It has a unique custom interior, 5000 miles on the rebuilt engine, new gearbox, hide-away exhaust, etc; it’s very tidy and is fast and pleasant to drive.

We use it as a daily driver and for camping in the summer.

THIS 1963 VW SPLITSCREEN WILL SEAT 6 PASSENGERS AND IS AVAILABLE FOR HIRE FOR WEDDINGS, FILMS, ADVERTISING, etc

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JOHN AND PAM BOUGHT ELVIS 3 WEEKS AGO. LAST WEEK, THEY FLEW DOWN FROM EDINBURGH AND DROVE ELVIS BACK!

556 miles (with 2 stopovers en route).

They’d never driven a splitscreen before - nor left-hand drive. There were storms and strong winds. An epic journey.

Respect…

1966 VW Splitscreen Hi-Top Campervan

Originally an Air France Air-Crew Minibus, The Jem High-top extension was added in 1980. This kind of VW conversion was once popular in France, but is now very rare. As you can see, I’m a magnet for unique vehicles so I found it impossible to resist buying this one.

Rarer still for a 41-year-old European vehicle, Elvis has never needed his chassis welding.

With the extra room in the roof (his quiff!), Elvis is ready for an extended family’s summer camping.

If a Bonnie and Clyde type of car suits your wedding, Big Nellie may be booked on:

http://www.lovedubs.com

The previous owner named her Big Nellie. The name is painted across the top of the driver’s door. I initially intended to remove the name. But on our first drive through Brighton a young boy turned to his father and asked:

“Dad, what kind of car is that?”

“It’s a Big Nellie,” Dad replied.

This 1932 FORD MODEL B (registration ‘32 BE’) IS AVAILABLE FOR HIRE FOR WEDDINGS, FILMS, ADVERTISING, etc

Our VW Splitscreen Roadster is known as the Lovedub.

To hire the Lovedub for your wedding, school prom or special occasion please click here

http://lovedubs.wordpress.com

The Lovedub brings a smile to everyone’s face. I’ve driven vintage cars for many years so I’m used to the attention. But the Lovedub is by far the smiliest car I’ve ever driven. People honk their horns and wave as they overtake us on the motorway, and wherever we park passers-by seem to have a reflex action - mobile phones appear magically in their hands as they stand back to photograph the Lovedub.

In July, the Lovedub was invited to pull a float in the Brighton Gay Pride Parade.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

This beautiful scooter is the epitome of French fifties styling. It just needs a poodle on the pillion…

To see more photos and history of this scooter, please click here http://maico.mobi

UPDATE 3 JUNE 2007: I’ve swapped the Zundapp with Dave from Littlehampton. It looks excellent next to his Borgward Isabella.

1959 Maicoletta Scooter

I’ve owned this scooter for 3 years, though don’t use it much now. It’s in excellent original condition and starts and runs well. I’ll sell it simply because it deserves to have an owner who uses it!

I really bought this Maicoletta because I miss my old Maicomobil; a ‘Letta’ was the next best thing; and interestingly, the Maicoletta runs so much better than a Maicomobil, which has a very disappointing engine sound. (I suppose it’s all about expectation: with the Maicomobil’s sci-fi looks you anticipate the sound of Flash Gordon’s rocket; definitely not a hairdryer).

Whereas the Maicoletta is just a totally well-engineered, down-to-earth machine.

I loved the article in Scootering recently about the Maicoletta trip towards the North Pole.

It now has a new MOT. I’ve recently spent a lot of money buying a Maicomobil for restoration, so some of my other scooters now have to go. You can read about it by clicking HERE

or http://www.maico.mobi

READ MORE ABOUT VINTAGE SCOOTERS & 3-WHEELERS IN THE NEW ONLINE VINTAGE SCOOTER MAGAZINE: http://maico.mobi/

In 1954 the model name of this 125cc Terrot scooter was actually ‘VMS2.’ It didn’t become the ‘Scooterrot’ until 1955. But I can’t help calling it a scooterrot as I think it’s such a great name.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

THIS MOTORCYCLE IS NOW IN ITALY

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

Another one of my favourite scooter models which, for obvious reasons, is known as ‘The Pig.’

This one is cosmetically unrestored, but mechanically sound and in running order.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

UPDATE: 30 MAY 2007: NOW SOLD

This is my 1965 Lambro FLi 175 Lambretta triporteur. It has a 125cc engine fitted, but I don’t know if this was installed from the factory or later. It’s in good running order except that the diff is noisy; so we’ll have that apart as the first job.

The body is good and it’s surprisingly original all round - it even has its original tarpaulin.

Here’s a photo of an FLi 175 in the 1960 film ‘Classe tous risques, ’

Soraya and I went to France to collect it. Here we are next to the moving windmill we passed on the return journey.

