Gloster Aircraft Co: Unibus
Note: This is a sub-section of Gloster Aircraft Co
Unibus was a scooter, designed by Harold Boultbee, built by Gloster Aircraft Co and produced from 1920 to 1922.
1920 Sold by the Service Motor Co
This machine was one of the best and most advanced designs of that era and, unlike most others, had the modern-styled enclosure and a flat floor behind the apron. The body sat on a channel-section frame with leaf-spring suspension for both 16-inch pressed steel split-rim wheels.
It had a single-cylinder, 269cc two-stroke, air-cooled engine fitted just behind the headstock, with the crankshaft on the machine axis. The magneto went in front and a clutch and two-speed gearbox behind, this then driving a shaft running back to an under-slung worm at the rear wheel. The worm wheel housing incorporated two sets of brake shoes in the rear hub.
It was advertised as 'the car on two wheels' and was marketed at 95 guineas (£95.75) - a whole year's wages for most working folk - and as such did not attract many orders. This was a shame, because the Motorcycling Magazine of 28 June 1920 said, "From whatever standpoint the Unibus is viewed, it stands as an engineers job from start to finish. The design marks a new era in the march of progress of the two wheeler." Gloster's attempt to diversify from military aircraft even looked like a Vespa, with a starting handle on the dashboard. Pressed aluminium panels hid the mechanical portions and the steel frame even incorporated a parcels compartment under the seat.
Although the Unibus was an advanced design, it proved to be too expensive for its market and was short lived.