Category Archives: Scooters

SX… Perfection?

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My last post featured a cracking “Rat Racer” Series one… and I thought it was just about perfect. Something I’d love to own. There would be a few little tweaks I’d make… and that’s the way it is with most of the scoots I find. Nearly perfect, but with a couple of tweaks… a bit of chrome there… an accessory added, or removed… but that’s the joy of Lambretta’s. The machines rolled out of the factory, close to perfection… but somehow owners (and dealers) managed to improve them.

But, I think I’ve found a machine where I wouldn’t change a thing. And it’s this stunning SX. Well, an SX 150 S-Type GT 186 to be precise. Everything from the paint colour, to the Ancillotti exhaust screams perfection for me. The raydots at the Smith chrono all add to the package. It’s a classic look, and I don’t think it’s been bettered, to be honest. Perfect.

Lambretta SX 150 S-Type GT 186 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.33.41 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.34.10 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.34.26 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.34.58 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.35.23 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.35.58 Screen shot 2013-07-06 at 07.36.51

This lovely scoot was shot by Christian Gentilini, and you can see more of his photography, here, on flickr. He’s a member of the Lambretta Club Teste Cromate S.C.
The pics are copyright (Christian was kind enough to allow me to use them here) so please respect that.

Oh. I’ve spotted it. The tweak I’d make to this scooter. The crankcase side panel has something missing… it needs “Owned and run by Crocodile Jock” discretely signwritten on it. Small in the bottom right corner. And maybe a small enamel union flag badge under the sprint rack. There you go… proved… Lambrettisti just can’t help tinkering with perfection!

One for the road. And another one.

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$T2eC16V,!ykE9s7tw3RVBRzF4QYbiQ~~60_12 $T2eC16VHJI!E9qSO8)WfBR0VEjhCQw~~60_12Browsing eBay, as I do, just on the off chance my lottery numbers come up, I came across a couple of rather nice Series 1’s… each with a completely different look and feel. First up is this restored example in turquoise and white… 175 AF Rayspeed kit and a Clubman exhaust… it’s got a fixed “Buy it now” price of £3,150. Very tidy, very nice. If it’s your cup of tea, here’s the link: Lambretta Series One on eBay.

$(KGrHqFHJE!FGvm0HOzNBR0VEz5vNg~~60_12 $(KGrHqNHJEIFGv3URz74BR0VEsZUug~~60_12

But I think I actually prefer this one… “The Swiss Shitter” Based on a Swiss model* Series One, and also dating from ’59… this ‘rat look racer’ has a lovely patina about her… love the “stickerbomb” look and the chrome horncast. It’s got a Rapido 225 lump, GP 200 Gearbox and the carb and exhaust (a Fresco) to go with it. Currently sitting at £2,250 but with four days to go, and this one will go higher. Here’s the link.

$T2eC16R,!w0E9szNYhFVBRzF4rgFfQ~~60_12 $(KGrHqR,!qwFG66qp0G,BRzF4iecy!~~60_12$(KGrHqN,!rkFG9sdFYFPBRzF4pOUl!~~60_12 $(KGrHqF,!lMFG7gyrHKYBRzF5Mp87w~~60_12

*Swiss model? No, I didn’t know they made one either. I can feel a bit of research and a blog post coming on! From the eBay listing, there was hand pinstriping as standard, as well as side panel and front mudguard embellishers, and running board protectors.

Teme Valley Pre ’66 Scooter Rally

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Nice scooters, nicely shot by The Scootographer.

Hot Rod Style Signwriting

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The scooterist - lambretta (5)-1I’ve noticed a bit of a trend for this on scoots recently… it goes hand in hand with the “rusto-ration” and “rat look” …and there’s a lot of crossover with punk and rockabilly styles too… hand lettered, humorous, personal, crafted, imperfect, but beautifully so… with an ‘authentic’ calligraphic feel… it’s teh perfect counterpoint to the airbrushed murals and perfect vinyl cut graphics we’ve seen on scooters for years. And  I love it.

669b5fd4bbd222fdca4218fcc7ddd514 307758da8aa62314d697653b46ec876f 382477_458655817559741_519150970_n 521919_505720176135682_1869237394_n 525936_430786233614240_222609721098560_1675709_1542605117_n 941339_10151401058197823_869007697_n 971575_10151393953196886_1121994776_n 1001629_10200175693822668_530510789_n 4676045990_8bcae6b9f1_b f076cf36622e2455dc29ed1ed371d275 IMG_0214 img_1644 img_1645 IMG_5431 ornamental-conifer-scooter-punks P1120025_zpsd60a7aa5 Screen shot 2013-05-21 at 16.53.48 The scooterist - lambretta (1)-1 The scooterist - lambretta (3) The scooterist - lambretta (4) tumblr_mbbkq9DjGg1ruj68jo3_1280 tumblr_mk8v9sBfFy1qmr329o1_1280 tumblr_mk8v9sBfFy1qmr329o2_1280

Kelvinator Avanti

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Kelvinator AvantiSo, I know the name Kelvinator… they make fridges, freezers… that sort of stuff right… oh yeah, and Lambrettas. Of a sort. Well to be honest, I didn’t know that last bit. So, as well as companies like SIL and API, and even Vijai that I know were making Lambrettas under license in the subcontinent, so was a international maker of white goods. Weird.

