Two up Lamby

Not enough scooters feature on this blog in my mind, perhaps too many in the eyes of others... To rectify here's a nice snap of a happy couple on their Lambretta. A model LD 150 if I'm not mistaken. In the background a typical family car of the forties and fifties, a Vauxhall 10 perhaps? Lovely old coach house too!

A jolly matching couple on a
Lambretta LD 150.

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.

Moto Rumi full range 1958

I'm a fan of Moto Rumi, their machines combine two loves of mine: two stroke twins and quirky engineering.

The Formichino really is a symphony of the unusual. No frame to speak of, a rear casting for the aft of the bike and a vertically split front casting to carry the front end with the engine in the middle holding the two together. The quirkiness even extends to Rumi making their own fasteners with their own pattern of heads for holding the frame members together.

All very unusual but also highly effective. Rumis were a quality product, notably smooth and notably fast. One famous marketing gambit for Rumis in the UK was to balance a 'threepenny bit' (a wide 12 sided coin) on the crankcase and rev the engine, the coin would allegedly stay stock still. The Formichino was even available in production racing trim as the 'Bol d'Or' model commemorating Rumi's victory in that event.

Rumis never sold in great numbers in the UK being very expensive (in part from import tax and in part from just being bloody expensive bikes to make compared to lesser machines) and only available in 125cc size. They were moderately successful however through the rest of Europe and were made under license by Sarolea in Belgium and there was a subsudiary company in Argentina.

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.

Port Talbot Steel Works Corgi

The first solo ride I had on a motorcycle was on a Corgi so I've got something of a soft spot for them. I'm not alone in that, they are fairly desirable nowadays and the cheeky appeal of them is quite widespread it seems. A number were bought as factory / worksite runabouts (though quite why anyone really thought they would be more fit for purpose than a simple bicycle is beyond me...) and some were even used on ships.

This particular Corgi is at the Port Talbot Steel Works (currently Tata Steel) in Wales. The photo is annotated 'New method of transport. AP 1950' on the reverse.

Port Talbot Steel Works Corgi 1950.

Parilla Levriere / Greyhound in Argentina

Roberto in Argentina has gotten in touch with pictures of his newly acquired Parilla Levriere scooter (or Greyhound as the model was known in the UK and States). It looks to be in really sound condition and is a rare and unusual machine.

It is always good to hear from readers of the blog, to see their rides, and better still to help out a fellow enthusiast. Roberto was after a workshop manual so I was able to put him in touch with Philip in France who sent in pictures of his Parilla six months or so ago.  

Parilla Greyhound in Argentina

The 150cc two stroke power plant of the Greyhound. The same
motor as Parilla used in several motorcycles too.

This motor should make the Greyhound fairly spritely.
Parilla later became known for fast two stroke go-kart motors.

The other side of the Greyhound. Like many scooter offerings
from manufacturers more used to making motorcycles the
Greyhound is designed as much as a small-wheeled motorcycle
with bodywork as a fully-blown scooter.

Handlebars and cockpit of the Greyhound.

Parilla Greyhound

The owner of this lovely Parilla Greyhound, Philip, got in touch from France. If anyone can help him out with a copy of a workshop manual please contact me and I'll pass details on.

Update: workshop manual now found but if anyone has a spare glovebox to fit beneath the speedo on the legshields it would be appreciated.

Cushman scooter

A Cushman scooter is a fairly distinctive beast and not too hard to identify. I can't say I'm too familiar with them but a quick trawl through google images seems to suggest that this particular example may be from circa 1947. I'd love to know where the photo was taken, it was bought in the UK so a fair guess is that it was from a British family's album, there's something far Eastern about the background, the location must be somewhere early post-war where both Brits and Americans were to be found, or at least American vehicles. It is certainly not a military model Cushman but perhaps standard models were supplied to the American military as runabouts post war?

Mother, baby and Cushman scooter in
tropical climes.

Douglas Vespa Accessories

Great list of official accessories for your mid to late fifties Douglas Vespa. Scooter accessories really haven't changed much in the last 60 years....

