Book excerpt: During the middle of the twentieth century, a plethora of small economy cars – often quirky and bizarre – emerged to meet the needs of the cash-strapped motorist. This book charts the history and development of these microcars, from the lean period after the Second World War right up to the present day. Covering a wide range of vehicles, from the well-known models to the more obscure, and complemented throughout by colour photographs and period images, this a fascinating book on a little-known subject.