Post Sale Update: This Amanda sold for $1,701 after 6 bids on eBay.
I’m stretching the definition of “scooter” here, but this “water scooter” is an interesting, if brief, footnote in the history of one of the greatest motorcycle manufacturers of all time. When Vincent was struggling to make ends meet in the 50s, they tried to diversify their portfolio with other products such as a lawnmower and the Amanda, what they called a personal water scooter. It’s one of the earliest examples of a PWC (personal watercraft).
The original Amanda was powered by a 75cc two-stroke motor, though 100cc and 200cc options were later made available. Unfortunately, the bodywork was fiberglass and Vincent wasn’t particularly experienced with the material at the time. Over time, the bodywork would distort when exposed to the sun – a bad characteristic for something you’d want to use on the water when the weather was nice. For more information on the Amanda (including photos of one at the Barber Museum), check out Just A Car Guy.
Here’s a period video on what looks to be a slightly different version of the Amanda from what’s currently being offered:
This example (VIN: 57A1-1081) is going to need a restoration. It’s equipped with the tiniest motor, and it was “in the rafters of a salvage yard” when the seller acquired it alongside a restored Amanda. The paint job tells you that it was previously used by Preisser’s Lodge, an establishment that operated for over 5 decades in Grand Lake, Colorado.
Find this Vincent Amanda project for sale in Great Falls, Montana with bidding up to $1,000 (the seller jokes that this is the “cheapest way to own a Vincent!“)
This bike-uriousity brought to you by George C!