Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C90 1957

A cute photo from old Japan of a Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon scooter. Research suggests it is a C90 model from 1957. Silver Pigeons were imported to the States by catalogue retailer Montgomery Ward who sold them under their 'Riverside' brand, the same brand as used for their entire range of imported motorcycles and scooters regardless of country of origin or manufacturer.

Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C90.

1962 Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C230

I really struggled to identify this Japanese scoot and in the end can only find one likeness via a Japanese vintage vehicle dealer. It seems to be a C230 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Model C230 with a 210cc engine. The brand name Mitsubishi used for their scooter division was Silver Pigeon.

Smartly turned out gent in front of a MHI scooter.

And an identical Silver Pigeon C230 spotted at
Takeey's Auto Shop in Hamamatsu, Japan. Have a
browse through their site, there's some interesting
machinery on sale.

Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C-25

A rare image of an early Mitsubishi scooter. The Silver Pigeon range was originally based on the American Salsbury scooter, The story goes that a Japanese engineer at General Motors had brought one back from America, Mitsubishi saw the potential in it and asked him to join them on making a copy of it. As the first Silver Pigeon prototype was made in 1946 and went in to production in 1947 and that the first Silver Pigeon more resembled the pre-war Salisburys it was likely that a pre-war model was copied.

The Silver Pigeon range developed: initially closely following Salsbury designs but soon forging their own path. And by the late fifties Silver Pigeons were being exported to the States and sold by Montgomery Ward.

The Silver Pigeon in this image is a C-25 which was current from 1950 to 1952 and still resembles a Salsbury. As a point of interest note the trafficators (turn signals) mounted on the handlebars.

Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon C-25 scooter.

Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon

A sweet photo from 60s Japan, a couple of ladies with their Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon scooter. Generally only associated with cars here in Europe, Mitsubishi are a giant conglomerate making everything from popcorn to supertankers taking in financial services and real estate in between. The Silver Pigeon range of scooters was in production from 1946 to 1963.

Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon scooter.