It was every young man’s dream – to be mobile.

So you couldn’t afford to buy a car – few could in the 1950s – but you had your eye on something to get you around other than your bike.

Like thousands of others you plumped for a moped, but secretly hoped for a motor bike. Remember those Tiger Cubs, “Beeza” 350s, Vincent Black Shadows, Triumph Dominators and the like?

Of course with a moped it still needed some pedal power to get the thing running, but once it did you were off – and sailing along at a top speed of around 30mph to boot.

By the mid-Fifties the moped and later the scooter was a part of the scene in every street in the land

Britain was late in catching on to scooters, which were Continental in origin, but a look back to the 1959 Cycle And Motor Cycle Show, at Earl’s Court, reveals the amazing choice on offer.
Most scooters and mopeds were not of British manufacturer, although BSA was the leader with its baby Dandy 70 and the 200cc “Beeza”.

Particularly striking that year was the increasing use of plastics.
And it was said: “From complete sidecars to tank motifs, the medium is being used wherever it can to help save cost or improve durability.”
Innovations that year included the appearance of the first tubeless tyres and a punctureless tyre for scooters and mini-cars.
An example of motorcycle value was said to be the newly styled James Comet which cost less than £90, including tax.
“For the sporting enthusiast who cannot afford road racing but still enjoys a “battle” the £162 8s 10d Francis Barnett Falcon Scrambler is a lightweight which provides plenty of fun at low cost and little risk.”

Those who wanted more than a motor on a bike – who still recalls those rear wheeled powered machines known as “quicklies?”  soon turned to cars and to what was seen as a real threat to the scooters which were so popular on the Continent and later over here.

Enter in 1959 – the Bond Minicar Mark E.
One report said:  “The Mark E has sports car lines, two doors, big car width for three people, bumpers and reverse gear. It does over 50mph and 85mpg and costs £339 including tax.”

What a bargain!