| 1959 ALLSTATE CRUISAIRE |
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My introduction to two-wheelers was a Vespa 125 imported by Sears under their Allstate brand. A sweater and penny loafers were the proper attire for a cross-town jaunt. |
| 1959 ALLSTATE CRUISAIRE |
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My introduction to two-wheelers was a Vespa 125 imported by Sears under their Allstate brand. A sweater and penny loafers were the proper attire for a cross-town jaunt. |
| 1962 VESPA GS |
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| The Vespa GS was top of the line in 1962. At $500 new, it made10.5 HP at 6500 RPM from 160 cc, and had a cruising speed of 65 mph. It also had amazingly fast acceleration. I never found out how fast the GS would go because before it was broken in, a dog ran under the front wheel. This accident pointed out the two main deficiencies of scooters: small wheels and bodywork. | |
| 1964 MOBYLETTE |
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I saw this moped in the window of a Frankfort Avenue hardware store the summer before going to Philadelphia for architecture school. I knew it would be perfect for commuting between the Center City apartment and the Penn campus. It led a hard life on the city streets and served well for 2 years until the R27 came along. It was stolen once, but the thief must have been disappointed because it was recovered the next day. |
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