This week in Melbourne, Australia’s first scooter ride share business was launched calling themselves Scooti. Like others such as Uber it operates on a ride sharing app to connect with scooter drivers and passengers. Already their has been a reference to the smurfs as the scooters are a bright blue colour.
Like any passionate smurf collector, upon hearing the news my instant reaction was to find my Motor Scooter Super Smurfs, that were originally released in 1999 by Schleich.
In 1999 Schleich released five new Super Smurfs that included both of the Motor Scooter Smurfs. Some have referred to these smurfs released around this time as the New Generation smurfs.
Motor Scooter Smurf, #40253 can be found riding a red scooter with the number plate S – 1, while wearing a green jumper, navy blue pants, black shoes, yellow safety gloves and a white helmet. Schleich sold this between 1999 to 2004.
Motor Scooter Smurfette, #40254 can be found riding a purple scooter with the number plate S – 2 while wearing a pink jumper, brown pants, green socks, white shoes with black laces, brown gloves and a white helmet. Surprisedly Schleich only sold this one between 1999 to 2002.
The markings Made in China Schleich S Germany © 98 Peyo can be found under the feet and the Ce marking is under their bottoms. There are no markings to be found on their scooters.
There appears to be at least two different variations to be found with Motor Scooter Super Smurfs, one with lighter colours and one with slightly more darker colours. Typically the one with the darker colours can be found with a blue paint dot under the foot. This version was released around 2001.
If you are also keen to collect the Super Smurf boxes, both Motor Scooter Smurfs came with a circular smurf logo with a dancing smurfs pattern and should include a picture on the top of the box.
In my opinion these are both cleverly designed and beautifully painted Super Smurfs. A lot of thought must have gone into the design and making of the scooters as such they rarely full over when displayed. Little things such as an indent into the seat where the smurf sits and the stand underneath the scooter that it allows it to be displayed without detracting from the scooter.
If the idea of the scooter taxi service is to get around Melbourne more quickly just imagine how much more time that leaves me for collecting more smurfs.
Keep on Smurfin
Kath B