2003 MBK 'Jaguar F1' Scooter

As all F1 fans out there will know, the fastest vehicles at any F1 circuit are - in order of swiftness - the F1 cars, the safety car, and the nippy little scooters that F1 drivers use to zip around the pit lane and the paddock.

We’ve all seen them. They look like a lot of fun.

The vendor, who collects all sorts of classic and other automotive bits and pieces, has decided that this is a collector niche he’d like to explore – which is why he has a number of these fabulous little pit lane and paddock scooters.

The ultra-low mileage example we have for you today was originally registered to EDS, one of the Jaguar F1 team’s main sponsors, and later acquired the Jaguar livery you see today when it served as the team’s paddock/pit lane transport in the racing team’s final season in F1.

It’s our understanding that the scooter served as the personal paddock transport of Mark Webber.

Badged as an MBK ‘Nitro’ machine, the scooter is mechanically indistinguishable from the Yamaha YQ50 machine with which it shares all components and a 49cc engine.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given its association with F1, the MBK ‘Nitro’ was noted for its lively turn of speed and sporty characteristics.

The bike starts, runs and, as far as we can tell, everything does what it’s supposed to do in a timely and faithful manner.

For the most part, this very funky looking, Jaguar-liveried scooter shows all the signs of having covered just 7 paltry miles of paddock and pit lane in its decidedly sedentary life.

There is some minor damage to note, primarily in the form of some scuffs, scrapes and spots of missing paint in various places on the front fairing.

We understand that these cosmetic marks were incurred at some point when the scooter was in storage prior to 2022, when it was bought by the vendor.

The front fairing aside, the rest of the scooter is really very good indeed, and the green finish, Jaguar branding and numerous sponsor decals all add to an overall aesthetic that is both attractive and highly distinctive.

The wheels are excellent, and the tyres look to have plenty of life left in them, as you’d expect to find on a vehicle that’s barely warmed up its two-stroke, liquid-cooled, 49cc, 7hp engine.

The telescopic front forks and gas rear shocks look to be in fine fettle, as do the Brembo brakes.

There are a few more marks and scuffs to be found on the bodywork beneath the foot plates, where the sponsor decals are to be found.

No doubt any eagle-eyed sleuths among you will have spotted that the inside of this scooter is very much in the same place as the outside.

Obviously, motorcycles, mopeds and scooters don’t really have an interior but we’re choosing this section to talk about the seats, instrumentation and controls.

The black vinyl on the main seat is untroubled either by time or use, as is the rudimentary pillion seat - we’ve all seen F1 drivers perched atop the pillion as they make the ride of shame from the location of their crashed and/or broken-down car back to the pit lane.

Is there any footage of Mark Webber making such a journey? We don’t know.

The useful storage space beneath the seat is in good order.

So, too, are the dials, switches and controls, although, as we haven’t ridden the bike, we can’t vouch for their functionality, efficacy or accuracy.

Equally trouble free are carbon-fibre-look cowl forward of the instrument cluster and the instrument surround.

Again, as we haven’t ridden the bike, we can’t voice an opinion on how well it handles or rides.

We can say that everything on and ancillary to the engine and drivetrain looks pretty much squeaky clean and minty fresh, and there are no big scuffs or dinks anywhere to suggest the bike has ever been dropped.

As for the underside, what you see is what you get. It’s all there, open for inspection, and it all looks good to us with no leaks, drips or damage.

The scooter comes with a recent HPI report, a V5C, a spare key, and an owner’s manual.

With just 7 miles on the clock, this is effectively a brand-new scooter that just happens to be 23 years’ old.

But, of course, its true uniqueness lies with its history – that of a vehicle that served as the personal transport of the Jaguar F1 team’s drivers during the very last year of the team’s presence in the sport.

Rest assured that you’ll be fielding plenty of questions whenever you find yourself sitting alongside other vehicles at the traffic lights.

So, as well as having a great scooter to ride, you’ll also have a fascinating story to tell.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £2,000 - £5,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.