Dealer Spotlight: Manchester Scooter Centre
Something Special: Scooter dealers are always looking to have that ‘edge’ over the competition. Manchester Scooter Centre is no exception.
What essentially started with dealers offering a few simple extras like a bolt-on mirror or a crash bar soon escalated to incredible degrees. Dealerships like Eddy Grimstead became easily identifiable by their own style of ‘customs’ and ‘specials’, each dealer adopting their own style, featuring bespoke and trick paint jobs, sports goodies and bolt-on accessories, each looking for an individual signature. Something to not only make them stand out from the crowd, but also to promote their own brand or dealership. The custom scene that took hold of the Mods in the 60s was born out of wanting to be part of a group, while keeping a flash of individualism to mark you out from the crowd. This ran through to the 80s where customisation went to incredible levels: chroming, engraving, gold plating, chops – practically anything went. Some dealers had their own defining styles which were easy to pick out and almost everyone in the scene would immediately recognise… people like Lens or Armandos are a good reference point to look at in that regard. Today, it is very easy to spend many thousands of pounds creating a custom scooter, but will that automatically make it attain and retain an iconic status? Customs like Little Rascal, The Exile, Wake, Italian Stallion, Revenge and Brassy Bitch are but a few of the wellremembered icons and markers, one-offs, but let’s not forget the paths of the Arthur Francis ‘S’ Type; although each of these was a one-off, it was a definite stable of iconic dealer specials too.
Enter Manchester Scooter Centre…
The same bloodline of custom and recognition for authenticity exists today. With one eye on the heritage and another looking to establish its own themes and styles, Manchester Scooter Centre has decided to take the plunge into the heady world of the dealership custom. It is a bold move and one that can only be judged by the test of time. At MSC, and probably because the key management come from the scooter scene themselves, there is an inherent understanding and respect for heritage. Simply put, they desire to create their own special scooter branding with the new marques that are becoming increasingly popular today. These are targeted at those who are willing to pay a bit extra for something special, something not straight ‘off the shop floor’, something distinct, though not over the top. This decision, to embark upon a dealer special, wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment thought either; the chaps at the centre brought in an experienced designer and someone for historic consultation whose standing within the scene is renowned. Please step up Mr Andrew (Hovis) Baker of Manchester Nite Owls. To keep it both identifiable as their own yet also to retain an element of price control it was decided to create a ‘menu’ from which the potential owner could pick directly, or use it as an idea ‘springboard’ for their own creation… the menu giving them a base idea of how much it would cost at the end. Naturally, it would need to be identified as a special, just as the legends of the past did – so an official ‘seal’ lacquered in upon completion was settled on. After all, you have to give the owner bragging rights.
Graham’s vision, admittedly given time, is for the Manchester Scooter Centre’s Specials to be as recognised and revered as those he looked on with hungry eyes years before.
To keep the price reasonable, the base colou urs for the scooters are those available from the factory; complementary paints are added to the twist which can create a unique look. There are already a couple of display examples in the dealership which are mainly for show, as it’s felt that the majority of owners would like to have their own input, i.e. choice of colours etc., to make it a true custom. Another option being offered is to have their design rendered in Photoshop so they can see exactly what it would look like before making any final decision. Graham (the chief chap at Manchester Scooter Centre) firmly believes that dealer customs are the way that a defined sector of the current scooter scene is heading, as it’s a simpler process and a more guaranteed quality of finish and delivery than if the rider is left to try and sort all the individual elements out themselves. Graham’s vision, admittedly given time, is for the Manchester Scooter Centre’s Specials to be as recognised and revered as those he looked on with hungry eyes years before.
The Royal Alloy Dealer Specials featured in this article belong to Andrew (Hovis) Baker, Paul Batho and Den Davis.