Category Archives: Scooters

Vespa 46

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I know, I know, this is a Lambretta blog, but sometimes you just can’t ignore what the ‘old enemy’ are up to. And there’s no arguing with the success of a company that have sold over 17 million scooters in their 65 year history. And at their best, I’ll make no apologies for saying they’ve made a couple of the best looking scooters ever. Even the most ardent Lambrettista would find it hard to pick fault with the beautiful organic lines of a GS 160. Well, I think there’s another classic in the pipeline, in the shape of this lovely “Vespa 46” or (and it sounds SO much better in Italian) The Quarantasei has been unveiled at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan, and is due to be on sale in 125 and 150cc versions before the end of 2012.

From EICMA.it Via ScooterDiva.

Let’s get back to some PROPER Lambretta’s

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Right, just in case anybody had stumbled across my blog for the first time and was worried it was all about NEW Lambrettas… here’s a nice bit of pure nostagia. Come September, a film from 1961, stars Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin and a brace of rather fine Series 2 Lambrettas. I must admit, I’d never heard of this movie until it was flagged up on the rather good Vietnamese  “The Scooterist” blog. I’m not going to go into the ins and outs of the story, suffice it to say A) It’s got Rock Hudson etc. in it, B) It’s set in early sixties Italy and C) They ride Lambretta’s. Now what more could you want from a movie? Ms Lolobrigida, in typical Italian fashion even rides pillion ‘sidesaddle style’, It’s on my list of DVD’s to look a out for!

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So the LN’s launched… but what’s happened to the LS?

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So the one new Lambretta has launched, and there’s been a bit of buzz around it… but one question I’ve heard asked around the interwebs is “Are they going to make a 50cc version?”.
That would open up the Lambretta market considerably…

Well, when the LN was first announced, there was another model announced at the same time… Pictured here (in white and green) the “LS”. Smaller, lighter with similar, but subtly different styling the LS was due to be available in 150, 125 and importantly 50cc variants. Full specs

here<http://lambrettamotorcycles.com/ls_50.html>

I’ve reposted a pic of the LN next to it (it’s the blue and white one!) so you can see the styling differences, and the ‘family’ feel to the range.

I’ve heard nothing about this model for about six months, and my guess would be that “CLAG International Ltd.” the consortium behind the new Lambretta(s) are testing the reaction to the LN, before launching a second model.

As ever, stay tuned and I’ll let you know if I here anything.

LN vs LX

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Belgian website vroom.be pits the new Lambretta LN against the Vespa LX… The Lammie (is it right to call it a Lammie yet? Has it earned it’s spurs?) wins point for Style, Image and Handling, loses them for practicality and finish…

Latest advertising shots of the Lambretta LN

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Downloaded from another site related to the new Lambretta LN, lambrettaweb.com . It’s nice to see the traditon of using pretty lady to sell scooters hasn’t entirely died out.

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There’s a cool little video on the landing page… although I think it would have been better if they didn’t spell out that the Italian for wasp is Vespa… and left that as a little ‘in-joke’… I do amire the ballsiness of taking on the “auld enemy”. Quite ambitious!

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Your classic scooter might not need an MOT soon…

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The government has launched a consultation to decide whether or not pre-1960 cars, bikes and scooters should be exempt from the annual MoT test. Pre 1960 is fairly old for a Lambretta, but there are tons of Series 1’s (and maybe some very early S2’s) and earlier Lammies on the road. Maybe it’s another reason to look at getting an LD!

It’s beeing done on the basis that owners of classic bikes and cars are more likely to look after them properly, that they’re involved in very few accidents and account for a tiny percentage of the vehicles on the road, plus the fact that much of the modern MoT is not suitable for older vehicles anyway, the idea is to leave the responsibility for checking they’re well maintained up to their owners. The evidence shows that classic vehicles are more likely to pass the MoT than average.

Under the proposals, the test for pre-1960 cars and bikes would be ditched but there would still be a legal requirement to make sure they’re safe and ‘in a proper condition’ to be used on the road.

I’m not sure about this. I do keep my scooter in good condition, as I’m sure the majority of owners of classic Lambretta’s do, but in my mind, the MOT fulfils a couple of useful roles… it makes you do those annoying little jobs that you sometimes “let ride”, and it flags up things that you may never have spotted. Mines a 1960 vintage anyway, so it probably doesn’t apply to me!

What do you think? Let me know in the comments (you may have to join Posterous to do that, but, hey, it’s free!). Or if you feel strongly about it, let the government know. There’s a public consultation that will run until January 26, and can be found here.

Via Visordown. Read more here.

 

eBay Watch, an LD Special

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For many riders, we are approaching the end of the scootering season. Owners who have decided that they’ve done their last rally, are working on a new project or realised that they are never going to get their project finished are selling their scoots… so it may be a good time to buy… I always keep an eye on eBay, (not that I can afford another scoot, but there’s always my “fantasy garage”!) and there seems to be a glut of good Lambretta’s on there. My taste these days seems to be going further back down the Lambretta lineage, it seems the older I get, the older the scoots I like. I’ve got a particular hankering for Series 1’s, and LD’s at the moment. Here are a couple I’ve found on the bay. As with anything that I post up here, I’m not recommending, just highlighting… go and take a look and make your own mind up before you part with your readies.

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This one isn’t your everyday LD, and that’s refelected in the price. Although it looks pretty authentic, and the two tone turquoise and cream paintjob screams 1950’s, it’s an Auto conversion by renowned builder Dave Briggs – those of you who’ve been paying attention may remember I mentioned him in a previos post on auto conversions – and it’s fitted with a modern Typhoon engine with a 172 conversion kit, upgraded clutch, gearbox, exhaust and brakes. Apparently it will “beat anything off the lights, sits at 70-75mph all day and still has more”. So if you want classic style, with auto performance and reliability, check it out on eBay here. I must admit, if I had the cash I’s be sorely tempted by this one.

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But maybe originality is more important to you. Well, this little beauty certainly looks the part, and has an MOT on her until March next year, and has been lovingly restored from a ‘basket case’ with all Italian parts. Lovely. Here’s the eBay link.

They’re not the only LD’s out there, theres everything from fully restored £4k (Plus!) scoots to bare frames… and spares seem easily sourcable. So if you want a Lammy, and you want to look proper old school… maybe an LD’s worth a look.

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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Gang Girls video

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Great vid by Vintage Hair Lounge shot on the streets of Southampton, featuring local scooter clubs, classic cars and burlesque performers! The song is a rather good version of Bang Bang by Miss Annie. Found Via Zeno’s Scooters website… a recently established up Lambretta and Vespa specialist also down Southampton way. 

Can you help Chris trace his dad’s TV200?

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I know this is a longshot, but… a friend of mine is trying to track down this lovely TV200 that his dad used to own… It’s a 1964ish model, and had quite a distinctive orange/off white paint job. The TV200 wasn’t the most common of Lambrettas, so there’s more than a chance of somebody out there recalling it. It was sold in the late 60’s in Harlow in Essex. The Reg no (as you can see in the photo is LRO 124C. The DVLA has no current record of it… can any of you lot help? Maybe you owned it, or knew someone who did? Maybe it’s in your shed… leave a comment, or drop me an email to crocodilejock@gmail.com