Mad Bixby Moto’s Deathdealer II Scootercycle with Sidecar

No, it’s not a Lammie. But it looks a lot of fun. The result of a “build-off” competition run by Dues Customs, and made from a Honda Z50 found in a skip, and a junked engine from a Chinese scooter, along with a bunch of other scrap (total budget $158), produced this wonderfully original little machine. The “hilarious” video (you may want to substitute the word “hilarious” with the word “annoying”) shows the scoots capabilities off pretty well. Although I preferred to watch it with the sound off after about 30 seconds, although I may just be experiencing a temporary sense of humour failure.BixbyMoto1 BixbyMoto2Bixby Moto specialise in monkey bikes, customs and racers… check out their website here. There’s some lovely little beasties on there.

Via Scooterfile,

Ex RAC Series 1 Lambretta & Sidecar Combo for Sale

$_12 $_12-2 $_12-1These don’t come up very often… in fact, I’ve never seen one for sale before. I’ve seen pics of the RAC Lambretta’s of course, but here’s your chance to own one. It’s been completely restored, by no-one less than the famous Rimini Lambretta Centre, who have  done their usual fantastic restoration job, and, to give it a bit more oomph, stuck a  Innocenti TV225 engine under the panels. You also get the original 150 engine as part of  the deal. The full spec is available on the eBay listing, here, but this is a real head turner, as well as being eminently practical scooter if you want to lug more than a tent and a sleeping bag with you to the next scooter rally, without going to the extremes of a full caravan conversion.

Below are a couple of pics I found on the Red Devil motors blog, which also notes the eBay listing… The RAC obviously used a Lambretta combination outfit for a while, as the images show a couple of LD’s, and a Series 2.

lambretta rac combo lambretta combo bonhamsThe eBay link again: Here.

Achtung, Messerschmitt!

Originally posted on my old design blog… great bubble car brochure!

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I like a microcar. I think, given the price of petrol at the moment, and the need to be more eco concious, it’s a bit mad that most people still drive around, alone in a vehicle designed to carry four or more people.

I’ve posted about the Morgan Threewheeler  and the Bond Bug, as well as The Smite before, a modern re-imaginging of the Messersmitt KR200.
Well, here is a fantastic brochure I have found for the original Messerschmitt.

I think it’s in Spanish, maybe if I get five minutes I’ll have a go with Google Translate and post some of the copy in English. In the meantime, enjoy the glorious period graphics.
I found it here.

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Lambro 500L on eBay

Lambro Pics $(KGrHqN,!q8FGUqId2Q!BRll5Th(Uw~~60_12 Lambro $(KGrHqV,!qUFF8jI)(5fBRll6ykBUQ~~60_12 $(KGrHqEOKo4FGTz4GObUBRlmSJT6o!~~60_12$(KGrHqJ,!rIFF0Tuq0OUBRll6O758g~~60_12

I’m rather taken with this 1968 Innocenti Lambro on eBay, in good original condition. Everything is there, it runs, and has a UK MOT.  And it looks fantastic. It could even be a great promotional vehicle for your business. Now, I’m not going to waffle on, because I don’t know a lot about these vehicles, but they are maybe something a little out of the ordinary for a Lambretta enthusiast. Check it out here if it’s your kind of thing. And if you think I’ve got the 1968 date wrong, because of the eBay listing, read the sellers comments 🙂

Lambro 3-wheeler for sale

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I came across this beautiful Lambro 3 wheeler on the Car & Classic website.

It’s being offered for £8k, offers invited. I saw one of these at the Ride for Rememberance last year, and it was certainly turning heads. If you’ve got a few quid and fancy something a bit different check it out. You will have to get it back from Lake Como, Italy… but I’ve always been after an excuse for visiting there!

Fancy something a little different?

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Right. First off, this clearly comes under the “That’s not a Lambretta” header. But until I get round to writing a proper piece about Lambro’s, this’ll have to do you. I’m not sure it even comes under the category of scooter. It’s actually a BSA Ariel 3.

Being a proper moped (notice the pedals you have to use to start it) It wouldn’t be quick. I can’t imaging that once you loaded up the ‘luggage area’ (that would take lttle more than your average topbox) you’d be breaking many speed limits. Even going downhill, with a tailwind in a 30mph zone. In fact, it would be one of the few vehicles on the road I would stand any chance of overtaking.

