Lambretta LN… at least it’s not a Pato!

The kindest way to describe the Lambretta LN’s reception in the UK is to say it has been mixed. A lot of people, mainly those of us with ‘proper’ Lambretta scooters simply don’t like it.

Well, here’s the good news… at least it’s not a Pato… the “Lambretta” they have had to put up with in the states for the last couple of years.

Scomadi’s at the IOW

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I wrote about the Scomadi before – the (or one) true evolution of the Lambretta here. In case you missed them at the Isle of Wight, here’s a look at a line up. I think the white one looks rather tasty myself.

 

Ever wish you had a spare £16 Grand?

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I know, silly question. But I do, right now. There’s somebody on eBay selling this delightful, and pretty rare Lambretta Model D sidecar combination. Which looks as close to concours as you’d want. I’ve recently started compiling a ‘dream garage’ list of Lambretta’s I’d love to own, and a D is right up there. As is a Lambretta sidecar combo, but I’d never put the two together in my head. There are several nice touches to the setup that really work well, I love the chrome legshield trim on the scoot, as well as the spare wheel carrier with integrated petrol tank, a lovely original (looking anyway) item with the innocenti logo. The luggage rack on the sidecar and the front bumper bar on the D are nice too. It also comes with optional “butty box’ behind the fitted petrol tank, something I suspect is an expensive addition if you need to source an original one. Another nice touch is the matching saddles and leather trim on the sidecar. Class. The only thing that really jars is the wheel embellisher on the sidecar. I think I’d either lose that and paint the wheel to match the bodywork, or paint the blue part of the embellisher to match the saddles. But who am I to be so picky! It’s sitting at a not inconsequential £8k at the moment, which seems a tad on the high side to me, but if it’s the sort of rare, early Lambretta that floats your boat, it might be right up your alley. Link here.

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The other £8k would be going to the same bloke… clicking the “see sellers other items” link brought up a lovely Fiat 500 D. Nice, although again, probably a little on the high side price wise. Link here.
He does appear to have listed both items twice.

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Cushty Custom Cushman

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If the Russian Tula I posted the other day doesn’t appeal, howsabout something from the other side of the cold war. Filed under “it’s not a Lambretta, but it’s pretty darn cool” department… I bring you this lovely custom Cushman. Cushman scooters hail from the good old US of A, and while many european scooters tried to ape the lovely curves of the Lambretta and Vespa, with varying degrees of success, Cushman plowed their own furrow.

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Instead of a set french curves, the designer used a good old ruler. 
This example dates back to 1960, and is a customised Model 520. The customisation is pretty tastefully done, some nice pinstriping, a ’59 Cadillac tailight, and the dice detailing on that mysterious lever on the left side of the scooter. (I think it opens the engine compartment). It’s the epitome of the 1950’s Vegas Loungebar aesthetic, scooter style!
Better than all that, it’s for sale, here, so if you’ve got the yen for something different, and the Soviet Tula, stick an offer in. Oh, and if the model looks kinda familiar to you, you’re probably thinking of that Bo Diddley LP cover…

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MCN Reviews the new Lambretta

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And finds it ‘perfectly good’ but about £1,500 overpriced. Read the full review here.

From Russia with love

We all know you can’t beat a classic Lambretta, but if you’ve got a yen for something a litlle different in the classic scooter stakes, how about this lovely Tula 200cc scoot from the former Soviet Union. 
Very much in lin1950’s Teutonic style coachwork… a huge front mudguard reminiscent of a Hienkel, but the rear very similar to the Glas Gogo… this was a beast designed to cope with the worst that the Russian winters could throw at it.
On eBay now for a grand, classified price.

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New Scomadi renderings

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I posted a couple of weeks ago about the Scomadi Turismo Leggera, and Frank from Lambretta Innovations got in touch. There’s exciting developments afoot, and he’s shared these renderings of the new carbon fibre panel work with me that the actual material the next batch will be made from is a fibre matrix – the same struff that crash helmets are made from.  Light and super strong. As carbon fibre is not the ideal material to paint over, they are being produced in a range of traditional Lambretta colours ie yellow ochre, orange, light blue, and white. 

