The family of the 'Modfather' of Vespa scooters are selling off his epic collection that includes one he loaned for the cult film Quadrophenia. The late Bill Drake amassed the iconic scooters and parts that was the favourite mode of transport for Mods in the 1960s.
He was such an authority on Vespas that he was brought in as a technical advisor for the famous 1979 movie that starred Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and Sting. But he quit in disgust after the producers ignored his protests that some of the scooters used in filming did not tie in with the movie's 1964 time frame.
His own 1961 Vespa Douglas GS 150cc ended up in the movie and was ridden by Garry Cooper's character Peter Fenton, who was the boyfriend of 'Steph', played by Ash. It is being sold with a pre-sale estimate of £6,500. Another iconic scooter from Mr Drake's collection is a 1953 Vespa Douglas Rod 125cc that was ridden by Morecambe and Wise.
