Forgotten scooter of Royal Enfield

As we all know, the current invasion of scooter culture was initially popularized along with the successful development of scooters spearheaded by the two Italian companies, Piaggio and Innocenti a few decades ago. What about other companies, did they ever designed the phenomenal two-wheeled vehicle alongside with those Italian duo mentioned above.

1962 Royal Enfield Fabtabulus scooter made by Enfield India to gain a share of the growing scooter market in India at the time. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2HUfBO8)

Apparently, there is. One of which is a motorcycle manufacturer from England named Royal Enfield. As quoted from the My Royal Enfields site, that George Neal, an engineer who worked at the motorcycle company, had also ever designed the similar scooter-styled as that of Vespa and Lambretta in the early 1940s. 

1962 Royal Enfield Fabtabulus scooter was powered by a 175-cc, 2-stroke engine from Villiers and it churned out a maximum power of 7.5 bhp. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/32vEw44)

But the British company did not pursue the project more, if only the project continued, it would be the Royal Enfield's big coup for the supremacy of the Italian duo given the scooter craze of the 1950s. Newly in the next twenty years exactly in 1962, Royal Enfield through its Indian subsidiary (Enfield India) introduced a scooter model named Royal Enfield Fantabulus to gain a share of the growing scooter market in India at the time. 

1962 Royal Enfield Fabtabulus scooter was sold at the price of £175 in India, but it never became popular in the market at the time. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/32nfPGQ)

The Fantabulus name was claimed that it was short for fantastic performance, fabulous price. At that time the scooter body was made at Madras by Enfield India and its Villiers Mark 11E engine was produced in England. And the scooter sold at the price of £175 in India, but it never became popular in the market at the time.

The scooter was powered by a 175-cc, 2-stroke engine from Villiers and it churned out a maximum power of 7.5 bhp. It also featured an electric starter, which was an uncommon thing even in the motorbikes in those days. The scooter model manufactured from 1962 up to the 1970s.

And now this scooter has become a scarce item even in India and be one of the sought after items by many automotive collectors around the globe. So no wonder if the price has also become a fantastic and fabulous as its name.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops.... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TIMES OF INDIA | MY ROYAL ENFIELDS]

Note: This blog  can be accessed via your smart phone

Kindly Bookmark and Share it: