The 125cc Terrot VMS2 Scooter – or ‘Scooterrot’ – was one of the most promoted models of its era in France. The manufacturers went head to head with Lambretta and Vespa, and for a while its quirky looks were the epitome of French style.

Of the dozens of Scooterrot ads I’ve found, this one remains my favourite.

Apart from smoking a pipe while riding your two-wheeler, which sums up the era perfectly, the proposition that the Scooterrot can be compared to driving a luxury car (car in background reinforces the suggestion) is ridiculous.
Despite the ad making it look large, it’s actually a very small scooter; and it’s not particularly luxurious either.

An interesting comparison: whereas today we may complain about road-hogging mums doing the school run in unnecessarily large four-wheel drive chelsea tractors, this advert from 1962 shows what the scooterist of the day aspired to once the kids started school.