As a middle-aged male motorcyclist, I generally don’t use words like ‘adorable’ much. But it’s hard to describe a Vespa GTS or GTV fitted with a Watsonian GP Manx sidecar as anything other than cute.
Just look at it! From a practical point of view, it’s not going to be the fastest outfit in the world. The Vespa GTS and GTV share a 300cc engine which puts out 22hp. But they do also have a decent amount of torque to pull you and your outfit along.
The challenge was to find a way to fix the sidecar to the pressed steel frame of a scooter. In this case, Watsonian developed a special chassis and sub-frame.
The Watsonian GP Manx has an octagonal nose inspired by the Sports version of the 1930s. since the 1960s, the fibreglass design has been available with 53 inches (133cm) of leg room and an 18 inch (45cm) wide cockpit. You get into the boot by tilting the seat forwards, and for this version there’s hydraulic suspension and a 12″ Vespa front wheel.
In this battleship grey colour, the Vespa and Watsonion outfit looks like it might have been designed for the Italian army decades ago. And you’ll certainly stand out. The Watsonian GP Manx sidecar for the Vespa GTS and GTV will cost from £4500 including factory fitting, and you get a tonneau cover included in the price. You can also add optional extras including a hood.
OK, so it’s not the most practical two or three wheeled vehicle we’ve ever written about it. But the marriage of an Italian scooter to a sidecar from the North Cotswolds will certainly stand out. And the cute factor might well win over any reluctant passenger who refuses to ride pillion, especially when an enclosed scooter is less threatening than a motorcycle.
Sometimes ‘cute’ may actually be a good thing…
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