TheScooterScoop

sexy lady
Originally uploaded by de jäck Mamsäll.

You ever see the Simson Schwalbe? Here’s what the Wikipedia had to say about her:

Series manufacture of the scooter KR51 “Schwalbe”, fitted with a 3.4 hp engine, began in 1964. The year 1968 saw the merger of Simson and “VEB Ernst-Thälmann-Werk Suhl” to “VEB Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffenwerk Ernst Thälmann Suhl”. Subsequently, the Schwalbe helped the company to worldwide and fame in the GDR the scooter stood for the success of East German two-wheeler motor manufacturing.

After the political changes in East Germany in 1989 a number of attempts to modernise the assembly lines failed. Several investors tried unsuccessfully to keep production going and to bring new developments on market.

Consequently, production finally ceased in autumn 2002 and on 1 February 2003 bankruptcy proceedings were held in the wake of which the remaining 90 employees were made redundant without any form of compensation.

However, the beautiful Schwalbe has since gained cult status in West Germany, where it is now as popular amongst enthusiasts as the VW Beetle or the Piaggio Vespa.

PROBABLY more than you wanted to know about the Schwalbe (Swallow in English). If you wanted one you can still find them in Germany for around 400 Euro (example).

Thanks to de jäck Mamsäll for sharing this great image!