Skip to content
View Final Black Friday Offers Here!
View Final Black Friday Offers Here!
Free UK Delivery £60+

Next day dispatch. See rates.

Any questions?

Phone: 020 3887 7802

Join Collectors Club

For Exclusive Savings

Free First Delivery

Sign Up To Newsletter Today

Auto Review AR85 Pedals & Motors by Rod Ward

Product Code: AR85
|
Sold out
£6.45

Early primitive machines led to large scale production of safe and speedy bicycles in the Victorian era. At the height of the late 19th century cycling craze many minds were turning towards ways of motorising these popular machines. Some inventors went on to develop motor cars, but others stayed with the two-wheeler. In the Auto Review series we have previously covered scooters (motorised two-wheelers with a footboard and step-through frame) and British motorcycles (motorised two-wheelers which the rider straddles, but which do not have pedals) so in this publication we tackle machines which have both pedals and a motor. In order to give the context, we first tell the story of the pedal cycle. Early attempts to motorise bicycles retained the pedals for two main reasons: firstly the engine was 'bump-started' by pedalling the machine along until it was going fast enough for the motor to spin up and start. Secondly, early engines were not reliable, and had limited range, so the rider could well need the pedals to get him home. The bump-start principle was retained on the 'moped', or motorised pedal cycle, though more sophisticated machines in later years could have a kick-start or electric self-starter.
Another avenue for the enterprising inventor was to market a 'clip-on' or auxiliary motor which could be fitted by an owner to his bicycle. These took various forms, including a motor integral with the wheel, or a motor which powered a roller in contact with the front or rear bicycle tyre.
Although it is often thought that the heyday of the clip-on was in the post-1945 austerity period, these devices date back to the earliest pioneering days. When a pedal bicycle was sold with a small auxiliary motor already fitted it was called an autocycle, but these were superseded by mopeds in the 1950s. The modern pedelecs and eBikes are also described here, so that the whole story of Pedals and Motors is told in this publication.

Placing an Order

Orders can be placed online, by phone or by post. The UK Postal address for orders is: Oxford Diecast, PO Box 62, Swansea, SA1 4YA. As well as accepting sterling cheques we accept Euro cheques (over 50 euros) and US$ cheques (over 50 dollars).

Delivery Timelines

For all UK/EU/USA and ROW orders we aim to despatch the same day.
Please allow 3-5 working days from despatch for delivery to the UK.
Please allow 5-7 working days from despatch for delivery to EU.
Please allow 7-14 working days from despatch for delivery to USA and ROW.
Allow 28 days before claiming.

Delivery Cost Overview

Delivery Delivery Rate Membership Rate
UK, under £20.00 Delivery Rate: £2.95 Membership Rate: £2.95
UK, £20.00 and over Delivery Rate: £4.95 Membership Rate: £2.95
EU, under £20.00 Delivery Rate: £5.95 Membership Rate: £4.95
EU, £20.00 - £60.00 Delivery Rate: £6.95 Membership Rate: £4.95
EU, £60.00 and over Delivery Rate: £11.95 Membership Rate: £4.95
USA, under £20.00 Delivery Rate: £6.95 Membership Rate: £5.95
USA, £20.00 - £60.00 Delivery Rate: £7.95 Membership Rate: £5.95
USA, £60.00 and over Delivery Rate: £12.95 Membership Rate: £5.95
Rest of the world, under £20.00 Delivery Rate: £7.95 Membership Rate: £6.95
Rest of the world, £20.00 - £60.00 Delivery Rate: £8.95 Membership Rate: £6.95
Rest of the world, £60.00 and over Delivery Rate: £13.95 Membership Rate: £6.95

UK Memberships

Associate Membership - UK

£14.00 - renews annually
  • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
  • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
  • Postage to UK Addresses £2.95 on all orders.

Platinum Membership - UK

£20.00 - renews annually
  • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
  • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
  • Postage to UK Addresses - £2.95 on all orders.
  • FREE Christmas Vehicle Each Year.
  • FREE Copy of the Oxford Review - issued each year between June and August. This contains a review of the previous year's releases.
  • Special Purchasing on qualifying Oxford Vehicles, Buy 4 for 3 - Lowest Price Model is FREE.

All Other memberships

Platinum Membership - Europe

£25.00 - renews annually
  • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
  • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
  • Postage to European Addresses - £5.95 on orders £0 - £60, £8.95 on orders £60+.
  • FREE Christmas Vehicle Each Year.
  • FREE Copy of the Oxford Review - issued each year between June and August. This contains a review of the previous year's releases.
  • Special Purchasing on qualifying Oxford Vehicles, Buy 4 for 3 - Lowest Price Model is FREE.

    Platinum Membership - US

    £28.00 - renews annually
    • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
    • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
    • Postage to US Addresses - £12.95 on orders £0 - £60, £18.95 on orders £60+.
    • FREE Christmas Vehicle Each Year.
    • FREE Copy of the Oxford Review - issued each year between June and August. This contains a review of the previous year's releases.
    • Special Purchasing on qualifying Oxford Vehicles, Buy 4 for 3 - Lowest Price Model is FREE.

    Platinum Membership - Rest of World

    £30.00 - renews annually
    • FREE digital Issue of "The Globe" Club Magazine Per Year. *Opt In for Paper Copy.
    • Regular Updates of all NEW releases.
    • Postage to rest of world - £14.95 on orders £0 - £60, £20.95 on orders £60+.
    • FREE Christmas Vehicle Each Year.
    • FREE Copy of the Oxford Review - issued each year between June and August. This contains a review of the previous year's releases.
    • Special Purchasing on qualifying Oxford Vehicles, Buy 4 for 3 - Lowest Price Model is FREE.