Reviews
Kabinews, January 2008 Review by Sarah Snowden Club magazine of The Messerschmitt Owners Club This is a new book by Michael Dan (MOC member) and the whole idea of this book is to recreate the scene and atmosphere of Britain in the 1950s when scooters and microcars first had a significant effect on the streets. It also sets out to provide data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source, together with some happy recollections of that era. The book gives a lot of information about 'what is a scooter?' and 'what is a microcar?'. Also details of the market place where you can or could buy these vehicles from and scooter and microcar clubs and activities. It has scooter and microcar photo galleries and the photo of each vehicle has a small caption detailing make, where and when it was built, what kind of gearbox it has, number of seats, engine size, weight and maximum speed of the vehicle. It also has some other information such as production colors and if it can be driven by 16 year olds. It also gives information on its background - who it was made for and what people, who bought the vehicle, used it for. In this book there is a time line for scooters going from 1952 up until 1969. it shows everything that was built through those years and when production of the vehicles ceased. It is an interesting book with lots of weird and wonderful vehicles and is well worth a look.
<p>Kabinews, January 2008<br> Review by Sarah Snowden<br> Club magazine of The Messerschmitt Owners Club <br> This is a new book by Michael Dan (MOC member) and the whole idea of this book is to recreate the scene and atmosphere of Britain in the 1950s when scooters and microcars first had a significant effect on the streets. It also sets out to provide data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source, together with some happy recollections of that era. The book gives a lot of information about 'what is a scooter?' and 'what is a microcar?'. Also details of the market place where you can or could buy these vehicles from and scooter and microcar clubs and activities. It has scooter and microcar photo galleries and the photo of each vehicle has a small caption detailing make, where and when it was built, what kind of gearbox it has, number of seats, engine size, weight and maximum speed of the vehicle. It also has some other information such as production colors and if it cant
<p>Kabinews, January 2008<br> Review by Sarah Snowden<br> Club magazine of The Messerschmitt Owners Club<br><br> This is a new book by Michael Dan (MOC member) and the whole idea of this book is to recreate the scene and atmosphere of Britain in the 1950s when scooters and microcars first had a significant effect on the streets. It also sets out to provide data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source, together with some happy recollections of that era. The book gives a lot of information about 'what is a scooter?' and 'what is a microcar?'. Also details of the market place where you can or could buy these vehicles from and scooter and microcar clubs and activities. It has scooter and microcar photo galleries and the photo of each vehicle has a small caption detailing make, where and when it was built, what kind of gearbox it has, number of seats, engine size, weight and maximum speed of the vehicle. It also has some other information such as production colors and if it can be driven by 16 year olds. It also gives information on its background - who it was made for and what people, who bought the vehicle, used it for.<br><br> In this book there is a time line for scooters going from 1952 up until 1969. it shows everything that was built through those years and when production of the vehicles ceased. It is an interesting book with lots of weird and wonderful vehicles and is well worth a look.
"Road & Track, "" Nov. 1, 2007""What brings it all together is the comprehensive alphabetical listing of scooters and microcars ... From Vespa and Lambretta to Fiat and Isetta, you'll find it all in this engaging reference guide."" Kabinews, January 2008 Review by Sarah Snowden Club magazine of The Messerschmitt Owners Club This is a new book by Michael Dan (MOC member) and the whole idea of this book is to recreate the scene and atmosphere of Britain in the 1950s when scooters and microcars first had a significant effect on the streets. It also sets out to provide data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source, together with some happy recollections of that era. The book gives a lot of information about 'what is a scooter?' and 'what is a microcar?'. Also details of the market place where you can or could buy these vehicles from and scooter and microcar clubs and activities. It has scooter and microcar photo galleries and the photo of each vehicle has a small caption detailing make, where and when it was built, what kind of gearbox it has, number of seats, engine size, weight and maximum speed of the vehicle. It also has some other information such as production colors and if it can be driven by 16 year olds. It also gives information on its background - who it was made for and what people, who bought the vehicle, used it for. In this book there is a time line for scooters going from 1952 up until 1969. it shows everything that was built through those years and when production of the vehicles ceased. It is an interesting book with lots of weird and wonderful vehicles and is well worth a look. Road & Track,"" Nov. 1, 2007 ""What brings it all together is the comprehensive alphabetical listing of scooters and microcars ... From Vespa and Lambretta to Fiat and Isetta, you'll find it all in this engaging reference guide."" The Automobile, September 2007, UK magazine As the author writes in his introduction, ""My book is at attempt to recreate the scene and atmosphere of 1950s Britain when scooters and microcars first had a significant impact on our streets and, for the first time, my generation was able