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In England, between 1957 and 1965, two series of three-wheeled Scootacars were produced - MkI and MkII. The first version was so "stretched" vertically that it seemed that it would not ride but jump along the road.
Due to the height of one and a half meters and the fact that it was often painted red, the people nicknamed the machine "telephone booth." Officially, it was called Scootacar, which indicated a hybrid of a scooter (scooter) and a car (car). A motorcycle-type steering wheel aggravated this connection.
In 1959, the British released a wholly redesigned second version of the machine, and two years later, they attached a more powerful motor to it. However, the effect modification was not in demand: for some reason, few fans were riding in a telephone booth at a speed of 100 km/h.
Harry Brown had designed a small car in the mid-fifties called the Rodley 750, a dismal failure due to its JAP engine overheating and catching fire. Undaunted, Harry returned a year later with a vengeance and designed one of the most iconic, successful, and best-loved British microcars. It had acquired the reputation of being one of the worst cars of its day.
The Hunslet Engine Company, an old-established manufacturer of railway locomotives in the Leeds suburb of Hunslet, decided to build a small car. This decision had come about when the wife of one of the directors wanted a vehicle that was easier to park than her Jaguar. Harry Brown of Leeds was called in because of his experience in the field, and Scootacars Ltd. was formed as a subsidiary of Hunslet.
The Scootacar, later called the Mark I, was a scooter with an enclosed body shell. One sat very upright, holding a pair of handlebars, astride a box containing the motor, which was topped with a typical longitudinal saddle fitted with a small backrest. It was said that the tall angelfish-like shape was derived from a full-size sketch of the designer seated directly above the motor. A small folding bench seat in the back allowed two people to ride in tandem, in scooter-fashion. This mid-engine arrangement eliminated the need for a separate engine compartment behind the cabin, which created the foreshortened "telephone booth" appearance. One large door on the left- or near-side allowed comfortable stand-up access.
Lifting the seat box, access to the motor, and drive chain to the rear wheel. Despite its narrow upper half, it was pretty broad at its sheet steel floor pan. This gave it a surprisingly low center of gravity, and as a result, the little car handled exceptionally well. There was a great deal of room inside for stowing gear, like around the large floor, under the seat, on the folding chair back, and in the door pocket. The lightweight fiberglass body was bonded to the steel floor pan. The large, curved front window was glass, while the tall sliding and rear windows were in Plexiglas to save weight. In addition, the Scootacar boasted the largest parcel shelf in the industry, and, quite notably, it seems to be the only car to have a picture of itself as a front badge!
Source: www.membrana.ru; autodaily.net.ru; www.rmauctions.com
