Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
30th Oct, 2024 11:00
1973 Vespa 50 Pedalo (Pedali)
Rare scooter
Registration No: OBC 84M
Frame No: V5A1T 817048
MOT: Exempt
An opportunity acquire a very rare Vespa
Original UK registered Vespa
Fully running on original V5A2M engine and used regularly
Magazine featured example
V5C present
The Vespa Pedali V5A1T was created in 1971 with the French market in mind. The regulations there meant that pedals were required to allow the mopeds into the bicycle category and thus required no license plate. The 49. 77cc 2 stroke engine with a standard kickstart also incorporated a special chain mechanism with pedals that drove the unique rear hub and propelled the scooter forward in this fashion. It could also be used with the kickstart as a standard scooter. Much else was like a standard Vespa 50 with coil spring and hydraulic shock absorber on both wheels. The other noticeable difference was that the special frame was narrowed at the footboards to allow pedalling and a cover attached to protect the chain sprocket mechanism at the front. The rear hub was also a completely unique design also to allow a sprocket to catch the rear drive of the chain. It was the only Vespa built with theses unique features and these models are extremely collectible amongst serious Vespa collectors. Some models were sold new in Italy and Great Britain but this was a very rare occurrence. This model is also unique in that it is the only Vespa in more modern times to have never been fitted with a brake light due to the bicycle category it fell into. It is unfortunate however that in many cases the owners simply disconnected the pedals and threw them away.
This Vespa 50 Pedalo has been owned by our vendor for 13 years and is still used regularly to ride around town. It has been upgraded to 90cc and comes with spare crank, carburettor and the original 50cc piston and barrel. It has original spare wheel holder and spare wheel. Runs on 9 ins wheels. Top speed now is approx 40MPH. He tells us the previous owner was a lady from Rugby who purchased it in 1990. It was featured in Scooter Scene magazine approx 5 years ago. It has been hand painted red. The chassis we are told is solid frame and the engine is the original. Close examination of the photographs show it as complete with the rare pedal workings all in place. The scooter is supplied with the original operation and maintenance manual, lots of MOT certificates and several old tax discs from over the years. This most rare and sought after Vespa model seldom comes onto the market.
