Ancillotti Brothers TV225 conserved restoration

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Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 10.20.43This is my third post about the work of The Rimini Lambretta Centre. I make no apologies for this, they produce first class work, and they are the acknowledged experts in the fine art of the “conserved restoration”. Coupled with there usually being an interesting story behind the work, and some great images, it’s a no brainer. So, on with the post, and what we have here is another fantastic job, on a small, but important piece of Lambretta history.
Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 10.22.20Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 10.23.04The owner, Marcello Taglialegne, picked up this machine, in a really sorry state, at a parts fair. Some nifty homework confirmed the sellers’ story that it was an Ancillotti original, and, although the bodywork was in a bad way, with a massive crack at the rear section of the frame, and the engine was missing, it was decide that this scooter MUST be saved! A ton of work was done. This included sourcing a NOS 200cc engine as originally used by the Ancillotti brothers, and a hand-made inlet manifold to house the unfeasibly large Dell’Orto that sticks out the side of this scoot like Satchmo’s horn. The other thing that draws your eye straight away on this unique Lambretta is the front mudguard, which looks like it’s on backwards! A point of ‘heated debate’ in the RLC workshop, it was the way Ancillotti originally did it, so it was going on like that. I kind of like it, and have certainly never seen anything like it before.Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 10.24.49But my favourite part of this scoot is the seat. What a seat. Original to the scooter, and recovered, it sets the whole scoot of beautifully. The first time I ever heard the word Ancillotti was in relation to scooter seats (back in the day, it was that or a “Snetterton”) and this is the daddy of all Ancillotti racing seats. I want one like that!Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 10.22.48Screen Shot 2014-01-24 at 10.26.47

For the full story of all the painstaking, period correct work that was carried out, and it’s quite a saga, but a good read; see the RLC website. There’s lots more pics of this fascinating scooter on there too.

Vespa GL & 90SS vs. Lambretta SX200 & GP200

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Lightweight, and factually incorrect (90mph from a 90SS – really? 90kph surely! – and it’s 90SS, not SS90…) piece on the now defunct Men & Motors Freesat channel. Francesca Robinson takes 4 classic scooters for a test drive, and sorry to mislead you in the title but it isn’t a straight shootout between the Vespas and the Lammies… but a cursory run through of each model. Some nice scoots, especially the SX “commonly known in the scooter world as Sex Appleal”, er, no, that was just an averting slogan. Despite all my carping on, I’ve seen worse, and although you won’t learn anything new, it’s worth a watch.

Made in Taiwan

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The following is thanks to my online pal Corey, of Ottawa, Ontario’s ScooterFix, who originally got material from the equally excellent British Lambretta Archive:9102_10151735002568901_1010994108_nRegular readers of the Lambrettista blog will know I like an exotic Lambretta. The original Italian Innocenti’s are something special, obviously, and over recent years Indian machines have become first acceptable, then desirable in Lambretta circles. France still has a huge amount of French manufactured LC’s & LD’s on the road and the German NSU Lambretta’s have their aficionados. I’ve written about Brazilian Lambrettas before, and briefly on the Argentinian Siambretta when I posted about this amazing Model D twin. What I didn’t know a lot about, until I read Corey’s original post a while back was the Chinese connection. Well, Taiwan, but this little Island off of the People’s Republic of China still officially calls itself The Republic of China. Although, perhaps wisely considering the size and power of their neighbour, The ROC has not made the retaking of mainland China (which it still considers it’s sovereign territory), a political goal since 1992. 971776_10151735002443901_506253119_nAnyway. Back to the Lambrettas. In 1962 a technical agreement had been signed between Innocenti and the Yue Long Motor Co Ltd, of Taipei. It is not known if Yue Long manufactured complete scooters or just put together component parts. It is known that the Series 3 TV 175 were made by Yue Long and these came with a chrome ring. As with the Italian models, these were available with both Li and Special style panels. The frame numbers are distinctive in that they start with the prefix YLL, a dash then 175TV3 another dash – and then an 8 digit frame number. In terms of paint schemes we have seen photos of the Li panelled TVs in white with contrast colours on the horn cast and side panels and the Special panelled TV’s in silver.