It’s usually an interesting experience transporting 3-wheelers. It is mounted on my towing dolly - an apparatus that is supposed to transport a vehicle behind; but we discovered that with a bit of improvisation, the Lambro fit perfectly on top.
After this discovery, I’ll make up an extra ramp attachment to make it easier for future triporteur transportation.

I’m a real sucker for triporteurs. In the 1980’s, I owned an early 1950’s Pashley delivery m/cycle. I still regret selling it, so I snapped up this wonderful old triporteur the minute I found it.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

The previous owner cherished this lovely old Prefect for over 20 years. The bodywork is excellent and it has a rebuilt engine. It appeared in the TV soap ‘Emmerdale Farm’ 10 years ago.

The interior is just as wonderful as the outside of the car. This beautiful 54-year-old Ford is good enough to enter for shows.

THIS TRIUMPH 5T (registration JAZ 1946) has been my personal mount over the past year.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

I’ve not yet found another example of this flat tank version of the TS100. This German Triumph is powered by a 98cc Fichtel & Sachs engine. Its ‘Triumph’ logo is particurly unusual in this country, as most German Triumphs carried a ‘TWN’ badge - after the German and British branches of Triumph split, all German Triumph export models were fitted with the TWN badge.

TWN means ‘Triumph Werks Nurmberg’ - I’m sure you already know that Triumph is actually a German marque? The German and British companies were split in the 1930’s.

We’ve recently restored this machine, and I hope to ride it on the British 2-Stroke Mid-Sussex Run on June 10th.

I couldn’t find many photos of this model on the internet, though I have managed to obtain various brochures showing 1936 models:

We originally attached the Fenton Zip sidecar to it.

Though the bike and sidecar are not colour matched, they are each so unusual they seem to complement each other…

However, I’ve now removed the sidecar and am using the Triumph solo.

For more on this Triumph, please click on http://www.ridevintage.wordpress.com

It starts first kick in any weather, is very tidy and reliable too.

http://www.classicfreeads.com

It is radically low, has a 1275 Midget engine, and is up-rated mechanically all round. I had it resprayed maroon. I’ve had to replace the front suspension - I did mention it was low! It’s great on the motorway, but you have to drive low cars slowly in town over speed bumps.

It was my daily driver for several years. Since restoring my VW Splitscreens, I don’t seem to use it much. I’m loathe to sell it, but I no longer have room to keep all my cars under cover.

I’ve put 10 photos of it onto the following website:

PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

UPDATE 30 MAY 2007: NOW SOLD

I’d intended restoring this rare Lambretta 3-wheeler later in the year but have recently decided instead to sell some of my collection to make it easier to focus on the others.

It’s a very sound basis for restoration.

The engine turns over. Lambretta parts are easily available and it should be easy to restore it mechanically and get it on the road. And I have the French Registration Document for it.

Here’s a photo of a similar FD model in the 1955 film ‘Du rififi chez les hommes’

1927-1929 Blotto Triporteur (Not too sure yet of the exact age)

This is my Blotto ‘Auto-Tri.’

It’s a French triporteur with a 350cc Anzani engine.

In fact, the engine does not have any makers badge. But Anzani lived in France at that time, and apparently designed the first Blotto engines. Of course, Alessandro Anzani was famous for his aircraft engines (eg the Blériot, which he flew across the English Channel in 1909). The British Anzani engine was in production until 1980.

I have set up a forum for triporteurs. If you have a triporteur, are interested in them, or just to find out more information about triporteurs, please go to:

http://www.triporteurs.co.uk

Most people associate the name ‘Roadmaster’ with Buick. But this is the kind of Roadmaster that 10 year olds discovered next to the Xmas tree back in those good ol’ Leave-it-to-Beaver days.

I found it in a junk shop while we were in South Carolina in Easter 2005. I managed to get new wheels, tyres and front light at a cycle shop nearby (beach cruisers are back in vogue so parts availability via catalogue is excellent). They also parcelled it up for me - so it only cost $50 to bring back as check-in luggage on the plane coming home.

I first bought this James scooter in 1986 from someone in Manchester. In 1992-3, I sold my entire scooter collection. The chap who bought the James from me (for £410) totally restored it; he said he spent over £3000 on it, and I don’t think that included his own labour.
When he advertised it through the Vintage Motor Scooter Club last year, I bought it back.

I bought this Bernardet Cabri to restore. The Cabri 50 CM3 was the first model, and they are extremely rare these days.

The bodywork is very sound, and it has its badges and tinware. The engine turns.

This one was used by a driving-school to teach students to ride scooters.

The Cabri was a fashion icon in its day. Don’t even consider buying it unless you’re prepared to wear leopard-skin culottes when you ride it

READ MORE ABOUT VINTAGE SCOOTERS & 3-WHEELERS IN THE NEW ONLINE VINTAGE SCOOTER MAGAZINE: http://maico.mobi/

UPDATE SEPT 2007: The Cabri has now been sold to my friend Fabian and he has already started restoring it.