to afford convenient personal transport which also had a bright new style and image. I hope, also, that it provides the data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source."" His attempt has succeeded. Written in a chatty personal style, it does indeed detail an incredible number of scooters, and almost as many microcars of the 1950s to 70s, including smaller-engined cars as well as those capable of being driven on a motorcycle license. The book is colorfully illustrated throughout, with many period advertisements, and closes with a list of the clubs applicable to the machinery. Kabinews, January 2008 Review by Sarah Snowden Club magazine of The Messerschmitt Owners Club This is a new book by Michael Dan (MOC member) and the whole idea of this book is to recreate the scene and atmosphere of Britain in the 1950s when scooters and microcars first had a significant effect on the streets. It also sets out to provide data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source, together with some happy recollections of that era. The book gives a lot of information about 'what is a scooter?' and 'what is a microcar?'. Also details of the market place where you can or could buy these vehicles from and scooter and microcar clubs and activities. It has scooter and microcar photo galleries and the photo of each vehicle has a small caption detailing make, where and when it was built, what kind of gearbox it has, number of seats, engine size, weight and maximum speed of the vehicle. It also has some other information such as production colors and if it can be driven by 16 year olds. It also gives information on its background - who it was made for and what people, who bought the vehicle, used it for. In this book there is a time line for scooters going from 1952 up until 1969. it shows everything that was built through those years and when production of the vehicles ceased. It is an interesting book with lots of weird and wonderful vehicles and is well worth a look. The Automobile, September 2007, UK magazine As the author writes in his introduction, ""My book is at attempt to recreate the scene and atmosphere of 1950s Britain when scooters and microcars first had a significant impact on our streets and, for the first time, my generation was able to afford convenient personal transport which also had a bright new style and image. I hope, also, that it provides the data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source."" His attempt has succeeded. Written in a chatty personal style, it does indeed detail an incredible number of scooters, and almost as many microcars of the 1950s to 70s, including smaller-engined cars as well as those capable of being driven on a motorcycle license. The book is colorfully illustrated throughout, with many period advertisements, and closes with a list of the clubs applicable to the machinery. Kabinews, January 2008 Review by Sarah Snowden Club magazine of The Messerschmitt Owners Club This is a new book by Michael Dan (MOC member) and the whole idea of this book is to recreate the scene and atmosphere of Britain in the 1950s when scooters and microcars first had a significant effect on the streets. It also sets out to provide data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source, together with some happy recollections of that era. The book gives a lot of information about 'what is a scooter?' and 'what is a microcar?'. Also details of the market place where you can or could buy these vehicles from and scooter and microcar clubs and activities. It has scooter and microcar photo galleries and the photo of each vehicle has a small caption detailing make, where and when it was built, what kind of gearbox it has, number of seats, engine size, weight and maximum speed of the vehicle. It also has some other information such as production colors and if it can be driven by 16 year olds. It also gives information on its background - who it was made for and what people, who bought the vehicle, used it for. In this book there is a time line for scooters going from 1952 up until 1969. it shows everything that was built through those years and when production of the vehicles ceased. It is an interesting book with lots of weird and wonderful vehicles and is well worth a look. The Automobile, September 2007, UK magazine As the author writes in his introduction, ""My book is at attempt to recreate the scene and atmosphere of 1950s Britain when scooters and microcars first had a significant impact on our streets and, for the first time, my generation was able to afford convenient personal transport which also had a bright new style and image. I hope, also, that it provides the data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source."" His attempt has succeeded. Written in a chatty personal style, it does indeed detail an incredible number of scooters, and almost as many microcars of the 1950s to 70s, including smaller-engined cars as well as those capable of being driven on a motorcycle license. The book is colorfully illustrated throughout, with many period advertisements, and closes with a list of the clubs applicable to the machinery. Australian Classic Car Magazine,"" August 2007 ""It comes highly recommended, so much so that it's our book of the month."" Road & Track,"" Nov. 1, 2007 ""What brings it all together is the comprehensive alphabetical listing of scooters and microcars ... From Vespa and Lambretta to Fiat and Isetta, you'll find it all in this engaging reference guide."" totalkitcar.com, July 2007-Website ezine and quarterly magazine This is going to be of interest to the casual fan of scooters and microcars as the majority of the material has been published before. However, it's an informative reference work albeit in bite-sized chunks. It presents specification and technical data in alphabetical A-Z order of manufacturer. There are also nostalgic recollections by the author based on ownership and personal experience, which goes back