c.1919 Autoped 162cc Scooter Project
Registration no. AY5595
Frame no. none visible
Engine no. none visible
One of the very first attempts to build a viable motor scooter, the Autoped was manufactured by Autoped Corporation of Long Island, New York and presumably intended as a means of countering congestion in that overcrowded metropolis. It first appeared at the New York Auto Show in January 1914 but did not enter production until 1916, having undergone a partial redesign. Powered by a 1½hp four-stroke engine driving the front wheel via a multi-plate clutch, the Autoped weighed around 110lbs and cost $110, with a toolbox, lights, and horn available as extra cost options. The handlebar stem could be folded down, attaching to the rear mudguard and thus acting as a carrying(!) handle. Production had effectively ended by 1920, although the design was revived - in improved form - by Krupp in Germany in 1921.
Looking remarkably modern in conception, this ultra-rare early scooter is an example of the Autoped in its original no-saddle form, predating the Krupp version. Apparently complete, the machine is offered for restoration and sold strictly as viewed. There are no documents with this Lot.
