Category Archives: Scooters

What’s YOUR dream Lambretta collection?

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The post I stuck up the other day about an entire Lambretta collection up for sale probably wouldn’t be the eight machines I’d put together in a collecton. Actually, there’s no probably about it – it definately wouldn’t. Got me thinking though… if you had the resources to by your dream Lambretta collection, what would it include? I’ve half done mine in my head a few times, and it comes out different each time… so come on, get involved let me know.

Rules… You’re ‘budget” is £50k… use your estimating skills, and give each of your selections a “guide price”. You can throw in one “wildcard”, ie. a non-Lambretta scooter. All models from 1947 onwards, and from any country manufacturing under licence acceptable. All styles and modifications acceptable.

Once I’ve pinned down my ideal garageful I’ll post them up here. But what would YOUR dream Lambretta collection consist of?

Lambretta from the 1960 Rome Olympics

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While we are engrossed in the London 2012 Olympics, there are not many Lambretta’s on view… (UPDATE: A secret source tells me that classic scooter fans may be in for a pleasant suprise at the closing ceremony. I’m saying no more!!) unlike the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where Innocenti supplied 80 scooters (as well as 20 Lambros and 2 Helicopters!) for the use of athletes, officials and the press. This must have been quite a coup for Innocentini …the Vespa marketing department must have been kicking themselves! I wonder if Cassius Clay rode a Lambretta before he went on to win his Gold medal… no there’s a picture I would like to see!

Of the original 80 scooters (LI 150 Series 2’s) only 3 are known to have survived… and one has been loving restored a few years ago at The Rimini Lambretta Centre.

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More (or less) than a “standard” restoration, it was deemed too historically important for that – this was a “conserved restoration” where as much of the original scooter as possible was preserved. The full story or the restoration, and some pics can be seen here. Those in the know in Lambretta circles recognise that Dean Orton and Paolo Catani at the Rimini Lambretta Centre as one of the few places on the planet capable of work to this standard.

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The whole story featured in Scootering magazine a few years back, and additional information for this article comes from the excellent MandM Lambretta blog. More pics, and a link to the Scootering article there.

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This almost unique scooter is now in the hands of US Lambretta collector Robbie Morelli. There is another at Vittorio Tessera’s Lambretta Museum, just outside Milan.

Interestingly, Rome are in the running for hosting the 2020 Olympics… I wonder if there will be any LN’s (or there succsesors) supplied to the athletes… I think they should all have these electric Lambrettas for getting around!

EDIT: Just found another great pic on t’internet. I’ll add any more as and if I find them.

Lambretta Olympic team

(Belated) Congratulations, Mr Wiggins.

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I’ve been meaning to put something up about Bradley Wiggings for a while, But with Team GB doing so well in the Olympics, it’s been hard to tear myself away from the telly. Anyway, it’s about time I gave a bit of Lambrettista recognition to one of Team GB’s greats, and indeed one of our greatest sportsmen:Bradley Wiggins.

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The Tour de Fance and Olympic Gold within days of each other is an achievement that is unlikely to be matched, and certainly won’t be at a ‘home’ Olympics. But what’s that got to do with Lambretta’s?

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Well Mr Wiggins (and athough there are calls for it to be SIR Bradley, I think he’d be more comfortable with Mr – after all he doesn’t even use the OBE he already has) musical taste has been well documented. Getting into the mod scene through Oasis and Ocean Colour Scene, he has also acquired a taste for vintage guitars and classic scooters. And although the only picture I’ve got is him on a V*spa,  I’m reliably informed he is a “Lambretta man”. I’m told he owns a couple of Lammies, including a Series 3 TV175. Nice.

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So I’m (finally) adding this blog’s humble congratulations to the rest of the adulation Wiggo is receiving. And as a mark of respect, I’m suggesting all of us fellas of a certain age who sport similar sideys to Wiggo’s iconic ones, christen them “Bradleys”. Next trip to the barber “No. 2 at the back and sides, a bit longer on top with the scissors, and just thin out the Bradleys”. Works for me

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Check out Wiggos collection for Fred Perry here, and listen to him on the Modcast with Eddie Pillar here.