Douglas Vespa accessories page 1.

Douglas Vespa accessories page 2.

Douglas Vespa accessories page 3.

Douglas Vespa accessories page 4.

Douglas Vespa Sidecars

Brochure for the range of sidecars Douglas produced for their Vespas that they made under license. I'm not downright sure of the date of this item, probably mid fifties. If anyone can enlighten please do comment or mail.

Douglas Vespa sidecars brochure front cover.

Douglas Vespa sidecars brochure page 1.

Douglas Vespa sidecars brochure page 2.

Douglas Vespa sidecars brochure rear cover.

Back in Japan

I'm back in Japan again for a wee while for work.

Japan remains petrolhead heaven and customising is as popular as ever. Here's a few snaps of bikes parked around and about that are a bit different from those you see at home...

This is the Honda Solo. Looks like a custom but in fact this is as
it comes fully stock. Uses the Cub 50 motor in diminutive cycle
parts with retro styling. Very nice. At 6ft 2 I'd look like I was riding
a clown bike!

Other side of the Honda Solo.

Kawasaki Z400. The 400cc class is one of the most important in
Japan as there are two riders license classes - up to 400 and above.
 250s are also popular - below 250 and you don't need the
biennial roadworthiness inspection. 

Yamaha SRs remain amongst the most popular retros.

There's a strong custom fashion for a hybrid street tracker / sand
bike / hill climber look Tall suspension, wide tyres, high bars,
long swinging arm and bates headlight.

Two wheels, powered or pedal remain incredibly
popular.

The Honda Cubra is another retro 50cc Cub variant.

Another sand bike hybrid custom.

Custom super scoots are eternally popular.

This one is mild. Some are totally space age.

Honda Zoomer X update on the cult Zoomer. Personally I
preferred the old Zoomer.

Yamaha Vox retro scoot.

This unfortunate Vox has got a parking ticket. Not totally sure
what went wrong with their parking. Bit out of line?

Haynes Museum British Motor Scooter Exhibition pt3

The last set of photos from a visit to the very excellent Haynes Museum's British Motor Scooter Exhibition last summer. The exhibition is ongoing, visit it if you can, the rest of the museum is well worth a nose around too. An impressive cafe as well. Do yourself a favour and get free entry with British Motorcycle Charitable Trust membership.

Adventures in glassfibre. Villiers engined Excelsior Monarch.

Great lines. Scooters often tend to photograph better than bikes...

Further adventures in glassfibre. The Bond. I'm a great fan of
Lawrie Bond's designs. I'm not saying they were all good, they
were certainly innovative and always individual. My first car
was a Bond Equipe so perhaps that explains it.

Pure sixties. Fins and circular faux vents on
the Bond.

Super rare Ambassador scooter rocking it in
pink. Ambassador were the importers for the
German Zundapp Bella scooter. Their own scooter
shared design lineage with the Sun, Dayton and
Panther scooters through the draughtsmen at
Reynolds (the tubing manufacturer). Reynolds
ran a small design house through the fifties. The
influence is particularly noticeable in how many
British scooters have Reynolds 'Earles' style forks
fitted.

Go on, admit it. The Ambassador does look
quite nice.

Original dealer's transfer is a great touch.

The camera loves it.

Oddball Mercury Hermes 50cc scooter. It was
a licensed version of the German 'Meister Solo
Roller'. Unfortunately the Mercury version used
a JLO engine instead of the Sachs unit fitted to
the Meister. The JLO was fitted with a cord start
like a lawn mower and was woefully unreliable.
The warranty claims crippled Mercury and they
went on to sue JLO for £20,000.

Pull start. Not a terrible idea but an awkward
angle and a fine way to strain your back. Plus,
Why? Kick starts are actually pretty good...

View across the hall with Dayton Albatross to the fore.

BSA Dandy meets Dunkley Whippet. 

And Dunkley Whippet meets Dayton Flamenco.