Buy Stirling Moss’s two-wheel drive – his paddock scooter!

Following his retirement announcement at the age of 81, Silverstone Auctions is offering the chance to acquire a Piaggio Vespa scooter with just one name in the log book: Sir Stirling Moss.

Used as his paddock bike at race meetings and on the streets around his London home, the W-registration Piaggio ET4 Vespa in silver grey has under 2000 miles on the clock. Sold with a V5 in Sir Stirling’s name, the scooter is currently on a SORN (off road) and in a private collection. Expected to achieve between £6,000 and £8,000 at auction, it’s a rare opportunity to start the engine on a vehicle belonging to a racing legend!

If two wheels isn’t enough then a three-wheel Messerschmitt KR200 Kabrio is also being offered at Silverstone Auctions’ 23 July sale. Estimated to be one of only 158 Messerschmitt models on the road today* from the 6000 imported into Britain during the 1950s, the quirky ‘bubble cars’ achieve speeds up to 65 mph and return around 80 miles to the gallon, becoming popular during the Suez canal crisis and resulting petrol shortages.

A true convertible with a canvas top, rather than a later conversion by owners avoiding expensive repairs to the Messerschmitt’s transparent Perspex roofs, the Messerschmitt was originally supplied in yellow by Kings of Oxford in 1955. It gained its maroon and silver livery during its ownership in the 90s by aristocratic playboy Lord Alain Levenfiche. With a full history of maintenance and restoration and a current MOT, the current owner has cared for this piece of history for ten years, which is expected to achieve from £13,000 up to £18,000 at auction.

Made between 1955 and 1964 by German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt, prohibited from ‘plane manufacture post war, the lightweight bubble car has a single-cylinder two-stroke 191 cc engine, outputting less than 10 hp! With four gears in both forward and reverse, the KR200 broke the 24-hour speed record in 1955 for three-wheel vehicles under 250 cc.  

Silverstone Auctions 23 July event takes place in Silverstone Circuit’s The Wing building at 5.00pm, during the Silverstone Classic race weekend, with free viewing and VIP parking and collection service for registered bidders. For more information, visit silverstoneauctions.com.

*Messerschmitt Owners Club