt, and he was predictably more than happy with the result. I would be too, because not only are they instantly recognisable characters, but the level at which it’s been done is again a testament to the work Michael Zocher and Michael Zinnen produce.

Heiko has been clocking up the miles on the machine ever since it was finished, like he said he would, and it attracts attention wherever it goes. Sometimes these types of designs are regarded as easy to produce because you are working off an original design. As already mentioned, though, unless you get the detail as accurate as the original, then they don’t look right, and that’s the hard part. Add in the paint-peel carbon-effect look, and it adds a unique touch. This is definitely up there as one of my favourites for 2026, and just for the record, it won best Vespa at Madmoselle.

Words: Stuart Owen
Images: Heiko Ruepp

“It has been done in a way that makes it look as if the orange paint has begun peeling off, exposing a carbon-fibre shell underneath. It’s clever stuff; not only that it could be thought of in the first place, but the level of Michael Zinnen’s skill to pull it off and make you believe in the effect.”

Man & Machine

Scooter club & town: Vespagioia.

Name of scooter: Road Runner, it was a surprise from my friends Michael and Michael (Rusty Hangar & Z-Design).

Scooter model: Sprint Veloce (German model) 1974.

Kit: Quattrini M244

Crank: UT 62/127mm

Port timings: 175 exhaust with 119 transfer.

Carb: Dellorto PHBH 30

Exhaust: Canonised (by my friend Jochen)

Clutch: SIP Ultrastrong

Gearbox: PX Lusso 200 with short 4th

Ignition: Vape static

Paintwork & murals by: Michael Zocher & Michael Zinnen

Powder coating by: Michael Zocher

Seat by: Nisa.

Brakes: Front – SIP brake calliper, with Crimaz brake pump.

Suspension: SIP Performance rear shock and BGM Sport front damper.

Frame modifications: Forks from the Vespa PK XL2, modified by my friend Martin (10zollliebe).

Thanks to: My friends Michael & Michae,l and also to Martin and Jochen for their support.