Came across some great vintage pics of Rotherham Saints Lambretta Club in The Rotherham Advertiser – theres even a video of a rideout on the site. The full story, the video and more pics here.
Story originally by Danny oops Dave Doyle. Definitely DAVE. Not Danny. That’s someone else. If you have any similar, vintage pics you would like featured on the site, let me know and I’ll get them up.
Spotted these on Amazon… a range of decent looking Lambretta models, four in total…… that would grace any Lambretta lovers’ china cabinet (if people have such thing these days). Theres a Model A, An LI Series 1, a Series 2 Rallymaster and a GP200.
The attention to detail looks pretty good, although I’ve only seen the photographs, not the models in the flesh. Here’s the blurb: Officially Licensed Lambretta scootesr that have been faithfully recreated with handsculpted and handpainted additions for outstanding detail” The scooters are approximately, 8cm in height, 10cm in length.
They’re made by the Bradford Exchange. Pics and links below… there appears to be fairly limited stock, so get your orders in quick if you want one!
Series 2 Rallymaster on Amazon
Sandro from Malta got in touch, initially interested in doing a deal on the Maserati scooter I featured a while back. I saw he had some interesting scoots, and persuaded him to send me some pictures…
Here’s his Lambrettas…
Here is his Vespa U… 
The Vespa U is one of the rarest of all Vespas. Looking a lot like the Allstate model produced for the US market, the Vespa U was a ‘bare bones’ economy model. But the public at the time preferred spending a little more for a more refined /well equipped Vespa, and so it was cancelled after only machines were 6000 produced. Lambretta had a similar idea with their ‘E’ model, a similar commercial flop. 3,500 U’s were sold off to either Iran or Iraq (accounts vary!)for use by the government post office – and disappeared after that. Today, there are maybe 20 machines left on the planet…and Sandro has one 🙂 So, initially a commercial failure but now one of the most desirable of Vespas!
And here’s his rather lovely Iso Diva Milano.
It’s a Series 1 (and an early Series 1 at that), replete with super rare period accessories. Itself a rare machine, with only 2,000 series 1’s produced…
EDIT: I’ve just noticed the Iso Milano that was on eBay before Christmas has been relisted, now you can see how beautiful it could look, are you interested? Here it is on eBay
Finally, here’s some other Maltese scooters…
The scene in Malta is quite strong, with 70 or 80 classic scooters on the road, (and many more in garages and back yards – aint that like everywhere!).
Thanks Sandro, I appreciate the pics, and great way to kick off the New Year on the blog! If you’ve got a scooter collection, or would like your club featured (wherever you are in the world), get in touch and we’ll see if I can feature you on the blog.
With the emphasis on the word style. Because this isn’t a replica. I’ve posted a couple of very nice Rallymaster Replicas, here for example, and this clearly isn’t ploughing the same furrow. Nope, this scoot (which started life as a Series 1, despite appearances) has taken the best of the design cues of a Rallymaster, and distilled it into a subtle, understated custom.
As is the way with these things, the devil is in the detail. The custom twin rear light fitting and the fettled LD toolbox look great. The pathfinders work, as do the air horns. All in all, a very nice job which gives a respectful nod to the Rallymaster, stripes and all, without going all Dennis the Menace / Bournmouth FC.
It’s for sale on eBay, currently sitting at £4,500, Sorry, It’s sold already, before I had the chance to post this! That’s a first. Told you it was nice!
I’ve written about the marvellous Scooters & Style magazine before, but no apologies for mentioning it again on the blog. Whilst being a heavily ‘Vespa centric’ issue – so plenty there for the Wasp lovers – and only featuring one Lambretta this issue – the one they do feature is an absolute cracker – and rightfully the cover star. There’s also a piece on a bizarrely modified Bernardet scooter, a real curiousity!
It’s Daniele Savare’s TV175 Series 1, tastefully modded and restored by the Rimini Lambretta Centre. Daniele is a well-known face on the mod scene, and owns six scooters, including three Lambrettas. The TV1 is his favourite, however, and it’s easy to see why.
The fine scooter photography really benefits from being seen on the superior paper (or stock as we ‘in the trade’ call it). It’s the production standards of Scooters & Style magazine that sets it apart from the competition. This is a real quality product. If you want to have a sneaky peak at the content of the mag, they’ve got a ‘portfolio‘ section on the website which is worth checking out, but doesn’t give you the tactile feel and even smell of the real printed magazine. The website, by-the-way, is (like the mag) dual langauge, with both French and English versions. Which is helpful for those of us with just CSE grade 2 French.
You can get your mitts on a copy here. I’d highly recommend it.
Here’s a bunch of useful links;
The Scooters & Style Website
The Scooters & Style Facebook Page
Scooters & Style on Instagram
When asked what the ideal number of Lambrettas to own is, the usual answer is ‘one more than I’ve got’. Spanish-based ex-pat Colin Bunn taken that concept and run with it.
Colin has amassed an absolutely incredible collection of Lambrettas (and associated marques), in what must surely be the world’s largest collection of Lambrettas (unless you know different). Now, due to some unfortunate circumstances, most of the collection will be up for sale…
Full story over on ScooterLab, here.
Pic by Sticky.
Spotted this lovely S1 over on the Lambretta Club of Great Britain forums. The scenery ain’t bad either!
‘Wolfie’ Smith… in the classic TV comedy Citizen Smith on a S1. Apparently, Robert Lindsay may be making a comeback, wonder if he’ll still ride a Lammy? I wonder if actress Cheryl Hall will still be riding pillion?
Readers with good memories may remember that Wolfie later moved on to riding a GP in later episodes. Freedom for Tooting!
Thes two Series 1’s currently for sale on eBay encapsulate the reason I love Lambretta’s so much. Both are far from ‘stock’, and they couldn’t be different.
The first is a classy baby-blue and cream cruiser is a rhapsody in careful customization, all the accessories add to the lines and the look of the machine. The Lucas pathfinders actually work, and are not just for show. The Mugello 186 conversion ensures that it is no slouch, but it gets there smoooothly. On eBay for a classified price of £7,000 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
The second machine shares the same base model (LI 1), but it couldn’t look more different. I had to do a bit of a double-take when I first saw it, as it has definite “Racing D” heritage in its build. And it’s built for speed, with an RB22 225cc on Indian casings with Italian running gear and NO extraneous extras.
No pathfinders on this one… no lights actually! Somehow, it’s road legal, however, as it passed an MOT when originally built, and was stipulated as daytime use only. As it’s pre-1960, it doesn’t require an annual MOT, so Bob’s your mother’s brother although a part of me thinks “Good luck discussing that one with an over-zealous traffic cop”. Although there’s nothing extraneous on the bike, it’s got a shedload of one-off trick parts and modifications, as you’ll have seen from the pics. It's on eBay too, with a classified piece of exactly half the blue one , at £3,500. It’s definitley not half the machine though, although there’s an attempt to make it half the weight! It’s in Swanage, Dorset.
Loving the clean lines on this custard yellow S1 I stumbled across on eBay. It’s been prepared by Lambretta experts Mike Phoenix Scooters in Manchester, so you know it’s gonna be a good ‘un, not just a pretty ‘un.
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