The Pig is the
affectionate nickname given by the Czechs to a 1960s scooter and
design icon produced by Cezeta. This is partly due to the scooter's
snout and partly due to the pig as a Czech symbol of luck. Cezeta had
been producing motorcycles since the 1930s, but it is the Cezeta 500
series culminating in Cezeta 505 that sticks in the collective
memory.
Instantly recognizable due to its
distinctive torpedo shape, the Čezeta was popular for its
simplicity, reliability and durability. Due to its long wheelbase, it
was originally marketed as a ‘car on wheels’ and never called a
scooter. Two people could go on holiday with their bags stored in the
body space, whilst the larger seat made comfortable room for lovers
riding pillion. The Čezeta quickly became a symbol of freedom and
adventure for young Czechs. It was also raced for fun by the
company’s engineers. Following Grand Prix success in 250cc and
350cc classes, the ČZ brand became famous and because of it more
than 100,000 Čezeta scooters were sold around the world, many of
which have been lovingly restored and are now collectors’ items.
This
year, thanks to the enthusiasm of a British ex-pat, Neil Eamonn
Smith, the Cezeta 506 is being launched. Whilst keeping many
of the design details that so appealed to its 1960s customers, the
new scooter has been brought up to date. The
506 is a high performance sports scooter with a 0-50 km/h in 3.2
seconds, a powerful bike you can control, engineered for everyday
use. It boasts new proprietary technologies including the electric
drivetrain, the Sway throttle and the Dynamics torque selector.
A
limited edition of just 600 bikes has been launched this year. But
hopefully this will be the beginning of a new chapter in the story of
the Cezeta Pig.
More at www.cezeta.com