$(KGrHqVHJBkFBR0-nyn2BRuI5-nJkw~~60_12 Kelvinator AvantiAnd there’s one for sale on eBay. Ok, it’s in bits… and it suffers from many of the same ‘styling issues’ as the Lamby Polo that I posted about previously… but for some reason I don’t mind the look of this one so much. Maybe it’s because the paint isn’t so lairy. Or the panels are a bit better. The V*spa style headlight is weird, but not too ugly… and it has got a similar horrible (imho) PX / Polo style horncasting. But if you can live with all that, and you fancy a proper ‘curryburner’ with a difference, you can buy it on eBay, here. And it’s cheap for Lammie.

Supertune Style

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Supertune 1Nice 1967 125 Special with a Supertune paintjob for sale.

Specs look pretty good too… It’s had a complete rebuild by Scootopia in 2009 – around 600 genuine dry miles since then.

“Finished in Rover Metallic British Racing Green / Hawthorn White in Supertune Style. Working Smiths 120mph Speedo Stage 4 SIL 200 (Blank casing) LI150 Gearbox, AF Crank, 30mm Delly PHBH with Ram Air Filter, Brand New AF Clubman (New Style) – only done a couple of miles since fitting last year & sounds lovely. Original Innocenti Front Disc Brake  Taffspeed Billet Ally Rear Shock 
Scootopia Cut Back Ancilloti Seat (The waffle side type).

Lovely condition, has always been stored in a dry garage – has barely had any use over the last couple of years and has become an expensive ornament – would much rather it went to someone who’s going to make use of it.”

Supertune 2Just my cup of tea, to be honest, wish I had a few spare quid, I’d snap it up.

It’s for sale, in Cardiff, for £3,900. Which sounds about right to me.

Contact Matt on supertune1@hotmail.co.uk

Scrooser… hipster electric scooter

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So, what do you get if you cross an electric scooter, with a kids toy, push along scooter… and add a bit of Harley Davidson ‘bobber’ aesthetic into the mix?

Scrooser-Electric-Scooter-1The Scrooser, that’s what.

And they call it an “Urban Mobility Scooter” rather than a hipster electric scooter.

Scrooser-Electric-Scooter-4 Scrooser-Electric-Scooter-3Although it doesn’t actually exist as a product you can buy – yet – it looks pretty well advanced. If you like it, you can be part of the story by funding it on Kickstarter… chip in anything from $1 up… if you contribute $3950 you’ll get a Scrooser, early backers edition, personally numbered (2-25). If you stump up $10k you get the Scooser ONE, the first one off the production line.

I don’t know if I love it or hate it… LOVE the fat wheels, clean lines, and lack of visible engine… HATE the hipsters riding it all over the pavement… can see that going down well!

Scrooser-Electric-Scooter-2If it was road legal, and had decent performance and range, it would be way cool, and probably knock the Zoomer/Ruckus off it’s spot as my favourite modern scooter.

Via: HiConsumption blog

Find a full review of The Scrooser over at Electric Scooter Expert – a blog focused on this kind of scooter… if you like the Scrooser, check the site out here.

Mystery Early 60’s Lambretta Wedding Movie!

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25-wi-lambretta-03Lambretta Bride

http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/video/2486002597001/?ref=vidshare

This is a wonderful piece of social history, a wedding video featuring a whole brace of Lambrettas from the the Mitcham Goons Scooter Club…

It was found at a car boot sale in Wimbledon by the son of a film historian, Barry Littlechild.

I think it dates from the early 60’s… judging by the machines (several Series 2’s) and it’s probably something to do with the movie “Come September“, starring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida, which came out in 61. So, does anybody know anymore? Who’s the bride? Were you a member of the Mitcham Goons? If you were, or you know more of the story, please let me know – I’d love to follow this up… or let the guys at the Wimbledon Guardian know direct. The full story is here, on the Wimbledon Guardian website.

Dino’s at it again…

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Dean Martin on a CentoBefore Austin Powers, there was Matt Helm… a spoof secret agent played by Dean Martin. A hard drinking, womanising, wisecracking american counterpart to 007, Dino played it strictly for laughs, and took every opportunity to get his leg over. On this occasion, he’s given up trying to kick start the LD, and got his leg over a J Range… And riding pillion he’s looking for somewhere to hold on!

Lambrettas in South Africa

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Lambrettas in JohannesburgThere’s barely a corner of the world without a Lambretta these days, if you look hard enough. Andy sent me this picture of this lovely little group of Lammies outside Café Sofia, in Greenside, Johannesburg, South Africa.They meet up there on a Sunday, for coffee and breakfast, which sounds very civilised! There’s some nice machines in that line-up too… a Series 3 TV 200 (I initially thought this was a150 Special – sorry Carlos), a TV2, Serveta (Jet 200?), and a couple of DL’s. All a long way from home, but looking good!

If you’ve got a Lambretta scene in your neck of the woods, send me a pic and let me know what’s going on, I’ll stick it on the blog.