Hongkonger Martin Lever - stylish, chic and adventurous on a Vespa
Just all part of being a Mod, along with fashion and music.
Hong Kong-based artist Martin Lever says his Vespa is more of a cultural icon than a mere two-wheeler
A Mod is for life, not just for Christmas. And I guess it’s my (almost) lifelong love of Mod music — Small Faces, The Jam, to name just two — and fashion such as button-down shirts, Sta Pressed trousers and desert boots that fuelled a desire to one day own a Vespa.
Not just any Vespa, but one that combined my musical tastes with another great passion of mine, Sunderland Association Football Club (SAFC). Which is why I’m now the proud owner of probably the world’s only SAFC Vespa.
I’ve never been what you would call a petrol head. While I’ve always loved cars, I was probably more passionate about my extensive collection of Dinky Toys as a boy than I’ve ever been about the real thing. And I’ve never had a yearning to own a motorbike, either. But a Vespa is different. It’s more of a cultural icon than a mode of transport to me.
