1949 Salsbury Model 85, Frame no. 10031 Engine no. D1B78 A796476

1949 Salsbury Model 85
Frame no. 10031
Engine no. D1B78 A796476
'The Salsbury, the most completely automatic vehicle ever built' so said some early advertising for the Salsbury scooter, the first of which left their California factory in 1936. By 1938 they were branded as Motor Glide because they were then equipped with an air-cooled, 4-stroke 1.5 horsepower Johnson engine (of outboard fame) and a CVT, or constantly variable transmission, a first for a scooter. Soon other brands followed and adopted CVT including Cushman which also used the 'Motor Glide' name causing Salsbury to drop it in 1943. Their new just post-WW2 product was called the Salsbury Super-Scooter model 85, instead. Mr. E. Foster Salsbury also pioneered foot controls because he believed car drivers, used to such devices, were a large potential market. In 1945 the company was taken under the wing of the Northrop Aircraft company and located in Hawthorne, California where it manufactured scooters until 1948 when the production line was shut down, presumably for the lack of sales. Existing inventory continued to be sold off for some years to come.

The Salsbury Super Scooter model 85 was sold from 1947-1950. Production numbers are said to have been around 700 to 1,000 units. With a rated speed of 50 miles per hour, an automatic transmission, and a sleek, clean design reminiscent of that era, it is no wonder that this Salsbury is considered a "holy grail" motor scooter.

This restored 6hp Super Scooter appears to be a lovely example. Its provenance is not recorded.