to the austerity of the mid-fifties, when he first became interested in these colourful forms of transport. A nice book of 256 pages with 441 photos, providing a pleasant book. Road & Track, November 2007 - US magazine In homage to the scooter and microcar boom of the 1950s and 60s, author Michael Dan brings the passion of an enthusiast to this guide of small transport classics. Inside you will find many personal and historical anecdotes about the day, with over 430 photos and vintage advertisements from manufacturers that capture the spirit of the era. There are also in-depth classic scooter profiles on machines such as the Durkopp Diana and Ducati Brio 100, plus manufacturer timelines that document the surge in market demand as popularity grew. What brings it all together is the comprehensive alphabetical listing of scooters and microcars that contains spec data, country of origin, year of introduction, a glossy photo, and a detailed description. From Vespa and Lambretta to Fiat and Isetta, you'll find it all in this engaging reference guide. Review from The Automobile, September 2007, UK magazine As the author writes in his introduction, ""My book is at attempt to recreate the scene and atmosphere of 1950s Britain when scooters and microcars first had a significant impact on our streets and, for the first time, my generation was able to afford convenient personal transport which also had a bright new style and image. I hope, also, that it provides the data and detail necessary to serve as a reference source."" His attempt has succeeded. Written in a chatty personal style, it does indeed detail an incredible number of scooters, and almost as many microcars of the 1950s to 70s, including smaller-engined cars as well as those capable of being driven on a motorcycle license. The book is colorfully illustrated throughout, with many period advertisements, and closes with a list of the clubs applicable to the machinery. Australian Classic Car, August 2007 Australian magazine BOOK OF THE MONTH No sooner had I stopped whining about motoring writers not taking microcars seriously than this new British book pops into my hands. I was a little wary at first of an attempt to combine microcars with scooters although there was clearly a strong connection between the two, not only because both offered economical transportation but so many shared the same engines. While the publication is essentially a photographic reference, it goes to some length to explain the post WWII market when scooters and microcars burst on to the scene. It then provides detail on popular scooters and microcars, followed by a description of what it's like to own a microcar. The range of vehicles is simply astounding and while it's well known, I still can't quite accept that the makers of the lithe AC Ace and Cobra could have made such an astounding vehicle as the AC Petite. The scooters and microcars depicted are not restricted to the classic period - modern Vespas and Smart cars have been included. I enjoyed this book and will say that only the British could build something as eccentric as the single seat Peel P50, it comes highly recommended, so much so that it's our book of the month. Review from Scootabout, The Newsletter of the Scootacar Register, September 2007 Mike Dan is probably better known for his scooter and microcar articles in the 'Scootering' magazine and his National Microcar videos from a few years back, but with his nostalgic recollections has now written an excellent book based on ownership and personal experiences. This comprehensive photo recognition guide includes basic background information, specifications and date listings for each vehicle listed, including the Scootacar, with lots of period adverts and brochure illustrations. Although priced at around 25 I am sure that you would find this 256 page book, complete with 438 color pictures, a very useful reference book. Classic Car Mart, June 2007 Boasting no less than 256 pages, this latest tribute to the world of microcars is a hefty book by most standards - as it should be, give its price tag of just shy of thirty quid. And for that price, I'd have ideally liked to see hardback covers instead of its paperback-plus-flaps design. Still, the book does have at least one trick up its sleeve which we like - and which you've probably already worked out from its title. Yes, this is a book dedicated to microcars AND scooters. And, you know, it kind of makes sense, particularly with its sub-heading of 'Cruising In Style'. Whether you're heading down to Brighton astride your 1970s Vespa or Lambretta, or you're cruising the city streets at the wheel of your Messerschmitt or Isetta, you know you're the proud pilot of an icon, a legend and an important part of our social history. Oh, and something rather stylish too! Author Mike Dan is a lifelong fan of both scooters and microcars, having owned plenty of examples of both. And so this is a work of real passion, as well as being impressively in-depth when it comes to describing the pros and cons of microcar and scooter ownership, the perils of buying and the fun that can be had with the help of fellow owners. Mike also explains how, back in the 1950s in particular, increasing numbers of scooter owners started making the transition towards microcars, and the logic behind it: '... they used similar air.cooled engines, were advertised in the same magazines, cost only a little more to runand maintain, could be driven on the same driving licence and were sold by the same dealers'. It's little wonder the microcar became the vehicle-with.a.roof choice for so many ex-scooter owners. One of the joys of this book is its coverage of some of the rarest microcars out there, with such models as the 1962 Autobianchi Bianchina, 1984 Bamby, 1958 Coronet, 1955 Fuldamobile S1, 1960 Nobel 200 and plenty more being given their own space. The text is informative and easy to read, and there are copious illustrations and photographs throughout - the