I think the Scootacar remains a desireable micro amongst enthusiasts and microcar collectors.
I don't see it getting the kind of attention that the Peel does until it is bought and sold in a "proper" setting so as to show "others" that it is "acceptable" to buy them and collect them.
That is what happened at the Christie's auction.
That auction made collecting microcars and bubblecars "acceptable" to an entirely new group of people.
The other thing I have found the Peel has going for it (besides being on Top Gear) is the "Guiness World Record" thing for being smallest production car.
People like "world records" for some reason and whenever I have been involved with a P50 (from the Lane Museum) in a show, that point is what people react to the most.
There it is, right in front of them..."The World's Smallest Car". And they are looking at it! ta da.
The Montreal Auto Show wanted a display of micros and insisted there be a P50 in the mix.
They did not care what else what there as long as a P50 was present.
Until the Scootacar can come up with a trick like that, I don't think it can match the Peel.
Driveability is not really an issue. Eventually the people who pay lots of money are collectors and they do not generally drive their cars.
I suppose it is a fact of life that some collectors just own the cars. Acceptable if they're pending restoration but a shame if they were road fit when aquired and end up static.
Oddly enough I'm not a huge fan of the P50. The KR,Scootacar and Trident have cracking styling. The P50 is simply a box on wheels. Hideous and utilitarian. But famous and quirky.
But, I don't think it will need an auction etc to demonstrate a Mk1's value. I think the nothing else like it styling and rareity will do enough. I think more Peels have been up for sale that Scoots over the last few years..
Bob, Ollie's car's in build but will be done by April.