They’ve also purchased 25 engines from Piaggio, so it looks like production is beginning to ramp up.
And if you own a Scomadi, please let me know what you think, send me some pics, and I’ll pop them up!

If you missed Lambretta Innovation IOW they are at the Mersea Island rally this weekend.

 

Lambretta LD Paper Model

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Cut out and make your own Lambretta LD… found this over at the International Scooterist BBS one of there members  got it off of the Sydney City Scooter Club site.

Anyways, it makes a pretty cool model of a Lambretta LD. Well, the sharper eyed amongst you will have noticed the NSU branding, so technically, it’s a NSU Prima. But as the early Prima’s were officially licensed, ‘badge engineered’ (and somewhat improved in some opinions) Teutonic versions of the Lambretta LD we all know and love, I think it still counts as a Lammie.

The instructions are in German, but seriously, how hard can it be? Especially if you’ve ever taken a real one apart. If you do things by the book, there’s always Google translate!

The 21st century Lambretta, and no, I’m not banging on about the LN again

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The Lambretta LN, love it or hate it is probably the machine that Innocenti would be building today, if they were still in the scooter making business that is.
Just as Piaggio no longer make classic Vespas like the GS160, making more efficient, cleaner, quieter, more reliable (and in my opinion) less soulful machines – so too would Innocenti.

So if you want a “modern Lambretta’ grab an LN.

But they are not the only game in town.There’s the Scomadi Turismo Legarra.

The Scomadi has been built on a single principle: the Lambretta may have had many faults, but styling wasn’t one of them.
In fact many enthusiasts believe the Lambretta design reached it’s highest point just before it’s eventual demise – in the Bertone styled DL/GP.

The guys at Scomadi have taken this classic, much loved design and built a modern, reliable and fast scooter under the skin of the GP design. And we’ll come back to the skin later. Starting with a clean sheet of paper they have developed a competely new frame, suspension system and integrated a modern, powerful 250cc, 4 valve, liquid cooled engine. Hydraulic disc brakes front and rear allow you to bring the machine to a safe and controlled halt. And this isn’t just a scooterboys back garden project. Many years of testing, and refining through a number of test bikes and prototypes have led Lambretta Innovations (the people behind the Scomadi) to where they are now… a fast, modern, efficient reincarnation of the classic Lambretta GP.

Those lucky enough to ride the Scomadi say it’s the smoothest ride hey’ve ever had on a Lambretta. The trademark vibration that we Lambrettisti have got used to has simply been engineered out.
And did I mention fast? The Scomadi will cruise all day at 70 mph. If you really want to give it some welly, you’ll get up to 85 mph out of one. That’s performance that is equivalent to the benchmark for modern, automatic scooters, the Vespa GTS 250.

Refinement and performance under a classic GP skin. I said I was going to come back to the skin, as it’s not the metal panels of the GP we all know and love. I think I’ve saved the best for last here, the guys at Lambretta Innovations have developed a whole new panel set, in ultra light, ultra strong carbon fibre. The space age material they make formula one cars and supercars out of. No wonder it goes like a rocket.

So, back to my original point. The LN IS probably the scooter that Innocenti would be making for todays mass market. (Even if there are currently licensing issues regarding whether it is actually legally a Lambretta at all). But the Scomadi is something else. The speed and refinement of a modern powerful scooter (and then some!) coupled with classic Lambretta good looks. Like it’s Ferrari namesake, this is not a mass market scooter, and it’s premium pricing reflects that. But if you want the ultimate evolution of a true design classic, and one that has the soul of a Lambretta GP, and if you’re prepared to pay a little more get the best, this is the scooter you’re looking for.

Find out more at the Scomadi website

Dick Smart and his SuperVespa


Came across this recently via Ride the machine.
Now I know this is a Lambretta blog, and I have been less than complimentary about our Vespa riding brethren (only in jest, honestly),
but that’s because I’d never seen this movie before. Dick, or should that be Signor Smart, is a Vespa riding, latino James Bond type.
I won’t spoil it for you (you really got to see it to believe it) but the words Little Nelly sprang to mind. 007 afficionados will know what I’m on about.
Fantastic cheesy soundrack too.