Scooter stars of the swinging ’60s Italian manufacturers Vespa and Lambretta may have birthed the post-war scooter revolution, but plenty of other countries got in on the craze...
TRIUMPH TIGRESS/ BSA SUNBEAM Britain’s Triumph was a bit late to the European scooter party, launching its demurely named Tigress in 1959. Utilising a four-stroke 250cc twin engine, it was never going to be as light or nimble as two-stroke singlecylinder rivals, prompting a smaller 175cc single to be offered sometime later. The Tigress and its BSA Sunbeam sister were well engineered and very
Words Jay Ward
SOME HISTORY: IN 1944, MANY Italian cities were in a mess from combat and heavy Allied bombing, but the end of World War Two was nearly in sight. Italian industrialist Enrico Piaggio had got a head start on thinking of innovative ideas to move his family’s aircraft business in Pisa and Pontedera into the next era. Piaggio understood that badly damaged roads would stifle war-torn Italy’s recovery, and this inspired him to think about the next generation of personal transportation. Taking cues from the compact folding motorscooters used by American (Cushman Model 53 Airborne) and British (Excelsior Welbike) paratroopers, Enrico commissioned ideas for the Moto Piaggio – or MP for short. After a few failed designs, the
sixth iteration of the scooter penned by aeronautical engineer Corradino D’Ascanio was a winner, packed with aviation-influenced innovation. The MP6 put the engine down low behind the seat, opening up space for the rider to step through the bodywork rather than straddling the machine. The stamped-metal chassis was monocoque, with the drivetrain, suspension and ’bars all being bolted onto the main unit for ease of build. Upon seeing the concept’s striking profile, with its narrow centre and bulbous tail, Piaggio exclaimed: “Sembra una vespa!” (“It looks like a wasp!”). By 1946, the production version was ready: the Vespa 98, an instant success that reimagined cheap, two-wheeled transportation. Milan-based scaffolding specialist
Ferdinando Innocenti followed suit with his Lambretta Model M, which was slightly less sophisticated than the Vespa but provided a solid start. By 1950, the LC125 had arrived, with the ‘L’ standing for Luxury. It featured fully enclosed side panels and leg shields, just like the Vespa. Youngsters were ready for mobility and independence on a budget, and the Italian scooters delivered in style with ever-increasing sales. The New York Times called them: “A completely Italian product, such as we have not seen since the Roman chariot.” Of course, other makers around the world took notice of this huge success, and reckoned they should join in. Here are five of the more memorable attempts to challenge Italy in the golden scooter era between 1955-65.
stylish, with good handling and performance. They even offered an optional electric starter. But between their late arrival in the scooter market and subsequent delivery issues, a mere 25,000 Tigresses and Sunbeams were sold; it all ended in 1964 for the 250 models and 1965 for the 175.
FUJI RABBIT SUPERFLOW As with Vespa, Fuji was making Rabbit scooters right after the war, first offering the S1 based on the American Powell Streamline. Over time, 25 variants were introduced, and by 1957 US imports had begun, although they were never officially sold in the UK. The most popular Rabbits were the curvaceous S301 and S401 Superflow, 125cc and 150cc respectively, but the big daddy was the 200cc S601. Fujis are superb Japanese quality with high sophistication; by 1962, some even had electric start, automatic transmission, turn signals and air suspension.
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Magneto
RM SOTHEBY’S / BONHAMS / YESTERDAYS
Starter
