The week's most delightfully odd vehicle: the 1924 Scott Sociable

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Who on earth could have come up with it… and how wonderful that someone did. Those are the first thoughts that spring to mind when you lay eyes on the 1924 Scott Sociable, which appeared on PreWarCar.com this week.

The Scott Sociable is, without question, one of the most unconventional vehicles of the interwar years. Built between 1921 and 1924 by the Scott Autocar Company of Bradford, a subsidiary of the better-known Scott Motorcycle Company, its origins can actually be traced back to the First World War. Designer Alfred Angas Scott initially developed the three-wheeler as a machine-gun carrier. When military contracts failed to materialise, he transformed the concept into a compact two-seater for civilian use. Practical thinking at its very best.

The 'car' retained much of the engineering philosophy of a motorcycle-and-sidecar combination, yet developed a character all of its own. A triangulated tubular steel frame carried a water-cooled 578cc two-cylinder two-stroke engine, mated to a three-speed gearbox with shaft drive to the right-hand rear wheel. Steering was by rack and pinion, while reverse gear was conspicuously absent – making manoeuvring an occasional adventure.

Scott promoted the Sociable as a comfortable, low-maintenance alternative to the conventional motorcycle-and-sidecar outfit. According to the factory, its two-stroke engine delivered the smoothness of a four-cylinder unit, while the absence of valves, chains and belts dramatically reduced maintenance requirements. Generous suspension travel and a fully enclosed body also made longer journeys far more pleasant than on the sidecar combinations that were so popular at the time.

Inside, driver and passenger sit side by side, with a fold-out dickey seat behind them that also serves as a luggage compartment. Even starting the engine is an experience in itself: first open the fuel tap, then prime the carburettor, before giving the internal starting lever a firm pull from the driver's seat.

Only a handful of Scott Sociables are believed to survive today. That makes it exactly the sort of curiosity that would look perfectly at home at the next Festival of Slowth, to be held in France on 5 and 6 June 2027.

The example offered here is ready to drive. A few moments to warm it through, climb aboard and you're off. One thing is certain: this summer, nobody will simply walk past a Scott Sociable without stopping to take a closer look.

The 1924 Scott Sociable is offered for €37,000. More information and contact details for the seller can be found in the advertisement.

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