As with most items in those halycon days before the PC brigade had any say, the advertising shots featured a girl in a bikini. Although, to be brutally honest, I can’t remember a time I saw a vehicle with less sex appeal!

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And it’s for sale. So why not get yourself a piece of British motorcyle history? The downside, The Ariel 3 is ugly, slow and impractacle. The upside, it’s rare, and actually it’s SO ugly, it’s strangely attractive… and it’s proper 1970’s… right down to the baby-poo and white colour scheme. Biggest upside though is it’s cheap. It’s on sale on the Car&Classic website for a mere £450. So if your a hipster with a thing for the seventies… like three wheel but can’t quite scrape together the cash for a Bond Bug, you may be able to bag yourself a bargain.

BMW eSetta concept

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I know, I know, it’s been a while. And back I come, not with a Lambretta post at all, but another microcar. What can I say, I love ’em. Messerschmitt’s and Isetta’s particualrly. And like the Smite that I have written about previously, the concept I’m posting about today has obvious DNA of one of those originals, but this time the Isetta.

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It’s the work of Tony Weichselbraun, a recent graduate of the University of Applied Arts in Viennna, the eSetta was part of his Diploma, I can’t put it any better than the man himself, so here’s what he says about it on his coroflot page:

“The eSetta is an urban electric vehicle indended as a car sharing platform. It is inductively charged at sharing hubs, thereby eliminating the unfound fear of limited range through empty batteries. Its design is inspired by the legendary BMW Isetta. The front door slides and rotates, allowing passengers to enter and exit the vehicle via sidewalk. By giving the car a highly recognizable and friendly appearance, I intended to reinforce the positive aspects of car sharing.”

Well, I certainly think he’s pulled off freindly… it’s got more than a hint of puppy dog about it… I’d almost expect a wagging tail!, and while I always prefered the 3 wheeled variant of the original Isetta, four works pretty good here, I can see that it uses the available cabin space better. Tiny wheels though! So, would I choose this (in the unlikely event of it ever going into production), or my pevious favoutrite, the Smite? A bit of an accademic question, as neither look like they’ll be on sale any time soon. But if they both were, lets just say it would be a close run thing.

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Tenuos Lambretta link? (apart from the “etta” suffix), this kind reminds me of the way the Fido electric scooter concept kinda looked like a model D, as I poster way back. 

Lambretta’s and Vespa’s in Vietnam

It’s been a while since I posted, ant to be honest, a couple of weeks since I’ve ridden my scoot. Spanners out at the weekend, fitting a new kickstart assembly. Wish me luck.

Here’s a nice little feature from a Vietnamese TV show on the scootering/restoration scene. Unless you can speak Vietnamese, forget the commentary, and just enjoy the movie. It kicks off with some film of Saigon back in the day, a very cosmopolitan and sophisticated place by the look of it. It then goes on to feature the work of the Saigon Scooter Centre, and some very nice Lammies. A very nice S2 at 7:18!

After about 8 mins there’s some nice footage of VW bug and bus restos, stick with it if your a fan of the Vespa Ape, as the program finishes on that. Nice.

Via The Scooterist blog.

Vintage video… TV2 and Bubblecar

Vintage film of a young guy riding his Lambretta TV175, Messerschmitt KR, and Honda 50 Sport.
Love the Lammy and the Messerschmitt… I’ll pass on the Honda, maybe have an MV Augusta instead… 🙂  

Via Firstpost

Lambretta club of the month

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A new feature this, where I highlight the webiste of a Lambretta owners club from around the world. To kick us off, I go to the spiritual home of the Lambretta, Italy. Liguria in fact, the coastal region of north west Italy famous for it’s beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and (altthough I must say most of Italy is famous for this) it’s great food. Liguria is also home to the historic city and seaport of Genoa. You can probably tell, although a proud Scotsman, I am a bit of an Italiaphile, even wearing the country’s tricolour on my bash hat.

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So, Lambrettistas, for my first Lambretta Club of the month I bring you The Lambretta Club of Liguria. There’s some great stuff on the website, pics and videos of their various get togethers and events, they even have an annual “Innocenti Day”. But my favourite part has to be what is usually the dullest part of the website… the part where they list the committee – as each of the committee has a caricature of them, astride their Lambretta of course, by the very talented Federico. Great illustrations!  

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