My Cool Scooter - An Inspirational Guide To Stylish Scooters

There are motorcycles designed to conquer continents, machines built to achieve terrifying speeds, and enormous touring contraptions equipped with more electronic equipment than a modest television studio. Then there is the humble scooter, which manages to accomplish the rather more important task of making its owner look effortlessly stylish while travelling to the shops at a speed unlikely to attract the attention of the local constabulary.

In My Cool Scooter – An Inspirational Guide to Stylish Scooters (2015), Chris Haddon celebrates the irresistible charm of one of motoring’s most fashionable inventions. Published by Pavilion Books, this beautifully presented volume explores the world of classic, customised and wonderfully individual scooters, demonstrating that modest horsepower and small wheels are no obstacle to possessing an enormous amount of personality.

The scooter has always occupied a special place in popular culture. From the elegant Italian Vespas and Lambrettas that brought affordable mobility to post-war Europe to the gleaming customised machines beloved of British Mods, these remarkable little vehicles have managed to combine practicality with an astonishing capacity for self-expression.

Naturally, owning a stylish scooter has never been entirely about transport. A perfectly ordinary journey to the supermarket can become a minor cultural event when undertaken aboard a beautifully restored vintage Vespa, particularly if the rider is wearing suitably fashionable clothing and pretending not to notice the admiring glances from pedestrians.

Haddon’s book celebrates the creativity and individuality of scooter enthusiasts, exploring machines whose owners have devoted extraordinary amounts of attention to paintwork, accessories, restoration and personal touches. Some are lovingly preserved classics, while others demonstrate what happens when imagination, mechanical enthusiasm and an extensive collection of chrome accessories are allowed to operate without financial supervision.

There is something wonderfully democratic about scooter culture. Unlike the world of exotic supercars, where individuality frequently requires the expenditure of several hundred thousand pounds, the scooter offers enthusiasts an opportunity to create something distinctive without necessarily selling the family home. Although particularly ambitious restoration projects can occasionally make that proposition seem less ridiculous.

The book captures the enduring appeal of these charismatic machines, celebrating their design, heritage and the extraordinary affection they inspire. It is a reminder that automotive style has remarkably little to do with engine capacity and considerably more to do with character, imagination and the ability to arrive somewhere looking as though the journey was entirely intentional.

Condition: As New. This copy is in exceptional condition, presenting as new despite its 2015 publication date. Unlike a neglected vintage scooter, it requires no repainting, replacement cables or prolonged argument with a temperamental ignition system before being enjoyed.

Published by Pavilion Books in 2015. ISBN: 9781909815438.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where we appreciate beautiful old machinery, especially when its ownership does not involve oily trousers, mysterious mechanical noises or an expensive collection of replacement parts.

A delightful addition to any collection of scooter literature, vintage design or motoring culture. Particularly recommended for Vespa and Lambretta enthusiasts, devoted Mods and anyone who understands that genuine automotive sophistication sometimes involves very little horsepower, two tiny wheels and considerably more style than a vehicle ten times the price.

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