Unibus scooter: 1920's first advanced two-wheeler design

The Unibus was a scooter designed by Harold Boultbee, built by the Gloster Aircraft Company and produced from 1920 to 1922. This machine was one of the best and most advanced designs of the time and, unlike most others such as Scootamota and Autoped, had a modern styled body and a flat floor behind the leg shield. The frame was a channel profile with a leaf spring suspension system for both 16-inch wheels. It had a single cylinder 269cc, two-stroke air-cooled engine, mounted just behind the head tube, with the crankshaft on the axle of the machine. A two-speed gearbox with a cardan shaft running to an underlying worm gear at the rear wheel. Promoted as the two-wheeled car, it was marketed at £100, a whole year's salary for most working people, and therefore did not attract many orders. This was unfortunate, as the June 1920 motor magazine said, "From whatever point of view it is viewed, it is a feat of craftsmanship from start to finish." The design marks a new era in two-wheeler progress. Gloster's attempt to diversify from military aircraft even resembled a Vespa, with a starting handle on the dashboard. Pressed aluminium panels covered the mechanical parts and the steel frame had a compartment for packages under the seat. Although the Unibus was an advanced design, it proved too expensive for the market and had a short life. Only about 100 units were built of which only four remain known worldwide. Thus, the Unibus remains a rare collector's item and the holy grail for scooter collectors.