I'm no Vespa expert but I don't think that the Douglas in Douglas Vespa has anything to do with the Isle of Man. More like as in the Douglas Aircraft Company in Bristol?
My Digs mate at Uni had a Vespa Douglas, he was called Douglas and lived in Douglas Street!
I rode pillion on it from Bangor (N.Wales) to my home in Huddersfield, stayed overnight, next day we travelled to his place in London and stayed overnight there. Following day we went to the New Forest, spent a week horse riding and rode back to London on this ******* Vespa.
I will never ever ride on a Vespa again. Apart from anything else they are rot boxes, judging by the ones I've blasted.
The Vespa Alpha is British registered and appears to have 'Wallis' on the rudder. If so, it is probably from the same builder as Bond's Little Nellie, Ken Wallis. I flew with him several times and he did mention doing a film in Rio before the Bond movie. Sadly I can't check, as he died a few weeks ago.
KF
To add: looking around a bit, the british firm is spelt variously as Alpha Willis, or Wallis. The aireal shots are very like Ken's work and I suspect are not the same vehicle as the road ones esp. as the rotors look too short to be functional. Plus the balance is too far forward. So I make the museum piece a non flying film prop.
CRB, isn't that beautiful. But the logical head thinks go fast? get a bigger motor and dont use a scooter.
but the Italian logic says make it beautiful and use a scooter. They win.
Ken Wallis, a genius. Autogyros are the bees knees.
I saw one in the summer buzzing over Ross. Jealous? yep. Fantastic things.
Anyways, back on topic.
Kemppifrog
You are not suggesting that Dick Smart 2.007* changed his vespa for an British machine at the same time as he changed his suit.
A non flying prop? no I saw it on the internet it must be true.
Some people are so cynical.
Anyway it turns into a submarine and a speedboat as well.
I suppose you are jealous because the beautiful women never fell into your arms.
I could not help but notice that every shot of the Alpha on the road it was seconds from crashing.
* do you suppose these foreigners were taking the Mickey out of our Mr Bond?
I think I have found a supplier for the film, at £3.00 it has to be worth a punt.
Linky, if you like rubbish films this could be a mother lode http://www.twistedanger.net/
Back in pedant mode.. Little Nellie has a 4 cyl 2T drone motor putting out 72hp. A Vespa 180 has how much? 15hp? Not gonna fly on that.
The video clip was pretty rough, so one never got a good look, but I remember Ken saying that the authorities in Rio were pretty tolerant and he was flying down city avenues at half the height of the apartment blocks ( and had the photos to show me)
A remarkable guy
KF