1957 Mercury Dophin Scooter
98cc Villiers Engine
(Now sold)
I sold this scooter in 2011. This description is from my sales website:
VERY RARE SCOOTER FOR RESTORATION
With very strong competition in the scooter market at the time, Mercury Industries Ltd did not make many scooters, and the company folded soon after the introduction of the Dolphin. ‘SAA 15’ is one of the few remaining examples. I bought it from the original 1957 owner. Below you can see him sitting on ‘SAA 15’ in 1957…
The scooter is complete, and the engine turns over, but the Dolphin now requires full restoration.
Unrestored vintage vehicles are a sobering reminder of the temporary nature of life.
This would make a very worthwhile project for someone with time on their hands.
My business restores around a hundred motorcycles, scooters, mopeds or bicycles each year, but have to rationalize my projects every 3 months. When I decide a machine has moved too far to the back of the restoration queue, I pass it on to fellow enthusiasts. I have a personal interest in the Mercury marque, and I’d love to see this one back on the road. I hope the successful purchaser will stay in touch with me.
***********************
THE AMAZING NEW MERCURY SCOOTER…
Mercury Industries Ltd began motorcycle production in Dudley in 1956 with two 50cc models, the Hermes scooter and Mercette , and the following year produced the Grey Streak motorcycle with a two-speed Villiers 98cc engine which sold for £85.10s.
In 1957 they replaced the Hermes with the Dolphin which had a fan-cooled 98cc 2-speed Villiers, and they released the 60cc Whippet scooter (badged as a Dunkley).
In 1958 the Pippin scooter was built at their new premises in Wolverhampton in small numbers before the company folded due to financial difficulties.
Competition was very strong in the light scooter market, the company made many mistakes, and sales were not successful. So today each of these models is a rare and sought-after collectors item.
To read about the history of MERCURY INDUSTRIES LTD
at the ONLINE MERCURY MUSEUM
PLEASE CLICK HERE
******************
ORIGINAL LOGBOOK for ‘SAA 15’
******************
******************
LADIES MERCURY CYCLEMASTER
After purchasing the Dolphin, I collected it on my way to kempton Park Autojumble …where I discovered an equally rare and unrestored Mercury machine, this Mercury Ladies Cyclemaster.
******************
