Motor Scooters - Colour Family Album

There was a time when the height of sophisticated personal transport involved a small engine, two modest wheels and a machine that looked rather like a kitchen appliance designed by an Italian fashion house. The motor scooter was a wonderfully ingenious invention, offering freedom, economy and the opportunity to travel considerable distances without adopting the appearance of a leather-clad motorcycle racer or spending half one’s income on petrol.

In Motor Scooters – Colour Family Album (1998), Andrea and David Sparrow celebrate the remarkable variety and irresistible charm of these diminutive machines. Published by Veloce Publishing, this colourful photographic tribute explores the designs, personalities and extraordinary visual appeal of scooters that helped transform everyday transport into something approaching a cultural statement.

From the elegant curves of classic Italian Vespas and Lambrettas to the more unusual creations produced by manufacturers across Europe and beyond, the scooter has enjoyed a fascinating history of mechanical experimentation and stylistic adventure. Some models were masterpieces of simplicity and practicality, while others suggested that their designers had been given a pencil, an unlimited imagination and very little guidance about what a sensible vehicle should look like.

Following the Second World War, scooters offered affordable mobility to millions of people who could not necessarily afford a motor car but were understandably reluctant to spend the rest of their lives waiting for buses. Their compact dimensions, economical engines and comparatively straightforward operation made them ideal for navigating crowded towns and cities, particularly those blessed with narrow streets and motorists possessing an enthusiastic interpretation of traffic regulations.

Of course, the scooter soon became much more than practical transport. In Britain, the Mod movement transformed these modest machines into mobile works of art, festooned with mirrors, lamps, chrome accessories and enough decorative equipment to suggest that the owner was preparing for a ceremonial procession rather than a trip to the seaside.

The Sparrows’ photographic celebration captures the wonderful individuality of scooter design, reminding readers that automotive history is not exclusively concerned with enormous engines, luxury saloons and machines capable of exceeding the national speed limit before their owners have finished adjusting the seat.

There is something particularly appealing about a vehicle that manages to combine mechanical simplicity with such extraordinary personality. A scooter might possess only a fraction of the horsepower of a conventional motorcycle, yet it can attract considerably more attention, especially when painted a spectacular colour and accompanied by a rider wearing an exceptionally ambitious scarf.

Condition: As New. This copy is in exceptional condition, presenting as new despite its 1998 publication date. Unlike many surviving vintage scooters, it requires no repainting, replacement cables or repeated attempts to persuade a temperamental two-stroke engine to start.

Published by Veloce Publishing in 1998. ISBN: 9781901295030.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where we appreciate charming old vehicles, particularly when admiring them involves neither oily fingers nor the possibility of being stranded outside a chip shop.

A delightful addition to any collection of classic scooter literature, vintage transport photography or Mod memorabilia. Particularly recommended for enthusiasts who appreciate that true motoring elegance sometimes arrives with ten-inch wheels, a modest engine and rather more chrome than strictly necessary.

Keep browsing: See more Transport books Other books by Andrea and David Sparrow