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by Toby Ross:
When I’m travelling in France, if I’m not in too much of a hurry, I stop at bric-a-bracs that can be found at the exits of villages on the secondary roads. Of course the chances of picking up a bargain are nowdays remote, but I live in hope. About eight years ago, in the back yard of one of these establishments I came across a strange contraption.
This weird and wonderful vehicle had a wooden chassis which was somewhat rotten, an old motorcycle engine up front, and two seats, one behind the other. With the driver sitting in the rear….. It was in piteous condition, looked like a sophisticated soap box, and, like the owner, I had no idea what it was. Nevertheless, I agreed to pay the outrageous asking price of 500 euros, and came back a few days later with a borrowed transit van to get it home.
Once back in my garage it became apparent that it was extremely unlikely that this machine would ever be driven again. If I sat in it, my weight would .... (continued under 'Read More')