Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 11:00
1959 Vespa Six Day Racer (Sei Giorni) Evocation
Replica to the original 1953 specification
Registration No: 758 XWB
Frame No: VS5T0057985
MOT: Exempt
Mammoth creation by Retrospective Scooters, London
Specialised parts by Lino Brotto, Italian restoration master and fabricator for The Piaggio Museum
Now fully running with a V5C present
The Vespa Six Day Racers Sei Giorni were the special Piaggio works race machines for the endurance race tournaments held back in the 1940's and early 1950's by all the big Italian two wheel manufacturers to prove that their bikes and scooters were tough and reliable. They would race them around Italy over the rough road surfaces (just after the war) and they they competed with Lambretta, but also Ducati, MV Augusta, Laverda, Moto Guzzi, Bianchi and many more. These six day racers were not any ordinary factory specification Vespa but an improved modified, strengthened and tuned scooter to combat the semi off road conditions, reliability being the key and make it to the end of that days course.
This machine is an evocation of the very last version of the Sei Giorni with the 10" wheels and twin spare wheels. Retrospective Scooters of London used the chassis of a notably 1959 Douglas Vespa as the basis of the project. They actually flew to Italy to meet Lino Brotto, the famous restorer of many of the rarest Vespa models for the Piaggio factory museum. Lino provided many specialist parts needed to make a six-day racer replica and also showed them the skills required to replicate the bodywork of this special racer. The London Scooter Bodyshop undertook the mammoth task of moulding and metal fabrication of the frame into the specialist racer body shape adding special extra strength plates and leg shield shaping. Specialist parts include the long-range tank, map holder, spare wheel holders, shortened handlebars, side stand, seamless mudguard, strengthened swing arm, engine panel catches and holder, air intake and bash plates.
The engine is a GS150 with an extra curved kickstart, special flywheel and cylinder cowling. We are informed that the scooter starts and runs 'like new' and is the ultimate copy of this iconic Vespa Factory racer of which there were only around 100 made. This was made with the intention to be an exact copy using the official book as a guide and copying it down to the last detail.
