The A-Z of Classic Scooters - The Illustrated Guide to all Makes and Models

There are vehicles that exist purely to get you from A to B. Then there are scooters, which somehow turn even the shortest journey into a small social occasion. They have long been symbols of freedom, practicality and effortless style, proving that you don?t need six hundred horsepower to have an excellent time. Sometimes all you really need is a step-through frame, a cheerful engine note and somewhere interesting to ride. Published in 2007 by Haynes Publishing, The A?Z of Classic Scooters ? The Illustrated Guide to All Makes and Models by Jean Goyard and Bernard Soler-Thebes is an affectionate encyclopaedic celebration of one of motoring?s most charming inventions. Covering more than 300 different scooter marques , the book ranges from the instantly recognisable giants such as Vespa and Lambretta to a remarkable collection of obscure manufacturers whose names have long since disappeared from the showroom but remain alive in the hearts of enthusiasts. Rather than focusing solely on the obvious favourites, the authors cast their net wonderfully wide. This is an alphabetical tour through the history of the scooter, introducing readers to celebrated marques alongside delightfully eccentric machines from companies many people have never encountered before. Every page seems to contain another forgotten gem, another ingenious design or another manufacturer that clearly believed the future of personal transport lay in a slightly different interpretation of two wheels and a small engine. The illustrations are one of the book?s greatest pleasures. Packed with period photographs, advertising artwork, brochures and colour images, it captures not only the scooters themselves but the optimistic spirit of post-war Europe. These were machines designed to put ordinary people on the road, carrying workers to factories, courting couples into the countryside and families to the seaside, all while somehow managing to look considerably more stylish than many full-sized motorcars. There is, naturally, a delicious irony in the scooter?s reputation. Originally conceived as affordable, practical transport for people who simply needed to get about, many of these humble little machines are now cherished classics worth vastly more than their original owners could ever have imagined. Yesterday?s economical commuter has quietly become today?s concours exhibit, lovingly polished to within an inch of its life while travelling considerably fewer miles than it did when it was merely earning an honest living. The authors clearly share an infectious enthusiasm for their subject, and that enthusiasm shines through every page. Whether discussing famous names or wonderfully obscure oddities, they approach each marque with equal affection, creating a reference book that is as enjoyable to browse at random as it is to consult for specific information. It is exactly the sort of volume that encourages the dangerous phrase, "I?ll just look at one page," before an hour mysteriously disappears. This copy is in Very Good condition, remaining clean, attractive and highly presentable. It is an excellent addition for scooter enthusiasts, classic vehicle collectors, transport historians or anyone who appreciates the wonderfully inventive period when engineers seemed convinced that almost any mechanical idea deserved at least one production run. Whether your allegiance lies with Vespa, Lambretta or one of the many forgotten marques that populate these pages, The A?Z of Classic Scooters offers a delightful reminder that the history of personal transport is far richer, stranger and considerably more entertaining than most people realise. Sold, as always, by Crappy Old Books?because sometimes the most memorable journeys begin with fifty cubic centimetres, a cloud of blue smoke and absolutely no intention of arriving in a hurry.…