DAZ CAREY’S Accessorisation addiction

THE GENESIS OF GLEAM

Love it or loathe it, accessorisation of our classic scooters is as old as the machines themselves; whether just a practical rack for Signora Ferrari to carry her drogheria back from the shops or right up to the over-the-top, very eye-catching Mod-style scooters where you can’t actually see much of the original machine beneath it all.

But where did this love affair (well, for some, at least) begin and how did we go from practical to excessive? No one can be sure for certain but after seeking advice from folk in the know, the general consensus is that from the beginnings of production, racks providing the ability to carry various items were added; along with this were a mirror or two for increased visibility and screens for better weather/insect protection. This fashion for adorning your pride and joy created a whole industry with many different companies producing as much ‘stuff’ as possible to hook, bolt and screw on to the machines.

This is clearly evident from early photos of the emerging Vespa and Lambretta club scene of the 1950s onwards. Both marques can be seen with luggage carriers front and rear, plus big flyscreens,