
Powell Motor Scooter
Page 2
1948 P-48
Thanks to Dick DeBuse
1949 P-49
Powell P-81
Introduced in 1949

Letter from Dorothy Powell
October 6, 1973
Powell P-81's Red Custom, Black Deluxe
1950 Powell P-81's at the Mid America auction
Thanks to Dick DeBuse
Jerry Perkins 1949 P-81
Powell p-81
I bought my first scooter in 1948, a POWELL P-81 at the age of 13 from a dealer in Compton California. I used it on 2 paper routes 7 days a week for 2 years to pay for it. I traded it in for a new RED MUSTANG IN 1950.
Barry Bertram
Gary Mau is Restoring this 1950 P-81
The black and or blue one is my 1950 P-81 custom, the 10hp model.
owned it since 1988. Six years ago I found a like new carb in
Nova Soctia Canada. This year had the magneto rebuilt. Found
a few other parts but they are not cheap.
Powell P-81
Bonneville/Murock Plywood Streamliner from the 50's
Dear Sir You wanted more information on the plywood streamliner that had a P-81 inside. The fellow that ran that was Tony Cappana who passed away not too long ago. He and the Powell was written up in the January 51 Cycle magazine and April 51 Popular Mechanics. I meet Tony back in 1977 when we were doing diesel conversions. He was a real neat fellow. I am sure I asked him about the streamliner but I just can not remember his reply...He kind of dismissed the effort as I recall.
Motorbikes and the guys who ride 'em. Left to Right...John Fenton, Don Dickey
Here is a shot of two great looking Powell's and my Marman Twin. The Powell's are 1947 models .The Powell's were owned by my riding buddies John Fenton (age 15) and Ken Bonser (age 15). I was 14. Photo Taken in Berwyn, ILL. 1948. The Powell's were the fastest machines in our little group of Whizzers, Marmans, Cushman's, Doodlebugs etc. John and Ken went on to become master mechanics and owned , Clarendon Hills Auto repair, the best auto repair in Chicago's Western Suburbs according to the Chicago Tribune.
Don Dickey
Background is Big Bear Lake, California in 1936