Scootacar
Encyclopedia
Microcar
A microcar is the smallest automobile classification usually applied to standard small car . Such small cars were generally referred to as cyclecars until the 1940s. More recent models are also called bubblecars due to their egg-shaped appearance.-Definition:The definition of a microcar has varied...
built in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
by Scootacars Ltd a division of the railway locomotive builder, the Hunslet Engine Company
Hunslet Engine Company
The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
between 1957 and 1964.
It was allegedly built because the wife of one of the directors wanted something easier to park than her Jaguar
Jaguar (car)
Jaguar Cars Ltd, known simply as Jaguar , is a British luxury car manufacturer, headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, England. It is part of the Jaguar Land Rover business, a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors....
. The shape of the car was designed by Henry Brown who did it by sitting on a Villiers engine and then having an assistant draw an outline around him. The body was built in glass fibre and was very tall for its size being 60 in (1,524 mm) high, 87 in (2,210 mm) long and only 52 in (1,321 mm) wide. It was nicknamed "the telephone booth". Two people could be carried with a passenger behind the driver or alternatively just squeezed in alongside. Power came from a Villiers 9E 197 cc single cylinder 2 stroke engine coupled to a four speed motorcycle type gearbox and chain drive to the single rear wheel. Steering was by handlebars. The top speed was 50 mi/h.
In 1960 came the De Luxe or Mark 2, with a totally redesigned body with more room and seating for three, but it appeared too late to sell in any great numbers. It had a top speed of 55 mph (89 km/h) and sold for 275 British Pounds.
In 1961 the De Luxe Twin Mark 3 cars appeared fitted with a 250 cc twin giving a top speed of 68 mph (109 km/h).
Production stopped in 1964 after a total of about 1000 Scootacars were made, but only about 20-30 had the larger engine.
For the purist the hardest part to locate on a Mk1 Scootacar is the rear light unit. These were made by a long defunct company called L.E.Perry or LEP. They are red as required by law but have a clear insert on the side of the lamp to illuminate the number plate. They are constructed in a unique larger diameter than a contemporary Lucas light unit (which most Mk1's have to use although one will then to comply with the law have to fit a remote number plate lamp)
It is understood that LEP had a fire in the 60's which destroyed the moulds. The lens unit is not of the highest quality and tends to fade to orange after the 50 years of being exposed to UV light. The plastic can also craze.
LEP rear light units were not used on any other production motor vehicle. However it seems they were perhaps sold at Halfords or its ilk as a unit for fitting to home made trailers,motorcycle sidecars and caravans at the time.
A correct Mk1 will also have a pair of Bluemell reflectors fitted below the rear lights on small steel straps. These appear to have been derived from a childs bicycle.
LEP also made the 12v Mk1 Wipermotor. One can consider this unit equally as rare although it was used in other applications. A similar unit but 6v is used in both Peel P50 and Trident motorcars.