Military Vespa Brings Bang to Auction

Check this out… A rare military-version Vespa from the 1950s is coming up for auction in Monaco this weekend and it’s quite a sight to see. Mounted on it is a U.S.-made M20 recoil-less rifle. Approximately 800 were built for the French airborne forces. Riders would straddle the barrel when traveling. To use the 75mm gun, the bike had to be stopped and stabilizers had to be deployed.

Coys, the auctioneer, reports the khaki green military Vespas also came with “additional rocket-propelled grenades attractively presented in a wicker basket.” The one for auction was stowed on a military base for the past 30 years. It is estimated that the 1959 Vespa Militaire it will go for between 12,000 and 15,000 Euros.

Would one of these be the perfect way to take out a driver who failed to see you?

Green River Powersports is the newest Triumph dealer in New England, serving the Pioneer Valley from Gill, MA. Dave Rosen, regional manager for Triumph, reports that the first shipment of new motorcycles is headed  to Green River Powersports this week.

Rosen also hints that another dealership in New England may be announced soon.

Rolling Thunder, the annual motorcycle ride in the Nation’s Capitol on Memorial Day weekend that remembers POWs and MIAs, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and is doing so with a lawsuit aimed at taking out vendors who sell unauthorized merchandise. The legal action is specifically targeting copyright infringers. The suit alleges that Rolling Thunder “suffers substantial reputational and financial harm.” Proceeds from Rolling Thunder benefit veterans. The Huffington Post has more here.

About admin

Since 2010, RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland has been reporting about motorcycling in New England and portions of New York.