This is my partner’s Beetle. I bought it in 2005 and last summer had it sprayed for her in the colour of her choice, plum pink.

We are having a baby in August, so unfortunately the Beetle now has to go, and I’ll have to buy her some awful modern hatchback as her daily driver.

Minors and Beetles are definitely the easiest turn-key old cars to own when it comes to reliability and spares availability. This one is very pretty. It has a new MOT. When I get a moment I’ll advertise it on the VW forums and ebay.

I’ve owned this delightful Morris since 2003. She’s very clean underneath and the interior is spotless. The sun visor peak is an original splitscreen one (very rare).

I still have the original engine, but last year I removed it to install a 1098cc engine and gearbox from a Morris Traveller. This makes the Morris much more useable and it often sees service as my daily driver.

I particularly enjoy opening the door first thing in the morning and being hit by the smell of the leather interior.

I don’t really want to sell it, but I have too many old cars that I’m attached to. So if someone else fell in love with it and made me a reasonable offer, she will become another enthusiast’s loyal daily driver.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

1954 Cyclemaster on a restored Royal Enfield Ladies Model frame.

This attractive 32cc Cyclemaster is in good running order with a long MOT. The previous owner fitted an extra petrol tank behind the saddle to use for long journeys, which I have disconnected.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

I bought my Monkey Bike a few years ago to make it easier to get home when I drop a car off at a garage. It’s also handy for nipping round to the shops on a sunday morning to get the papers when we go camping.

I really disliked Jap bikes when they started to get popular in the late 60’s/ early 70’s, as I was staunchly into British bikes. I didn’t like disco either first time round. 30 odd years down the line though things I didn’t like then somehow seem more appealing…

Frame number 5815.

Manufactured by Brockhouse Engineering of Southport, Merseyside.

98cc Excelsior Spryte engine.

Single speed kickstart model.

Cost new £43 6/-

For more photos and history, please click here http://maicomobi.wordpress.com

And there are more photos here: http://ridevintage.wordpress.com

FOR SALES DETAILS - PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

My first scooter was a Capri. I bought it from the guy who sat in front of me at school in 1968. It cost me 19/- 6d plus my transistor radio. I learned to ride by sitting on the scooter, firing it up, and then I put it in gear while turning the throttle simultaneously. The scooter sped down the street and I fell off the back. I learned.

Next day the guy who sat on front of me at school complained that the transistor radio didn’t work properly and I had to give the scooter back.

This Capri is in superb condition. It was restored by the previous owner, who bought it in 1981 for £10 from the original owner. It has its original purchase receipt, old logbook, old MOT and taxdsic, the first insurance certificate, handbooks, etc etc.

The engine has been rebuilt, so it runs very well too.

Maybe because I only owned my first scooter for 24 hours I have less attachment to this model than to my 2nd scooter (a Lambretta) with which I had lots of memorable adventures. So this pretty little Capri is now for sale.

READ MORE ABOUT VINTAGE SCOOTERS & 3-WHEELERS IN THE NEW ONLINE VINTAGE SCOOTER MAGAZINE: http://maico.mobi/

This 1905 Alldays Carrier tricycle is my oldest vehicle. It was originally used by Watson Prickard Ltd, a firm of gent’s outfitters in Liverpool. Some old laundry boxes are inside, so I assume that one of its uses was to deliver clothes to and from the dry cleaners.

Alldays made cars and motorcycles too, and the company name later changed to Alldays and Onions, and finally to Allon.

The advert below is for a later range of delivery cycles: by now the name at the top is Alldays and Onions; and the carrier tricycle pictured is different from mine.

The handcarts pictured in this brochure interest me because although such vehicles are no longer known to us in the West, pushcarts such as these are still in very common useage in India and Nepal.

I bought this Fenton Zip Juvenile Sidecar recently. These two photos show it when it arrived, looking slightly sorry for itself without its 26″ wheel fitted.

We have already tidied it up - it did not really need much restoration. And now it is about to be fitted to my 1935 Triumph TS 100 (see the previous article, above).

As there is very little information about these very unusual sidecars on the internet, I shall be adding further literature soon, on my 3-wheeler forum www.triporteurs.co.uk, which has separate database section for sidecars. I’ll add a direct link when I’ve had time to add the info.

The article below is about this actual sidecar.

For the report on my road-test of the Fenton Zip sidecar set up on the 1935 Triumph TS 100, please click on the link to Ride Vintage! magazine below:

http://ridevintage.wordpress.com

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The vehicle below are ones I’ve sold in the past few years.

