Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
29th Mar, 2023 12:00
1960 Vespa Douglas 152L2
Estimate
£3, 000 - £3, 500
Registration No: 472 UXN
Frame No: 11911290
Engine No: 11911290
CC: 125
MOT: Exempt
Previous restoration
UK registered with V5C
Believed to be in a ‘good running condition’ (atoc)
The first time a Vespa was seen in Great Britain was on the Douglas stand at the 1949 Motor Cycle Show. The scooter was discovered by Douglas managing director Claude McCormack when the struggling company was in the hands of the official receiver. The Vespa presented itself as a solution to the company’s problems and a deal was made with Piaggio to begin production of the Vespa under license in Britain. Douglas under-performed and was several years behind the Italian models until the late 1950s when parity was almost made. The result in today’s international collectors market is that British-built Douglas Vespas have emerged with a special rarity status in recent years.
The Vespa Douglas 152L2 was released in 1959 as Douglas began to source more parts from Piaggio to keep aligned to the changes in scooter style that were coming from Italy. The performance of the 125cc rotary engine was an improvement on the previous 92L2 and the cast handlebars were the signs of a new era in Vespa styling for the 1960s.
This 152L2 presents well in an attractive Vespa Light Blue colour. We are informed she is running well throughout although the speedometer does not work.
