Raleigh 'Wisp' Moped

Raleigh 'Wisp' moped, 1967. Mopeds and scooters were a cultural phenomenon in 1960s Britain. At their peak in 1964, imports stood at 100,000 a year and UK production at 36,000, yet by 1966 imports had sunk to 15,000 a year and UK production also continued to decline. However the aspects of modern life which initially caused the scooter's popularity, urban congestion, parking restrictions and costs, continued to rise. This led manufacturers like Raleigh to believe there was still a market. With the Wisp, Raleigh attempted to go back to the motorized bicycle, trying to appeal to a market that asked for ‘a design gayer, more cosmopolitan and less utilitarian appeal’.