Zepii retro-styled electric scooters

Fancy cruising round the streets on a vintage-style scooter, but don't want to do further damage to the environment? You need one of these Zepii retro-styled electric scooters.

Obviously being both new and electric, this isn't one for the purists. But if you want something cheap and nippy for getting around town, it might be worth a look. Taking its design inspiration from the vintage Vespas (not to mention some nifty lights and a backrest), the Zepii offers between 50 and 60km of travel from an eight hour charge from your mains, costing around 8p for 40 miles of riding and of course, throwing out absolutely no emissions. Top speed? We don't know, but we suspect you'll not be burning rubber when the lights change.

If you want one, check out the Zepii website for the lowdown, with prices around the £849 mark, which seems pretty reasonable for something that costs peanuts to run. See over for another image of the scoot.

Find out more at the Zepii website

Quoc Pham retro-styled cycling shoes

Cycle to work, but don't want to take an extra pair of shoes? Check out these newly-launched Quoc Pham cycling shoes.

British made, the shoes are designed to fit the gap between cycling footwear and casual shoes, with a tapered shape to fit inside a pedal cage, but with enough style to catch the eye when you're walking about during the day.

Made from what's described as 'the finest materials around' and in various finishes (including a patent leather), they should be available in the non-too-distant future for...well, we're not sure about the price as yet.

Quoc Pham website

Via Selectism

Rapha and Timothy Everest three-piece 1930s-style cycling suit

Classic cyclewear maker Rapha has teamed up with Savile Row tailor Timothy Everest to produce a three-piece suit that's good for both the bicycle and the boardroom.

Apparently inspired by 'gentleman riders of the 1930s', the suit has taken 12 months to develop and offers up a luxury wool jacket, waistcoat and trousers or plus fours in a Prince of Wales check, with plenty of detailing for the modern cyclist.

That includes a 'storm collar' to keep out the elements, fixed pockets, rear buttoned pockets, a shoulder pleat for extra reach and turndown cuffs (with bright inner for extra visibility). The suit is only available fully bespoke, if you want one, the three-piece costs £3,500. Email Timothy Everest to find out more.

Rapha website

Fred Perry x Vespa limited edition 100th anniversary scooter

As part of Fred Perry centenary celebrations, the company has teamed up with Vespa to offer up a limited edition scooter.

This isn't just a promotional item, the Fred Perry / Vespa scooter will be available to buy in limited numbers in the UK, USA, France and Japan from August 2009 in classic Fred Perry colourways and featuring the FP centenary laurel.

Just 100 will be sold, for how much we don't know, but we suspect they'll come in at a premium. If you want to get your name down, drop Fred Perry a line here. See over the page for more images.

Fred Perry 100 Years website

Cycles of Yesteryear - authentic 1950s-style bicycles

We've featured a number of retro-styled city bikes of late, all very stylish, but many with prices that just might be out of reach for the majority of us. That's not the case with the Cycles of Yesteryear range of bicycles.

Cycles of Yesteryear offers traditional bikes from the 1950s re-built to both a high standard and in line with modern safety regulations. The best of both worlds you could say.

The one above is typical - the Gents Classic Roadster, which packs a traditionally lugged and brazed hand built frame, chrome-plated steel rims, half-enclosed chain, leather saddle plus a rear carrier, bell, pump, stand and reflectors. if you want one, it sells for £275.

Find out more at the Cycles of Yesteryear website

Velorbis retro-style city bicycles from Cycle Chic

Cycle Chic has certainly grown rapidly since we first featured it last year. Indeed, the company has now added bikes to its range as well as cycling accessories, including these rather stylish Velorbis retro-style city bicycles.

Styles vary between ladies, gents and a couple of shopping models, but the two pictured here (see over the page for second image) cover both ends of the spectrum. The Velorbis Churchill Classic is a classic men's city bike, handmade with three old-style Sturmey Archer shifter gears, Sturmey Archer brakes, a Brooks leather seat, anti-slip pedals, galvanised steel stand, Bush & Muller lights and a black, powdered-coated finish.

The Danneborg has much the same for features, but this time has a fire engine red finish, a female-friendly shape and room for a basket on the front. Check out the site to see all the bikes, all selling for £899.

Find out more at the Cycle Chic website

NotNeutral Brown Links coffee service

Although this is a contemporary design, the look of this coffee service made by an American company called notNeutral captures something of the wonder of the mechanical age. The striking graphics on this coffee service are based on the links of a bicycle chain and appear in various formations across the set. 
Made from porcelain, the service includes a coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl for $64. Cups and saucers are available separately. 

See it online

Vintage Lambretta headlight lamps by Lamponi

Remember the Lamponi vintage Vespa headlight lamps? Well, the Italian designer is back with a new range of quirky, craftsman-made lighting, including the stunning Lambretta headlight lamps.

Just like the Vespa lights, these Lambretta variations use original scooter fittings (presumably from bikes that couldn't be salvaged), with the lamps themselves being aluminium castings, turned, polished and painted, as well as being made to order - which means you can decide how you want yours finished for that genuine 'one off'.

Get in touch with the designer if you want one, with prices starting around the £800 mark. See over for another of the new Lambretta lights.

Find out more at the Lamponi website

Win tickets to the Mini United festival

We don't usually post anything on a Sunday, but we have a competition running for just one week - to win five pairs of tickets to the Mini United festival.

It takes place at Silverstone from 22nd to 24th May 2009, with music from the likes of Paul Weller, Twisted Wheel and Calvin Harris, along with a long list of Mini-related fun. That includes the chance to drive your own Mini around Silverstone (or as a passenger in the Mini Challenge race), classic Mini racing, plenty of exhibitions, stunt shows, go-kart racing, driver training and if you like, a tour of the Mini factory at nearby Oxford. Loads of other Minis old and new too, which goes without saying and much more more. Visit http://www.miniunited.com for the full breakdown.

Tickets are £35 in advance, with plenty of space (for up to 10,000) to camp on site too. But if you want a pair of tickets free, we have five pairs to give away (along with some bits and pieces of Mini memorabilia, which might come in handy during the day). Follow the link below to enter - we'll draw the winners on Sunday 17th May, leaving plenty of time to get the tickets to you.

Enter the Mini United festival competition at Modculture

Volvo’s classic P1800 Coupe heads back into production

Famed for being the car driven by the Roger Moore-era Saint and still sought after by collectors today, the 1961 Volvo P1800 Coupe is making a return, with a modern twist and in very limited numbers.

It's a sympathetic update of the original by Swedish designer Bo Zolland, now with a new front wing, side-skirts, flat underbody and active rear diffuser for better aerodynamics, while the deep-dish oversize alloys will no doubt appeal to the boy racer in you. It's also got more power than the original - courtesy of Volvo’s current 4.4-litre V8 engine.

It's likely to be offered in limited numbers by Vox Customs for an as-yet undisclosed price. We suspect that will mean very expensive.

Bo Zolland website

Via Auto Express