Overview Vespa 50 Super Sprint

The Vespa Super Sprint was launched in 1965, a model whose name reflected its purpose. Not only its extremely sporty design bears witness to this. The Super Sprints are among the most striking Vespa models and have enjoyed extraordinary popularity for many years.

Model history Vespa 50 Super Sprint

From 1965, the Vespa 50 SS was introduced as a sporty variant within the Smallframe series, which stood out from the previous models with a number of special features. Characteristic features included the narrowing contour of the Legshield, a narrower and slightly lowered Handlebar, a narrower Mudguard and a Seat that folded backwards - a novelty among Vespas. The first series of the SS came with a Tool Box positioned between the Seat and Legshield, which resembled a Tank and was fitted with a Pad at the top to support the upper body in a racing position and allow a closer riding position. Under this compartment, the spare wheel was mounted lengthways to the direction of travel, fitted with rim caps painted in the same colour as the frame. The 50 SS, limited by Italian regulations to 1.5 hp for registration as a moped, was, in contrast to the 90 SS, intended exclusively for export. In Germany, it could be ridden tax-free with a class IV driving licence.
The majority of Super Sprints were exported to New Zealand as individual parts and assembled there by Airco Ltd. in Newmarket. Typically, the frames in New Zealand do not have stamped numbers, which indicates that they were probably leftover replacement frames, although there are also examples with frame numbers but no prefix.
In Germany, the frames were also provided with specific chassis numbers, which were attached to a narrow, oval Badge at the rear end of the right Footboards, independent of the numbers stamped into the frame rebate, which are irrelevant for the issuing of vehicle documents. Approximately 1,400 of the 50 SS were sold to Germany, including around 800 of the second series. The first series, labelled up to frame number 650540, was equipped with a Tool Box, spare wheel and a speedometer up to 100 km/h, but without Indicators and Brake Light. From frame number 650541, the second series began, without Tool Box and spare wheel/holder, but with the usual Smallframe Seat instead. From around 650700, the vehicles were fitted with a hexagonal Emblem, a speedometer up to 120 km/h, Indicators and Brake Light, while retaining the rectangular base for the Legshield Emblem.

The Engine of the Vespa 50 Super Sprint

The Engine was derived from a Model with a larger displacement and had 50 cc. Its power output exceeded the maximum limit of 1.5 hp applicable to mopeds in Italy, which is why this Vespa was not produced for the Italian market. The four-speed gearbox was retained. Despite its performance, the Engine was characterised by its smoothness, which is typical of the Vespa series. The Carburettor occupied the same position as on the Vespa 90SS. A contribution to the increase in performance was made by a silencer specially developed for this Model, which was mounted on the left-hand side at the rear. This chrome-plated steel Silencer produced a characteristically metallic and sporty sound, which gave the Model an additional dynamic.

Miscellaneous Vespa 50 Super Sprint

Frame number position: the Italian frame number is embossed in the fold of the engine flap, while the German frame number is attached to a narrow, oval Badge at the rear end of the right footboard.

Toolbox variants: Despite their similarities, the toolboxes have small differences:

• Up to number 1239: no spare wheel bolt, instead a clamp on the centre tunnel.

• From number 1240 to 4545: smooth surface with water slide as Emblem.

• From number 4545: a bead/recess and a Badge as an Emblem.

Lettering and Emblems: The chrome-plated lettering 'Vespa' adorns the Legshield, the chrome-plated lettering 'S.Sprint 50' is emblazoned above the Rear Light. The toolboxes without a recess feature waterslide images on both sides, while the versions with a recess have round Badges. The first German series was always characterised by Stickers.

• The Exhaust, a chrome-plated "SS banana" with the embossed number 'IGM 4307 S' and 84 dB.

• The first series had a Seat with an 'A. Rejna' Badge that folded backwards. The second series used the usual smallframe Seat.

• The speedometer is shell-shaped with a white dial; in the first series with an old square Emblem and a scale up to 100 km/h, the second series initially retained the square Emblem with a 100 km/h scale, later models then had a 120 km/h scale with a hexagonal Emblem.

• Towards the end of the production period, the vehicles were delivered with the addition GPS(Gruppo Piloti Speciali) after the Vespa had won important races in Italy. The GPS Badge was attached to the front left of the Legshield by means of a Sticker.

Used Vespa 50 Super Sprint market situation

Unfortunately, the strong demand for the Super Sprints led to high prices, making these models the most expensive Vespas of the 1960s. Ironically, however, they were one of the biggest failures in Vespa's model policy. Only the SS 90 Model was produced in Italy, with a production figure of around 5300 units. An additional 2500 or so SS 50s were produced for the export markets. The small production run and the many special components make the Super Sprint particularly sought-after. Where do you look for this vehicle?

• At your trusted Vespa dealer

• Classified adverts in the local newspaper

• Markets and trade fairs such as Mostra Scambis in Italy

• Online marketplaces such as www.mobile.de, www.autoscout24.de etc.

The colours of the Vespa 50 Super Sprint:

Colour	Colour Name	Max Meyer Code	Colour info
	Bianco spino 715	1.298.1715	& Germany
	Rosso 850	1.298.5850	1966 & Germany
	Rosso 802	1.298.5802	1968 & Germany
	Blue Pavone	1.298.7220
	Alluminio	1.268.0983	various Frame Parts
	Nocciola	3000M	Rust protection/primer

Sources