The illustration of Wiggo astride a Lambretta is by top artist Pete McKee… who is deserving of a Lambrettista blog post in his own right. If you”re reading Pete, it will happen! And if you can direct me in the direction of the artist(s) who created the illustrations, I’ll give them proper acredititation.

Finally, if you get to read this Mr Wiggins, get in touch and send us some photos… I’f love to talk scooters with you!

Lambretta collection for sale on eBay.

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Ok, we’ve all been there. You’ve got a few spare qiuid jangling round your pocket and you fancy a Lambretta. But which model? Descisions, descions. Well, worry no more cash rich scooterist, there’s no need to make those hard descions. You can buy an entire Lambretta collection on eBay, here. Eight scooters, from a Model D 150 thru to a Lui 50… all restored six years ago and dry garaged since then. Most of them seem to have won awards at various European Lambretta events of the years, and each comes with a dossier documenting their restoration, and some original brochures and other collateral. Nice. Only wish my numbers had come up on the lottery the other night!

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The models are:

• 1956 Model D 150

 • 1956 LD 150

• 1961 Li 150 Series 2

• 1964 LI 125 Series 3

• 1967 J 125 (Starstream – or Stellina in Italian)

• 1967 Lui 50

• 1970 J50 Special

• 1971 Dl (GP) 200

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They are for sale for €76,900.25 No, I don’t know why the 25 cents.

That’s about £56k in proper money. Which works out a shade under £7k each if you divide them equally. A tad pricey I would have thought, although some of the scoots have some nice original period accessories. If you are interesed in purchasing this collection, they’re on eBay, here.

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Rallymaster replica on eBay

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One of my favourite old skool cutsom machines, the Rallymaster was a special build by Lambretta Concessionaires for sporting UK scooterists competing in rallying/scrambling type events.

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At the time, it was probably the best Lambretta built, this of course would make it the best scooter in the world. There were quite a few variations from the standard Series 2 Lambretta… all of which have been faithfully reproduced on this fine replica, now for sale on eBay.

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You can get all the details there of course, but check out the Eibar style turning front mudguard (with horncasting to match), the working Raydot spotlight, and the rear grab rail… epsecially usefull if the back wheel gets stuck in mud; and, my favourite feature, the intrument panel with a stop watch, map light and rev counter. 

Check out the full details here.

 

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!

Lambretta Video

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https://vimeo.com/45128426

Don’t know much about Dario Todisco who created this vid, but he’s done a nice job. If this is 25%, I can’t wait to see the other 75!

Via The Scooterist

Ever fancied running your own Lambretta workshop?

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Then there’s the ideal opportunity over on eBay… the owners of Fanatic Scooters in Bristol are selling up… and you can buy there entire stock of classic scooter parts (70% Lambretta), as well as admin, and all trading components for just shy of £8k. Which seems a worth it bargain to me. If you stick Lambretta into eBay, and search by price you’ll find two scooters going for more than that!
(Although don’t get TOO excited… scooters pictured aren’t included in the sale… that’s would be too good to be true!) 

If I was a bit better with the spanners, I’d seriously consider it. In fact, with the number of Lambretta owners around here, and the lack of a good, local scooter shop it would make a lot of sense. Hmm… maybe I’ll talk to a few people…

If you’re interested, the link is here with all the details. 

Around Rome on a classic Lambretta…

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From the series Drake’s Passage – where pro motorbike rider Drake McElroy tours the world and does stuff. In this episode he visits Bologna and rides a Ducati, then onto Rome where he goes to gladiator school. But readers of this blog might want to skip all this stuff and skip to 5:18 point in the video where he rides a classic Lambretta around Rome. The most authentic part of it all is where you see him pushing and bumping the Lammy… classic!

Another nice Lambretta rally vid… this one’s from Indonesia

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With a classic Happy Mondays soundtrack. Good stuff.

Check out the Lambretta Club of Indonesia’s Facebook page here.