Everyone presumes the Italians were the begetters of the ‘mods’ favourite transport the motor scooter, but the
British beat them to the concept by several decades with the Skootamota.

The design of the bike with its engine mounted over the rear wheel, small wheels and a flat floor for the rider’s
feet is similar to the Vespas and Lambrettas first developed and produced from the late 1940s and early 1950s.
The Skootamota was designed by Granville Bradshaw and built in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, by motorcycle manufacturer ABC. It has no gearbox or clutch and is capable of a mean 15mph.

The British- made ABC Skootamota was the first scooter which allowed the rider to sit rather than stand.

The Skootamota was undoubtedly one of the best products to emerge from the first generation of scooters.
It was described as very comfortable to ride, very easy to manage, and requiring no mechanical knowledge at all
to own. It has a top speed of 15 mph.

It was marketed mainly as a ladies bike and was also used on country estates. Production ceased in 1922
and the scooter concept was put in abeyance until rediscovered by the Italians after the Second World War.

This exhibit is only one of five known to exist in the world and was found in Adelaide with its motor fitted to a lawn mower and luckily its frame nearby in the loft of a shed. It is owned by Mike Drewer.

Lotus MK VI l Lotus Eleven l Lotus Elite l Amilcar l Coventry Climax l Zeta l Scootamota l Ransomes MG6