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What a difference a bit of paint makes. The Ducati Paul Smart Scrambler would be classified as a “factory” custom bike, and in essence this means that what makes it unique are mainly cosmetic changes. But, unlike many products that would fall under this same category, the Paul Smart Scrambler’s look tells a great story and it does so with true heart. Based on the style of famed racer Paul Smart, whose 1972 Imola 200 race win helped put Ducati’s engines on the map, the bike harkens back to a legacy the company would be nil without. The significance of the Smart/Ducati bond was not lost on Ducati Thailand’s Managing Director Apichat Leenutaphong, who was the driving force behind reviving the iconic theme of Smart’s SportClassic line. Urging Smart and his wife Maggie to help bring this look into the 21st century, the couple spent 11 months traveling in Thailand to help the Ducati team there produce this remarkable bike. The motorcycle revives the silver and Sea Green color scheme of the old bike, with a vintage Ducati logo on the tank and a clever stripe of gold to recall the original racing bike’s translucent fuel level window. The most difficult job though was dealing with the tail section of the bike. The team first modeled it in clay and then 3D scanned it, using computer modeling to integrate it into the new design. The seat’s upholstery is a lush brown Alcantara, and to top it all off the cowl sports Paul Smart’s 16 race number. These bikes were truly a labor of love to bring to life, and unfortunately only 24 units have been made so far. One hopes that Ducati sees the potential in this throwback, and begins a larger scale production soon (hopefully in time for my birthday)
