For those who missed the exhibition of British scooters at the Coventry Transport Museum a couple of years ago, the good news is that a similar exhibition is about to open in Somerset.
Scootermania in Coventry featured the British-made scooters collected by enthusiast Robin Spalding. Following the closure of that exhibition, Robin subsequently sold the whole lot so he could concentrate on a new avenue of scooter collecting. The British Motorcycle Charitable Trust purchased the collection and an exhibition featuring machines from it will open soon at the Haynes Motor Museum near Sparkford in Somerset.
The Haynes Motor Museum following it’s £6 million extension, renovation and refurbishment project in 2014.
British Classics
While most people associate scooters with the stylish post war offerings from Italy, there have been British made scooters since the early 1900s. ‘Born’, the forthcoming exhibition at Haynes will highlight the birth of the scooter through to the 60s when what was originally conceived as a ‘step through’, small wheeled motorcycle for ladies and casual users, became the chosen transport for the then fashionable Mods.
Largely forgotten in the 30s and 40s the motor scooter went on to resurrect the devastated Italian manufacturing industry post-WW2. By the time the austere 1950s were being played out the Scooter had gained ‘chic’ status all over Europe.
The British re-entry into the market has often been described as “too little, too late” but the models produced were nevertheless important. These included machines from established motorcycle manufacturers like Velocette, BSA and Triumph, as well as others from bicycle companies and others in the manufacturing industry.
The exhibition at Haynes opens on 21 May 2016 and while it won’t include all of the scooters in the collection, it will last for a number of years with model rotation likely.
Sun Wasp
DKR scooter made in Wolverhampton
The Haynes museum is also home to the only known example of the Harper Scootamobile, designed by Spike Rhiando and produced by the Exeter Aircraft Company.
Douglas Vespa, made in Bristol.
Discounts on museum entry tickets apply to groups of 15 or more, and will apply to all arriving on two-wheels over the opening weekend of 21-22 May 2016.
For those who missed the exhibition of British scooters at the Coventry Transport Museum a couple of years ago, the good news is that a similar exhibition is about to open in Somerset.
Scootermania in Coventry featured the British-made scooters collected by enthusiast Robin Spalding. Following the closure of that exhibition, Robin subsequently sold the whole lot so he could concentrate on a new avenue of scooter collecting. The British Motorcycle Charitable Trust purchased the collection and an exhibition featuring machines from it will open soon at the Haynes Motor Museum near Sparkford in Somerset.
British Classics
While most people associate scooters with the stylish post war offerings from Italy, there have been British made scooters since the early 1900s. ‘Born’, the forthcoming exhibition at Haynes will highlight the birth of the scooter through to the 60s when what was originally conceived as a ‘step through’, small wheeled motorcycle for ladies and casual users, became the chosen transport for the then fashionable Mods.
Largely forgotten in the 30s and 40s the motor scooter went on to resurrect the devastated Italian manufacturing industry post-WW2. By the time the austere 1950s were being played out the Scooter had gained ‘chic’ status all over Europe.
The British re-entry into the market has often been described as “too little, too late” but the models produced were nevertheless important. These included machines from established motorcycle manufacturers like Velocette, BSA and Triumph, as well as others from bicycle companies and others in the manufacturing industry.
The exhibition at Haynes opens on 21 May 2016 and while it won’t include all of the scooters in the collection, it will last for a number of years with model rotation likely.
The Haynes museum is also home to the only known example of the Harper Scootamobile, designed by Spike Rhiando and produced by the Exeter Aircraft Company.
Discounts on museum entry tickets apply to groups of 15 or more, and will apply to all arriving on two-wheels over the opening weekend of 21-22 May 2016.
DKR looks very Soviet block.. Think it was.. The sun is like a bella. The vespa Douglas looks like my favourite vespa of all time the Faro Bossa ( probably spelt wrong ). / The French made vespa with mudguard headlight. I’ve always thought one with a P200E engine and 10″ wheels would be great. Add a front disk brake and now your cooking with gas.. As they say ..the lines of the Faro Bossa take some beating just like the Douglas made vespa.. Were they made in Bristol ? Must be loads of them in sheds. People’s garages. Under the stairs. In the Attic. Well a few ..