This Pashley 3-wheeler was used for local supermarket deliveries.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

READ MORE ABOUT VINTAGE SCOOTERS & 3-WHEELERS IN THE NEW ONLINE VINTAGE SCOOTER MAGAZINE: http://maico.mobi/

You can read the full story of my Maico Mobil scooter on:

http://www.maico.mobi

UPDATE: NOW FOR SALE -

http://BuyVintage.co.uk

This 1939 BSA C10 de Luxe, with foot gear-change, cost £38 new, though a speedometer was extra.

It has been totally restored. I had it MOT tested recently, and it runs very well. After a few more jaunts riding it through the local countryside I’ll advertise it for sale.

This 1954 Mobylette moped has been very nicely restored. It runs well, and it passed its MOT test last week.

It’s the most beautiful example of this model that I’ve seen. With the re-chroming work, must have had well over £1000 spent on it. It would not be out of place in a museum.

For more information on this model, please click on http://www.ridevintage.com

1935 Genial Lucifer with a 100cc BMA engine and 2-speed gearbox. It has been totally restored, and I had it MOT tested. I’ts easy to start and lovely to ride.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

This is a very attractive 1940’s Rudge Witworth frame sporting a 1951 Garelli Mosquito 38cc 2-stroke cycle-attchment engine.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

1951 Garelli Mosquito 38A engine on 1940 Alvia Cycle Frame. Completely restored.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

This is a very attractive 1955 NSU Quickly moped, which is MOT tested and ready to use.

I bought it last year and have used it for a few local journeys.

To see more photos and history of this scooter, please click here http://maico.mobi

1927 Raleigh Type 14 250cc s/v

This beautiful machine has spent most of its life in a museum. I rode it last week - it starts easily and drives sweetly.

It is now MOT’d. I’ll take advantage of the sunny weather to ride it around the Sussex countryside and inext month I’ll advertise it for sale

I’ve owned five of these Raleighs over the past 25 years. In my opinion, they’re the ideal lightweight flat-tank for modern-day usability, as they’re sturdily built and reliable, easy to start and ride, and have a wonderful twenties style.

Of course, we all like the looks of the top-of-the-range 500cc or V-Twin 1920’s machines. But if you never ride it because it’s too valuable or or requires too much tweaking, what’s the point? A Type 14 is a jump-on-and-ride bike and, as long as you remember to turn on and pump the oil with the hand-pump every so many miles, it’s ideal for regular summer use. This one even has electric lights fitted.

One thing I love about the Sussex countryside is how little it’s changed since before the war. If you ignore a few modern trimmings like road-signs and the occasional parked car (of course, I only mean ignore their modernity), it’s easy to pick cross-country routes that are relatively timeless. That’s where I ride the Raleigh.

This particular one was restored some years ago; the levers were not re-nickelled, and the head has not been repainted, but otherwise it’s very smart and shiny, with good paintwork. I don’t like concours condtion bikes as they are not practical to use - you’d always be worrying about scratching or scraping your investment.

It starts on the first or second kick and plods along at a steady 40 to 50 mph. The large lever on the left is not the clutch, but the decompressor; the clutch is the smaller lever next to it. It’s easy enough getting used to the hand gear-change; and the throttle on a lever rather than a twist-grip might seem odd at first, but your thumb soon enjoys the extra exercise. The only other thing to notice is that the left-side brake is heel-operated. If you’ve not ridden twenties before, you might not realize that both brakes levers operate separate brakes on the rear wheel; the front wheel has no brake. It’s efficient enough though.

The other levers observed in the photos are the advance-retard (on the left-side handlebar) and choke, next to the throttle on the right. There are a lot more levers than on a modern bike - at first you wonder if it was designed for an octopus; but of course you only really need to use the clutch, throttle and every now and then the gearstick once you’re riding.

I hope this gives you some sort of idea of what it’s like to ride an 80-year-old motorcycle.

I hope this gives you some sort of idea of what it’s like to ride an 80-year-old motorcycle.

For more photos and history of this chic little French scooter, please click here http://maicomobi.wordpress.com

This is such a superb Light 15. It’s excellent to drive, with its front-wheel drive and poky engine it takes corners like a true classic sportscar.

It came from my god friend Ian. He bought it in New Zealand in 1990, and imported it into the UK in 1992.

He resprayed it back then, but the paint is still very good.

Every so often we do vehicle exchanges. He had my Ford Pop and a vintage motorcycle (plus some cash) and now I get to play in this classy classic.

The model was introduced in 1933; with its renowned front wheel drive it was revoluntionary for its time. Production ran until 1958.

The Citroen is ready for wedding hire - though in due course I’ll probably end up selling it.

It’s complete, and the engine has good compression. It’s an excellent project that’s waiting for someone to restore it to its former glory.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk

I’m a sucker for accessories. Especially panniers and windscreen on a baby scooter.

For further details, PLEASE CLICK ON http://BuyVintage.co.uk