The Trojan automobile was a rare example of an unconventional, and in many ways old-fashioned, design which nevertheless sold well and had a loyal following among British motorists. Leslie H. Hounsfield produced his first car in 1913 with a focus on the simplicity of driving and easy maintenance.

TVE released its first production model in 1972 with the three-wheeled Citadine electric car. The Citadine’s exterior design was inspired by earlier “bubble cars’ like BMW’s Isetta, although it’s front-opening door was hinged at the top.

One year after the Citadine was released, Teilhol introduced a utility version of the Citadine called the Messagette. Following the form of its predecessor, the Messagette is a three -wheeled urban vehicle, with an electric motor that, according to the manufacturer, could travel 70-100 km (43-62 miles) on a full charge.

TVR’s tumultuous history began in 1947, and continues to this day, albeit after many management, ownership, and location changes. Founder TreVoR Wilkinson started TVR in Beverley Grove, Blackpool, building sports cars based on Alvis chassis. 

The Urba Centurion was a kit car designed by Quincy-Lynn Enterprises in 1982. A full set of plans, available through Mechanix Illustrated, cost a mere $17.00! 

If you saw an Urba-anything in Mechanix Illustrated magazine in the 1970s-80s, it was a surely a design by Robert Q. Riley and David L. Carey of Quincy, AZ, doing business as Quincy-Lynn Enterprises. The UrbaCar seen here was their first design for the magazine.

While not a household name, Victor Bouffort (1912-1995) was a prolific French inventor of the mid-20th century. Inspired by the collapsible Welbike motorcycle used by British paratroops during the war, Bouffort developed a prototype for a folding, stow-away scooter in the early 1950s.