vast majority from the author's own collection. Also great to see is an abundance of period advertising and promotional literature, again collected over this enthusiast's lifetime. For fans of minuscule and meager motoring, this latest Veloce title is great fun - and rather informative too. l mean, did you know that prototypes of a new AC three-wheeler were built in 1971? No, nor did we ... Classic Scooterist Scene, May 2007 - UK magazine Another book in a similar vein to the other A-Z book review on these pages [unknown]. This one doesn't pretend to cover every single model available - only the 'popular' models - a bit of a get-out really when it's titled an 'A-Z'. This book attempts to get around the problem of period picture availability by recreating its own photos, using pictures of different machines super-imposed onto a suitable period background. This does have the effect of making some of them look distinctly odd. The scooter text itself is set out in two parts. The front section gives an overview of scootering history and marques, interspersed not only with scooter pictures, but also PR leaflets and memorabilia, which makes it a little different. The rear section forms a directory with text and a photo of a particular model. An attempt is also made at providing a club directory (in my opinion a limiting factor to its sellability) and glancing through it, some of the information is out of date already. A similarly laid-out section at the rear of the book provides similar information on three-wheelers and microcars. This book has its own merits, as some information is approached from a different angle. Don't accept that the information is necessarily accurate (personally I find it hard to trust information from someone who can't even spell a well-known scooter like the Serveta correctly). If you like looking at nice pictures and oddities, then this might be the book for you. Classic Car Mart, June 2007 Boasting no less than 256 pages, this latest tribute to the world of microcars is a hefty book by most standards - as it should be, give its price tag of just shy of thirty quid. And for that price, I'd have ideally liked to see hardback covers instead of its paperback-plus-flaps design. Still, the book does have at least one trick up its sleeve which we like - and which you've probably already worked out from its title. Yes, this is a book dedicated to microcars AND scooters. And, you know, it kind of makes sense, particularly with its sub-heading of 'Cruising In Style'. Whether you're heading down to Brighton astride your 1970s Vespa or Lambretta, or you're cruising the city streets at the wheel of your Messerschmitt or Isetta, you know you're the proud pilot of an icon, a legend and an important part of our social history. Oh, and something rather stylish too! Author Mike Dan is a lifelong fan of both scooters and microcars, having owned plenty of examples of both. And so this is a work of real passion, as well as being impressively in-depth when it comes to describing the pros and cons of microcar and scooter ownership, the perils of buying and the fun that can be had with the help of fellow owners. Mike also explains how, back in the 1950s in particular, increasing numbers of scooter owners started making the transition towards microcars, and the logic behind it: '... they used similar air.cooled engines, were advertised in the same magazines, cost only a little more to run and maintain, could be driven on the same driving licence and were sold by the same dealers'. It's little wonder the microcar became thevehicle-with.a.roof choice for so many ex-scooter owners. One of the joys of this book is its coverage of some of the rarest microcars out there, with such models as the 1962 Autobianchi Bianchina, 1984 Bamby, 1958 Coronet, 1955 Fuldamobile S1, 1960 Nobel 200 and plenty more being given their own space. The text is informative and easy to read, and there are copious illustrations and photographs throughout - the vast majority from the author's own collection. Also great to see is an abundance of period advertising and promotional literature, again collected over this enthusiast's lifetime. For fans of minuscule and meager motoring, this latest Veloce title is great fun - and rather informative too. l mean, did you know that prototypes of a new AC three-wheeler were built in 1971? No, nor did we ... Scooter-forums.com, May 2007 Another lovely book from Veloce, ""The A to Z of Scooters and Microcars"" is mainly a photographic reference book but there are also nostalgic recollections by the author based on ownership and his personal experience. In the middle 1950s as a teenager Mike Dan became interested in these then newly-arrived forms of transport. Eventually Mike owned a series of scooters and a microcar. He became involved in Scooter and Microcar Clubs and took part in many local and national sporting events gaining a collection of awards and trophies. In the mid-1980s he had time again to visit many indoor and outdoor classic vehicle shows. Eventually this led to a renewed personal involvement in the restoration of a series of over twenty classic scooters and three classic microcars. This highly entertaining book and reference source is therefore written with the authority of a lifetime enthusiast. This is a lovely book, stuffed full of gorgeous photographs and period brochures and sales leaflets. With over 250 pages, there's plenty of detail to keep you going, but the book's style makes for an easy read too. And, as with other Veloce publications, the book is beautifully laid out and printed, so it's great to have on the coffee table. The Royal Automobile Club, Spring 2007 (UK) A lifelong scooter enthusiast, the author captures the evocative era of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, in a full color, comprehensive and personal recollection. Contents include many period advertisements, many specifications data, and a club directory of scooters and microcars."
