A vespa is a pretty rugged machine... but still, I think the result here is a foregone conclusion. Where is the bazooka Vespa when you need one?
May 2012 Archives
I believe this is translated as, "And it was me that wanted to drop you!"
Continue reading If You Can Read This Shirt....
I'm a sucker for scooter memorabilia. Specifically, I'm into old dealer items... like signs, brochures, manuals, tools, and obscure stuff like that. Over the years, I've gotten a bit of a collection. However, sometimes you just come across something that is essentially unique. That is what I have here with this Fuji Rabbit dealer sign. I've seen a lot of different Vespa and Lambretta signs, but never one for a Rabbit. Not many Rabbits were sold in the US, and I can't imagine many dealers bothered to get a sign.
This one is a cut above. The sign is essentially in as-new condition. It is perfect. The color is bright, and there is no flaw in it anywhere. It still has a "made in Japan" stamp on one of the sides. It is a double sided sign, and both sides are the same. The lettering and logo are made from cut pieces of plastic that are about the same width as the white part of the sign. This thing is fantastic.
Of course, I don't have a Fuji Rabbit scooter... which is kind of a shame. Anyone know of a Rabbit collector that is dying to have a rare piece for their garage?
What a cool sidecar rig. This photo was taken at Vespa World Days 2010 by Hugojcardoso.
Kristi, a friend of the site, sent us this great photo of her, a cute doggie, and a nice red Allstate Vespa. Thanks Kristi! She's involved with www.Americanpinups.tv, which you may want to check out. The photographer was Rene Soliz with Soliz Images photography. Rene did a great job, don't you think!
This is a nice action shot at a gymkhana event in the 50's. I'm guessing by the stylish dress of the spectators that this was photographed in Italy. The scooter is a GS150 VS3 or VS4. It really is amazing to me that there was a time that gentlemen would go out to an event like this in a suit and tie. La Dolce Vita indeed!
This is a really rare photo of a MV Agusta scooter. MV Agusta were a manufacturer of some pretty serious racing motorcycles up to the late 70's. Though they made many street-going motorcycles, I guess even they could not resist dipping their toe into the huge scooter market in Italy after the war. They made a few different scooters starting around 1949. This appears to be an early 50's model called the "Ovunque." Not the sexiest name... It had a 125 two stroke motor with a three speed gearbox. Power was around 5 hp. This scooter was made with either one, or two exhausts. This is the one exhaust model. Note the accessory child seat located just in front of where the kid is sitting. Safety was a top priority!
This Lambretta used to be owned by my friend Scott V. He sold it probably 10 years ago. I have no idea who owns it now, or who took this photo. It still looks pretty much how it did when Scott was riding it around San Francisco. This was originally a police scooter in New Jersey. There were just a handful of these D.L.'s sold in the U.S., and from what I can tell they were only sold to municipalities.
The May 1960 issue of Roller-Mobil-Kleinwagen. On the cover is German version of the GS 150. You can see some of the details, like the trim on the cowls, the Denfeld seat, the Hella horn, and the Hella "swan-neck" tail light.
Sure, Ewan and Charley famously filmed their ride around the globe. And some crazy guys from my area rode mopeds from San Francisco to the Tierra Del Fuego. But really, what is a rally that isn't held at 17,000 feet? This really seems like the sort of thing that begins with a dare after a long session at the local pub.
I can't wait to see if anyone takes them up on it.