Testing the Topper

Produced between 1960 and 1965, the Topper had a 165cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine, mounted horizontally between the floorboards. The engine starter used a recoil rope, similar to some lawn mowers. Crucially, unlike most scooters with enclosed engines, the Topper’s engine did not have a cooling fan. Not the vehicle of choice for a trip into the Mojave Desert, you might think. But you’d be wrong.

The route went from Bakersfield to Trona (125 miles/201km) to Stovepipe Wells, where the pair spent the night. Early the next morning, they travelled on “rough roads and hot sands” to the “blistering” heat of Badwater Basin. As the article details: “At 280 feet below sea level, Badwater is the lowest spot in this hemisphere and is the hottest spot in the United States.”

From Badwater Basin, they summited Mount Whitney – the highest peak in the country. It’s a fun fact that the lowest and highest points in the contiguous United States are just 85 miles apart. Finally, “when they reached the summit, the pair made an about face and headed the Topper back to Bakersfield. The rugged test was climaxed by running the last 10 miles with the throttle wide open.”

Facing temperatures “in the high 120s[°F, equivalent to around 50°C]” and “heights of 8,200 feet, trails strewn with rocks, corrosive salt and other hazards”, the Topper took it all in its stride. In fact, the whole run was made “without making a single adjustment or touching a wrench to it,” marvelled Ross. “The Topper, with a 210-pound rider, had no indication of over-heating, while a lot of cars were boiling and spouting water.”

Upon returning to Bakersfield, “the Topper required only five minutes wiping with a rag before putting it back on display,” he added. A horse with no name might be a more classic way to travel through the desert, but the scooter named Topper can certainly hold its own.