Product Description

The 50 cc phenomenon told through the most iconic models that characterised the “golden era”, that magical period from 1965 to 1980. The new rules introduced by the 1959 Highway Code had paved the way for their extraordinary success: riding at the age of fourteen without a licence, licence plate and insurance. In return, power of 1.5 hp and a speed of 40 km/h, limits easily surpassed with simple modifications. The market moved almost immediately to broaden its horizons: not just utility vehicles, but more sophisticated models, capable of making inroads into the hearts of the young. Real motorbikes, with pedal gears, for the road or off-road, that made you feel great, ideal for having fun, for feeling freer in a world that was rapidly changing. And for many, the first step towards the real motorbike.
From then until 1980 – the last glorious year before the crisis – many historic companies were protagonists and many others were born, offering an endless number of models, many of them captivating in terms of style and content.
This book, which lists 44 manufacturers and brings together more than 350 images, many of them previously unpublished, is a tribute to those “mopeds” that made thousands of kids dream and made them happy. An unforgettable era that still makes the heart beat faster today.