This is one dangerous site. Retroplanet.com has way too much scooter stuff all packed into it with reasonable prices. You can order tin signs as well as magnets for both Lambretta and Vespa. Prices range from $3.99 to $19.99. To see all their scooter stuff, click here.

Thanks to Daniel S. for this find!

This charming traffic scene makes me want to hop on a plane right now and smell all the lovely exhaust. The illustrator is Peter Donnelly and this artwork can be purchased as an unframed or framed art print or on a stretched canvas in assorted sizes. You can also buy it on greeting cards or as iPhone/iPod cases or skins. Prices range from $12.00 for a set of 3 cards to $150.00 for a 24″ x 35″ stretched canvas.

Thanks to the great site retrotogo.com for this find.

Buy Peter Donnelly’s London Traffic print at Society 6.

Every now and then I would stumble upon a scooter card featuring dogs. And I would think “Man, someone at Avanti likes dogs and scooters.” Then I began to think “I bet the photographer is a scooterist and sells them these images and then a writer comes up with the lines.” The other thought I had was “I bet they Photoshop the h*ll out of these photos. The dogs aren’t even sitting on a scooter.” Yes, I do have OCD. Why do you ask?

Well after interviewing the charming New York based photographer Allen Wallace I realized I was wrong about everything.

The most recent Avanti card (on top) listed a name. So I Googled it and found Allen who has a very interesting story. Yes, he was a scooterist. (More on that later.) No, Avanti comes to him with the idea in a tight sketch and then he executes the photo. No, no one at Avanti is scooter crazy. This is marketing folks. They know people like dogs and people like scooters. And no, those images are barely Photoshopped. Stunned? So was I. Allen says he hired professional dogs who will do things like wear goggles and sit on scooters. Usually there are handlers holding the dogs that get edited out later. The only thing that really gets Photoshopped are the scooters themselves. They change just enough of the scooter’s details to avoid problems with Piaggio.

The “Dozens Like Us” Scooter Club, Washington D.C., Circa 1984

The Dozens Like Us Scooter Club at 2013 Reunion

“Spow” Mod Culture Zine Cover

More from “Spow”

Of course Allen does more than just photograph dogs on scooters. He works with ad agencies, magazines and so on to earn his bread. But long before the photography gig he was a proud member of the scooter club “Dozens Like Us” based in Washington D.C. (That’s him in the front in the first photo and in the polka dots in the second.) He was also a scooter mechanic at a shop called “Big Wheel Bikes.” And he put together a mod zine called “Spow” that some of you may remember. (See delicious vintage 1984 Xeroxs above.) In fact putting together Spow is what got him into photography.

Allen at the track.

Allen and his kids at the Piaggio Vespa Museum.

Although Allen is more akin to racing motorcycles these days, his scooter heritage runs deep and he still attended scooter events. He’s also working on a creative project of photographing owners with their scooters. So if you’re on the East Coast and have a rad scooter, shoot him an e-mail at studio (at) allenwallace.com. To see some of the photos he’s already taken, visit his scooter portfolio here.

Want to order the card on top? It’s $2.69 here. The inside reads “You had me at woof.”

I have always had a fondness for “Tank Girl” although I don’t think I’ve ever sat down and read an entire comicbook. I’ve just seen frames from the books and of course the Lori Petty movie which people seem to love or loathe. I loved it because at the time it was really freakin’ rare to see women kick ass. I do remember that the target roundel showed up here and there but I didn’t even know what that was about at the time. I just thought she was making herself a target which fit in with her M.O. perfectly. I also didn’t think of her riding a scooter. A yak-like animal and well, a tank. So I was very happy to come across these images and things all started clicking into place. It is a British comic after all.

The poster magazine up top is available for £6.99 at this site.

The other cover can be considered a bit of Rare Swag but the tenacious among you will no doubt find it.

And for a little mid 90s nostalgia, watch the Tank Girl trailer here.

Tank Girl Trailer 1994

Here’s Amazon’s description which really can’t be improved upon:

“El Crappo Comics (New Zealand) is proud to present “Scooters of the Apocalypse”. Quite possibly the first book ever to combine Homer’s “Odyssey”, the “Revelation” and classic scooters in comic book form. If you’re one of those people who find James Joyce’s “Ulysses” too long and lacking in pictures “Scooters of the Apocalypse” is the book for you – it’s much shorter, got more pictures and has scooters!”

It’s just $9 at Amazon. Would anyone be interested in doing a book report for ScooterSwag?

Scooters of the Apocalypse

This is the first respectable looking site I’ve come across that features the pop can scooters. (And here’s some kismet – they’re located in Brighton!) They’re handmade out of recycled cans and have movable steering, rotating wheels and even a working kickstand. You can choose from Coke, Pepsi, Heineken, Tiger Beer, Schwepps Tonic or Schwepps Soda. They measure approximately 18cm x 11cm x 9cm or approximately 7″ X 4.3″ X 3.5″. They cost £9.95 each and come in a gift box made from 100% recycled materials. The site does note that these are not meant to be children’s toys.

ecologiccool.com

Here’s a whole slew of scooter goodness for you from the online UK retailer “Not On The High Street.” They have a selective application process for sellers and want only the unique and well-made. They are especially interested in supporting small British businesses — both designers and manufacturers. And it’s easy ordering for us Yanks.

I especially like the scooter girl wallets/clutches and the two-wheel sprint scarf featuring both bicycles and Vespas.

notonthehighstreet.com

Spotted this on a mod blog and had to share. Don’t think I’ve ever come across it before.

UK artist Ruth Jackson image created this classic image with acrylic paint and Indian ink. Lithographs are then made from the image and printed onto beautiful art quality paper. It is A3 (420mm x 297mm) in size.The prints are sold unframed but fit into an ‘off the shelf’ frame. The print itself is then packaged in a sturdy but very elegant Ruth Jackson branded postal tube. Price is £30.00 not including shipping.

willandglory.co.uk

Dear Paper Modelers and Puzzlers: Ready for a challenge? Designer Papero has created these two scooter models for you to tackle. (Check out the photo of the motorcycle model in an unmade state to get a sense of the difficulty and detail.) Made of recycled card and paper and soy oil based ink, even the wheels spin. The scooters each measure approximately 8cm X 12cm X 4.5cm. The kit ships from the UK for £17.50.

Here’s a description from Papero:

“Every aspect of this Papero paper model is beautifully designed. Start with the pre-cut eco-friendly paper ‘blueprints’. Consider where each element will go, then use pen, paint or pencil to colour them in. Pop out the pieces and assemble them together. The result is an incredibly detailed model. It helps children learn about 3D structures and develop co-ordination—but grown-ups will find hours of quiet joy in it too. And the smartest part? There’s no need for scissors, knives or adhesive, so no one’s going to glue their fingers together. Pure genius.”

Thanks to Alice D. for this unusual find!

fao-shop.com