Of the countless microcar designs built around World War II, a particularly large number came from France and so far these cars were not covered properly anywhere. I think it is therefore a great achievement that a book has finally been dedicated to this so far inadequately dealt with chapter of automotive history.
It is called „French Microcars 1935-1960“ and is written by Jan de Lange, one of the biggest experts in the microcar field.
The book is hard back, 360 pages with about 520 illustrations (excellent quality b/w photographs as well as rare brochures and other ephemera). The Text is English and French.
There are three sections covering the years: 1935-1940, 1940-1945 and 1945-1960. Among the featured cars are: Ardex, Boitel, Le Carabe, Mochet, Velocar, Monocar, New-Map, Rolux, Solyto, Rambert, Arzens, Baby Rhone, Delauney-Belleville, Electraph, Electrolette, Favel, Jaeger, Le Dauphin, Mors, Motobencané, Oto, Pierre Faure, Peugeot, Roland, Renard, Tand’Car, V-E-L, Wattcar, Brutsch, Avolette, Rollera, Jet V2N, Deshais, Dolo, Flea-Way, Galy, Inter, Julien, Microbo, Paul Vallée, Reyonnah, Rovin, Sofravel, Kover, Piaf, Tholomé, Velam Isetta, Vespa 400, Voisin Biscooter…
I highly recommend this book! It is very well researched and contains a lot of previously unseen material and information. You won't find such detailed texts and beautiful photos about these vehicles (e.g. Tholomé, VEL, Tand’Car, Dauphin..) anywhere else.
The book is avialable at Citrovisie for 57,50 €
https://citrovisie.nl/en/products/microcarsJan de Lange has already published Dwergauto’s – Driewielers, scootmobielen en bubblecars in Nederland (ISBN: 9789028826199 - Europese Bibliotheek, 2000) and Microcars Stories (ISBN: 978 2952049184 - Drivers, 2005) as well as a number of books about Citroen and other marques. But these are all sold out and not easy to find.
