Scootacar Mk III - 1963

Scootacar was a British three-wheeled microcar built in

Hunslet, Leeds by Scootacars Ltd a division of the railway

locomotive builder, the Hunslet Engine Company between

1957 and 1964.

The beginning

It   was   allegedly   built   because   the   wife   of   one   of   the   directors   wanted   something   easier   to   park than   her   Jaguar.   The   shape   of   the   car   was   designed   by   Henry   Brown,   previously   responsible   for the   Rodley,   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   rear-mounted   Villiers   9E   197   cc   single-cylinder   two-stroke   engine coupled   to   a   four-speed   motorcycle-type   gearbox   and   chain   drive   to   the   single   rear   wheel. Steering   was   by   handlebars.   The   car   had   independent   front   suspension   using   coil   springs,   and the   wheels   were   8   in   (203   mm),   with   the   spare   mounted   externally   at   the   rear.   The   top   speed was 50 miles per hour (80 km/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   324cc   Villiers   3T   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.

Restoration

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 then to comply with the law one will have to fit a remote number plate lamp). It   is   understood   that   LEP   had   a   fire   in   the   1960s   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   homemade   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 child's bicycle. LEP   also   made   the   12   V   Mk1   wiper   motor.   One   can   consider   this   unit   equally   as   rare   although   it was   used   in   other   applications.   A   similar   unit   but   6   V   is   used   in   both   Peel   P50   and   Trident motorcars.

1963

Engine Villiers 3T 324 cc Power 16,5 bhp Top speed 109 km/h See also the Scootacar Register of UK