Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 11:00
1963 GS160 Official Quadrophenia Album Scooter
Personally commissioned by Pete Townshend
Registration No: PAG 620A
Frame No: VSB1T0043744
MOT: Exempt
This is the actual scooter used to launch the digitally remastered Quadrophenia album in 2011
Personally specified by Pete Townshend in collaboration with Liam Gallagher
This is the scooter used in the book and at the official launch
Extensive official and rare memorabilia collection comes with the lot
Running well and has V5C for use on the road
The cult status of The Who’s rock opera film Quadrophenia needs no introduction and its appeal grows ever stronger as the years go by. A magical infusion of culture with its distinctive working class 60s mod appeal. The original album was released in 1973 as a rock opera with the film coming out later in 1978. As the years go by the allure of the film and music seems to get stronger. The album was re-released in 2011 also supported by a special tour. The promotion of the release was centred around the original album and was personally overseen by Pete Townsend himself. The images of the book for the re-launch were planned to contain many images of an absolute replica of the original ’Chad’ GS160 that appeared on the original album cover and within the book that came with the album.
Pete Townshend commissioned Dave Wyburn of the Quadrophenia museum in Gloucester to do the rebuild and he was given access to the private original pictures from 1973 of the original scooter being customised at The Who’s Ramport studio in Thessaly Road. This is all documented in Dave Wyburn’s notes which are supplied with this lot. Dave Wyburn had a suitable GS160 in the museum which had a PX engine in it. By all accounts Pete Townshend specified that the engine had to be an SS180 engine because that was what was used in the scooter back in 1973 so one was sought for the machine and this is what it has in it now VSC1M005491. The scooter is absolutely faithful to the original with the correct original RAF St. Christopher badge and all of the spotlights are original Miller, Stadium, Lucas and Radyot as per the original. The physical launch went on for 8 days in Carnaby Street and during this time a number of offers were made to buy the scooter (it was insured for £15000 for the scooter alone at the time) and it was sold shortly after. The scooter was offered back to Dave Wyburn some years later and he bought it back for the museum. Our vendor was able to buy it in 2020.
The venue chosen for the physical launch was the relatively new ‘Pretty Green’ clothing store with its flagship boutique on Carnaby Street owned and run by Pete's friend Liam Gallagher of Oasis. Pretty Green produced some special limited edition items to coincide with this to also be launched at the same time. This included a strictly limited luxury parka and a number of shop displays.
In addition to this special scooter a huge collection of official memorabilia associated with the album release and the launch in Pretty Green all come with this lot. Many of these items are strictly unique and unrepeatable and include:
The official Pretty Green Quadrophenia parka which retailed at £500. Number 1 out of a limited edition of 100. It has never been worn.
The official book of the album re-launch featuring the scooter with hand-written message by Dave Wyburn
One of only 2 statuettes made by ‘Remy’ of Chad for the launch
An original framed poster for the digitally remastered album
Correct sergeant stripes and official Pretty Green patch
The static display board from the launch
The original 1973 Quadrophenia double vinyl 12 inch album with the book inside
An original 1973 framed poster of the original album (used in the Pretty Green shop display)
A replica pair of Chad shoes
Pretty Green scooter kit bag
Some original Pretty Green shop display paisley background and paper shop wall paper.
Dave Wyburn’s personal notes including delivery times to the shop launch etc.
This scooter and its part in contemporary popular and culture together with the provenance that accompanies it should be of major interest to collectors of rock memorabilia and historical scooters.
