Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
15th November, 2023 11:00
1967 Vespa (Douglas) SS90 Super Sprint
Original including paint and with provenance
Estimate
£20, 000 - £30, 000
Registration No: HUM 77E
Frame No: V9SS1T4876
Engine No: V9SS1M4883
CC: 90
MOT: Exempt
Surely, an unrepeatable star opportunity acquire a completely original SS90.
Imported into the UK by Vespa Douglas and sold new to the Marsden of Leeds dealership on 5th May, 1967
Fully running on original unmolested engine
Correct numbers
Old blue V5 and current V5C present
By the early 1960s, Vespa Douglas in Great Britain were importing Italian-built Vespas as opposed to continuing to manufacture them. The Vespa SS90 made between 1965 and 1971 is much sought after by collectors due to its extreme rarity and only just over 5000 were produced. Most of these have been lost to the ravages of time and overly ambitious riders. The SS90 was developed as a sporting variant of the small-frame Vespas. With a dummy fuel tank, a centrally located spare wheel, narrower more aerodynamic fairing and a pad on top of the dummy tank riders could crouch low behind the headlight to reduce drag at higher speeds. The two-stroke 88. 5cc engine used in the Super Sprint is a single-cylinder, air-cooled unit with a bore/ stroke of 47/ 51mm and an 8. 7:1 compression ratio. It?s paired with a 4-speed gearbox, the dry weight is 77kg, and the top speed is 93km/ h (58mph).
This SS90 is in exceptional original untouched condition with a traceable only 3 former keepers. Registered new on May 5th, 1967, by Marsdens of Hyde Park Corner, Leeds, a Vespa dealership that closed in the 1970s. We can see from the old blue V5 that it came into the possession of second owner, a Mark Forkin of Leeds, and was sold by him to collector Paul Bland on the 19th February, 1995, who used it on the road (There are some MOTs and tax discs from 1996 to 2003). Our vendor acquired the scooter on the 8th June, 2003, and has never used it.
This is a desirable early Mk2 version with the inset glass effect badges on the dummy tank. The Marsdens dealer transfer and Douglas Duke of Edinburgh transfers are still visible as is the running in transfer. The fuel mix sticker on the fuel flap is also still present and in remarkable condition. With original keys present on the original fob we note all over the scooter pure originality. Never dismantled, as far as we could see, the engine started easily after 10 years of non-use, as can be seen on the accompanying video and everything appears to function.
We had previously set a world record price for an SS90 at our scooter auction in April 2022. This machine is far purer. Everything from the exhaust, seat (in excellent condition with original stitching), speedometer, wheels and original dummy tank pad are as supplied and untouched. She has the original lights, plastic tool compartment, foot runners and is original down to the wheel nuts. All the original keys are present, including original Neiman steering lock cover with pin. The original number plate displays ?HUM 77E?, a number it would be hard to beat when being associated with a Vespa! It is seldom that this most rare and sought-after Vespa model with detailed history and exceptional originality comes around. We expect significant interest in it.
