Description
National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
Viewing: Tuesday 28th October from 1pm
Auction: Wednesday 29th October from 9am
Location: National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull B92 0EJ
1964 Vespa 50S
Formerly Elizabeth Smolens own personal scooter
Estimate
£4, 000 - £5, 000
Registration No: AMA 14B
Frame No: V5SA1T 1532
MOT: Exempt
Returned to the market after 2 years in a museum
Incredible provenance with full detailed history
Smolens life and work told through this scooter lot
Impressive originality, with original engine V5SA1M 1554
In good running condition with V5C
The Vespa V50 was first produced in 1963 characterised by the dainty appearance and small engine cover flap and with a weight of just 66KG. The V50S was also introduced in 1963 as a 4 geared upgrade to the previous V50 version. With a single cylinder 2 stroke 49cc that developed 1. 5HP and could travel at a maximum speed of 40KMH.
We present here an extraordinary lot consisting of a most original example of this rare scooter plus an astonishing haul of original memorabilia centred around Elizabeth Smolens life and work as a scooter racer and dealership. The scooter itself, a 1963 model was sold through Augsburg Vespa Germany, factory supplied by Piaggio in German specification. It has a factory fitted German regulation Messerschmidt type rear light and the additional ID plate stating 1964. It is assumed Smolen imported it through her contacts at the time as she had already an established dealership at the time. Save the MPH speedometer the scooter is in its original paint and has retained its originality all over with no touch ups as can be seen from the accompanying photographs. The scooter also has the steering lock key and original rare ‘Ulma Jolly’ removable shopping basket.
The story of Elizabeth Smolen is an astonishing tale of an extraordinary woman. Caged behind the Iron Curtain in 1950s Poland against her will she devised an escape plan involving joining the International motorcycle racing team during which on a race in Germany she escaped and lay low for almost a year until she could be extradited to Britain to join her father who had served with the British during WW2. There is much more besides to tell than we can say here but for the scooter world Smolens was highly regarded as the winner of the Scooter Queen award female racer winning the Isle of Man Scooter week 3 years in a row. She also ran Elizabeth Smolen official Vespa dealer for Wirral, Merseyside.
The large history file that accompanies this scooter includes: Smolen dealers paraphernalia, original photographs, news clippings, an original handbook programme from Scooter Week 1969 which details all of the riders etc, original waterslides, key ring and newspaper clippings of Smolens life and work. This is a major opportunity for a serious collector of vintage Vespas and Vespa history. It is in our opinion a magnificent package.
The scooter was purchased from the H and H Vintage Scooter Auction in 2023 for the purpose of repatriation to The Wirral area of Merseyside for a specific museum and book project of Elizabeth Smolen. Namely the Wirral Museum of Transport and the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum. This has now come to a close and the scooter is back on the private market.
** Bidding will take place live at the venue, online via our H&H website, by telephone and commission - T&Cs apply**
Parking and entry into the auction is free for auction attendees with a catalogue, available at the door.
Catalogues can be purchased for £20 (admits 2 people).
