1969 Vespa SS90 Evocation
Evocation of Elizabeth Smolen's IOM SS90 Racer

Registration No: RFG 305G
Frame No: V5A1T 259237
MOT: Exempt

• Faithful replica produced for a museum and book project
• Built by leading experts Supersprint Restorations
• Registered with V5C

The Vespa SS90 made between 1965 and 1971 is a much sought after model 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.

We present here a well thought out evocation of the famous black SS90 owned by Elizabeth Smolen as seen at several of the 1960s Isle of Man Scooter Week races and which can be found in many archives of this event. Pictures of her on the scooter are supplied. The story of Elizabeth Smolen is an astonishing tale of an extraordinary woman. A Pole caged behind the Iron Curtain in the 1950s, she joined the International motorcycle racing team and escaped, eventually coming to Britain. Smolen was highly regarded as the winner of the Scooter Queen award winning the Isle of Man Scooter week 3 years in a row. She also ran Elizabeth Smolen official Vespa dealer of Wirral, Merseyside.

Our vendor commissioned Mark Hodges of Supersprint Restorations, arguably the leading engineers on the SS90 in the UK, to build this evocation. Using a correct period 1969 Vespa 50 small frame and matching engine it was built to Primavera 125 spec also using a 19mm carburettor and SS90 style FACO exhaust. The body was adapted using specialist SS90 knowledge to replicate the design and parts of an SS90. It has 12v Mallosi Vespower ignition. It was painted by Auto Care Exclusive of Ellesmere Port to the colours of Smolen’s SS90 and is supplied with the correct decals. Also supplied is a matching period Davida yellow helmet in superb condition. Our vendor tells us it was very quick when tested before display at the Wirral Museum of Transport and the Williamson Art Gallery.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Diamond
info@vintagescooters.co.uk
07768 313001