The CENTAUR Folding Motor Scooter

Photos of Centaurs from All Over

Centaurs on the Market

 

NOT SOLD on eBay (ended 02/05/08) One bid at $500 starting bid - Reserve Not Met -  CENTAUR Fold UP MOTOR SSOOTER Made From 1961 to about 63 by lombard industries out of Conn. Not sure of all the info on the Co.but more info on the web. Runs probably as it did when new , has very little use seems to be all there.I also have sales lit & copies of the owners manual . Dont want to ship but I can at your expense .Located near Troy ny Call Chuck for more info. I have 2 others. A $100 deposit due when auction closes.

 

Caroholic Comment - Looked like a great deal here - the scooter is complete and solid with the exception of the rear nameplate, and there are lots of pictures to go by.  Considering what others have gone for, I am surprised this one didn't get more bids.

NO BIDS (Again - 2nd listing) on eBay (ended 01/19/08) Starting bid $2000 - 1964 Other Makes : SCOOTER - HERES A RARE FOLDING SCOOTER WITH A HORIZONTAL CLINTON 2 STROKE ENGINE ALL ORIGINAL UNMOLESTED. OLDS UP INTO A SUITCASE GREAT FOR AIRPLANES, BOATS, TRUNKS, VERY UNUSUAL, RAN WHEN PUT AWAY WITH THE REST OF MY COLLECTION, DISSOLVING ,DUE TO GETTING TO OLD TO PLAY WITH ALL MY TOYS, TOO MUCH STUFF ,LIFELONG COLLECTION TIME FOR IT TO GO CHECK OUT MY OTHER STUFF 4SALE.GOOD LUCK HAPPY BIDDING, FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS! IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, GAS WAS DRAINED IN THIS ONE WHEN PUT AWAY AND HAS WORKING HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT WITH A TITLE.

Caroholic comment - Here is another case of a seller not providing enough pictures - it appears complete and original except for the lift handle, but without seeing it unfolded and in clearer detail who is going to bid $2,000 for it? 

 

SOLD on eBay 11/29/07 for $200 - 1960's folding scooter - 1960's Centaur folding scooter, collectors item, clinton 2 cycle motor, runs but needs work and drive belt. the side panels are all that is missing.

Caroholic comment - I was planning to bid on this myself - it's only 4 hours away and was a great parts source - but got distracted and forgot about it.  The seller could have done way better with some decent pictures and a more detailed description.  The buyer did very well, though the value of the Centaur is cut by half or more due to the missing side panels.  They make the difference between it being a 'suitcase scooter' and a weird minibike, and they just are not available as replacements.  Bad news is that shipping is likely to double the purchase price.

SOLD on eBay 9/29/07 for $1,225 - 1960 Other makes - Center - Rare, 1960s Centaur Fold-up Scooter, in excellent original (but not perfect) condition. I'm selling this for my wife's grandmother. They had this on their boat and used it while in port. This ingenious scooter is in amazing condition considering it was last registered in 1975..

Mechanical Issues: The carb needs to be either cleaned or rebuilt as it leaks. Also, a few of the pull starter fins are chipped/broken, but have been repaired. That's it!!

Appearance issues: The strap used to carry the scooter has caused some of the seat vinyl to wear behind it. But the rest of the scooter looks amazingly complete and in excellent condition.

The engine is a 2 cycle, and I believe the mixing ratio is 20:1. I was able to get it up and running in only about 30 minutes... after sitting since 1975!!!! Grandpa was definitely mechanically inclined, and knew how to take care of his vehicles, as he definitely stored this one properly.

Almost forgot: To sweeten the deal, this scooter also comes with a spare Clinton engine (the red one in the pics). It was from a lawn mower, but is the exact same size and specs for the scooter.

NOT SOLD on eBay September 5, 2007 - High Bid $685.00 - Vintage Centaur Suitcase Motor Scooter - This is an auction for a great vintage Centaur motor scooter. This was obtained by the original owner who claims to have only driven it once or twice. We have no idea if it runs or not. It was stored in a garage and with a little TLC, this should be in running condition very soon. What you see is what you get, sold "as is". Low reserve. We've seen ones in worse shape go for more than we're asking. Shipping: $40 shipping inside the continental United States.

 

Sold on eBay May 18th for $1,228.99 - Centaur Motor Scooter 1960? - Suitcase Scooter - This is a Centaur Fold Up Motor Scooter in Very Good condition.  It is in very good condition and is 100% complete. It runs and operates 100% including the lights. The chrome has some pitting but is presentable but not show quality. The luggage rack has some minor rust on it. The scooter has been cleaned up and detailed and all parts look to be original except for the gas cap. The plastic panel in the area of the pull starter has had a brushed aluminum plate installed to cover the area where the rope goes through the panel. The plastic is worn out by the rope from the pull starter. As you can see in the photos the area around the exhaust pipe is slightly deformed from the heat. This appears to be common on these scooters. The engine serial number is 02292 and the model number is E65-1101. The chassis serial number is 300101 and the model appears to be 784. 

Caroholic Comment: Very little interest in this scooter, though it seems one of the nicest I have seen for sale. This one has damage to the plastic in several places, which probably hurt the bidding a lot.

 

Charlotte Auto Fair - April 11-14, 2007.  Poking about the thousands of vendors at Charlotte, I spotted an almost complete Centaur in pretty decent shape.  The right side plastic panel was damaged, and the front wheel assembly was missing.  The seat strap/handle was there.  I had delusions of picking up a cheap parts scooter - HA!  When I found the owner, he said he had the front wheel but had forgotten it.  And he's sold several Centaurs, including one last year in worse shape for $1,000!  I didn't bother asking the price of this one.  One a lighter note, he said a good article had just come out about the Centaur scooter.  As he started looking for it, I asked if it was in Antique Automobile magazine.  He said "Yes.  Did you read it?"  I had to grin.  "No, I wrote it."

 

NOT SOLD on eBay (ended 03/05/07 with a $760 high bid that did not meet reserve) - 1961 Other Makes : Other Centaur fold up scooter - (from the ad) 1960's Centaur fold-up scooter - unrestored, rare find Vehicle Description Extremely rare barnyard find!!! And it Runs I started it today!! All Lights work Head and Tail.  The only damage is the missing hand strap that goes across the seat, the seat needs to be rebolted to frame, and some scuffs by the pull starter see pic (visible on right panel). it starts right up . It is a 2 stroke motor with a 8:1 ratio of gas/30W oil. A scooter just like this one sold for $1300 last week on Ebay and it did not even run.

Caroholic Comment:  Just goes to show the market is all over the place on these.  Like most unusual collectibles, the value depends on who happens to be looking at the moment.

SOLD ON EBAY ($1,300 using Buy It Now) - February 15, 2007 - (From the ad) Extremely rare barnyard find!!! The only damage I found is the missing hand strap that goes across the seat, finger tip size crack on foot hold and one small hole in the plastic (visible on left panel). The previous owner said it should start right up all thought I'd recommend cleaning the fuel system/lines and air filter. Nothing a lawn mower shop couldn't help with.

Caroholic Comment:  Highest price I have seen for a Centaur so far, and it didn't run.  Are they starting to get recognized?  They are certainly more unique than any Cushman.

 

Other Centaurs
Do you have a Centaur Scooter?  Send me a photo and I will post it here with your contact information (or not, if you prefer)

 

 

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