Quasar motorcycles were produced from 1976 to 1981 by Malcolm Newell and Ken Leaman.
These machines were quite unconventional "feet-forward" machines which took the idea of enclosure to new limits. The motorcycle was elongated and the occupants sat between the wheels, under a roof and behind a windscreen fitted with wipers. At the back, over the rear wheel, was a luggage compartment onto which was mounted a large rear-lamp system. At the front, under the lower part of the windscreen, were two headlamps. In all, it resembled a cabin-style, car-type body, but without the doors.
The frame was strong, acted as a safety roll cage and was fitted with leading-link front suspension, and cast alloy wheels with twin front and single rear disc brakes. The 848cc engine was from a Reliant Robin, driving a four-speed gearbox with shaft final-drive. Many of the other fittings were as those of a car - heater, de-mister, indicators and full instruments.
Production was small-scale and, as Newell moved on to new projects, construction was passed to others. One such project was the Phasar, powered by a massive Kawasaki Z1300 six-cylinder engine, but without a roof.
Earlier in the piece Newell had a motorcycle shop in Wiltshire named "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" where he built another vehicle, a tricycle named the Revolution.
Sources: Graces Guide, Wikipedia (which has quite a detailed account of the history of Quasar.)
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