For Sale: 1957 Scott Flying Squirrel in St. Louis, Missouri

Renowned for its unconventional engineering and distinctive water-cooled two-stroke twin, the Scott Flying Squirrel became one of Britain's most celebrated and individualistic motorcycles, earning a devoted following that continues to this day. Founded in 1908 by Alfred Angas Scott in Shipley, Yorkshire, the Scott Motorcycle Company developed a reputation for technically advanced motorcycles that often departed dramatically from conventional British designs. Scott's signature water-cooled, two-stroke, parallel-twin engine, distinctive frame construction, and smooth, quiet power delivery made its motorcycles unlike virtually anything else on the road. The Flying Squirrel, introduced in the 1920s, became the marque's most famous model and earned a devoted following for its performance, refinement, and remarkable engineering.

The original Scott factory in Shipley ultimately closed in the years following World War II, but the story of the marque did not end there. In 1950, the Scott Motorcycle Company was acquired and carried forward by Geoff Milner and Harry Langman, who established operations in Birmingham and sought to continue production while refining the established Scott formula. Rather than simply reproduce the earlier motorcycles, Milner and Langman focused on incorporating practical improvements to make the Scott more usable and dependable while retaining the engineering characteristics that had made the Flying Squirrel famous. Their Birmingham-built motorcycles are now recognized as an important final chapter in the original Scott story.

This exceptional 1957 Flying Squirrel is one of those rare Birmingham examples, powered by its DPY-coded 598cc water-cooled two-stroke twin-cylinder engine backed by a three-speed gearbox. It incorporates many of the improvements developed or recommended under Milner and Langman's stewardship, including a foot-operated gearbox lever, Birmingham-built frame, Scott-Dowly "Oleomatic" front forks, upgraded petrol tank, light-alloy twin front brake hub, Lucas ignition system, Lycett seat, and cable-driven Smiths speedometer. Together, these refinements illustrate the effort made by the Birmingham Scott Motorcycle Company to evolve the Flying Squirrel while preserving its distinctive engineering identity.

Adding greatly to its appeal is a remarkable ownership and restoration history that has been carefully documented for decades. Records for this particular Flying Squirrel date to 1980, when it came into the ownership of Robin Swaysland, originally of Burgess Hill in Sussex, England. Swaysland's father had spoken enthusiastically during his youth of the legendary Scott Flying Squirrel, making the acquisition of this motorcycle a particularly meaningful connection to his family's appreciation for the marque.

Swaysland had moved to America in 1966 and eventually encountered this rare Scott in Jerseyville, Illinois, where it was part of the collection of William Abbott. The motorcycle was not running at the time, but Swaysland recognized its significance and reached an agreement to carefully recommission it and return it to the road. What followed was an extraordinary international restoration effort involving extensive correspondence with the Scott Owners Club of North Humberside, England, along with specialty suppliers and craftsmen familiar with these uncommon motorcycles.

As part of the recommissioning, the complete engine and gearbox were carefully removed by Donelson Cycles of St. Louis and crated for shipment to Silk Engineering Ltd. in Derby, England, where the assemblies received a comprehensive professional overhaul. Internal components were inspected and rebuilt, with recommended repairs carried out by specialists intimately familiar with Scott engineering.

From approximately 1982 through 1989, the Flying Squirrel subsequently underwent a meticulous nut-and-bolt restoration, with equal emphasis placed upon authenticity, detail, and proper function. The result is a particularly well-documented example of the marque's final Birmingham chapter, preserved not simply as a restored motorcycle but as an important piece of Scott history.

The documentation accompanying the motorcycle is nearly as compelling as the machine itself. Retained over the years are service records and correspondence detailing the restoration, copies of repair manuals, original Scott brochures, wiring diagrams, and signed letters from surviving members of the Scott family, including Harold Scott. The sale also includes a spare fuel tank and aftermarket silencers, providing an unusually comprehensive collection of period and restoration-related components.

For the British motorcycle enthusiast, the Scott Flying Squirrel represents a fascinating alternative to the more familiar marques of the era. Its water-cooled two-stroke twin, unconventional engineering, distinctive exhaust note, and advanced chassis design were products of a company that consistently pursued its own path. This 1957 Birmingham-built example adds further distinction through its DPY-coded engine, period improvements, extensive restoration documentation, and an ownership history that reaches across the Atlantic and back to England in the effort to preserve one of Britain's most unusual motorcycles.