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No, it’s not a swastika with a missing leg – Yue Long stamped their products with a three legged symbol – similar to the Manx three legged symbol inside a circle.1098147_10151735002438901_2116505521_nThe Yue Long Lambretta factory produced scooters in a huge plant. Rows of scooters have been completed, waiting for shipping.968875_10151735002588901_395370195_nVarious publicity shots show visiting foreign dignitary’s being shown around the factory,  Including The Central African Republic President Bo Kasa. History doesn’t record whether he took the Yue Long Lambretta Cento back to Africa with him!59619_10151735002663901_382444167_nDominican Vice President Gao Yi Ge also visited…and apparently personally test rode the Lambrettas. Well, who could blame him?547127_10151735102018901_1920120817_nTaiwan’s postmen were some of the coolest around, riding a fleet of green liveried TV’s!

So, are you a resident of Taiwan? I know they blog has readers in the ROC (132 views from Taiwan before this post)! Are there still any Yue Long Lambrettas still around? If there are…or if your mum or dad had a Lambretta (maybe he was a postman!) get in touch and show me, and the Lambretta world, the pics!

UPDATE: I have found this Facebook Group for all Lambretta scooter enthusiasts in Taiwan and their friends, and for owners of Lambrettas that were manufactured in Taiwan. Some great pics on there!

Lambretta. Not a ‘Kronenbourg’

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SX150-PostcardViz’s “Roger’s Profanisaurus” (Surely one of the finest, most creative works in the english language) defines a Kroneburg (sic) thus ” A lady who appears from behind to be about ’16’, but reveals herself to be about ’64’ when she turns around “. Gentlemen, we’ve all been there. Well, there are scooters like that. Look ok from the back, look pants from the front (Peugeot S57 / Terrot VMS1 you know I’m talking about you), or vice-versa.

Luckily, riding a Lambretta, it’s something you don’t have to worry about. As this publicity shot shows. Ok, it’s an SX, but all Lambrettas look equally as good from the front and rear.

Bonus tip; to make your arse look slimmer  if you’ve put on a pound or two over the years… is to go for one of the more voluptuous models, like a S1 or 2. Works for me.

Great AF S-Type Replica

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Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 09.51.05It’s been a long time ambition of mine to own, and ride, an AF S-Type, or a faithful replica of one. Seen by many Lambrettisi as the pinnacle of what you can do with the Lambretta, I think they are pretty much the perfect balance between performance, reliability and style. I’ve even got my colour scheme and sticker placement already planned out. But there’s a couple of points I’m unsure about. Would I have two pathfinders, or just the one? I’ve always thought two… but this scoot looks so right with just the one. And would I have an inline spare wheel carrier, or tuck it behind the ledshields? Decisions, decisions. Well, as I’m potless at the moment, these vital choices can wait. For now. But when I get that windfall…  there are tough choices to be made!Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 09.31.34 Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 09.31.21 Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 09.30.23Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 09.30.54

This glorious S-Type Replica is owned by Stefan, who is behind the excellent Get Around Better Lambretta Photoblog. Another great blog to follow!

UPDATE: Stefan has been in touch with a  few more details about his pride and joy. But first I’ll fill you techy types in on what’s under the panels. The engine is a TS1 225, with a Mikuni TMX 35mm carb and Taffspeed road pipe. A front hydraulic disc, Raydot foglight and Smith speedometer and Ancilotti seat all give it the authentic AF Rayspeed look. But putting together a UK ‘dealer special’ replica in Germany wasn’t all plane sailing, an iIt’s the little details that caused Stefan the biggest problems. On a scoot like this is all about getting the details right… the rubber for the Raydot took some tracking down, and he had to persuade the guy who’d commissioned 100 “225” badges just to get three for his one scoot to let him buy some! Still, it has all come together to produce a first class machine. Nice work!

Series 2 & Daisy Dukes.

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Girl-on-aS2After those last few posts, I thought I should just stick up a pic of an Innocenti machine with two wheels. Ands what’s better that a Lammie with a leggy young lady astride it? Very few things in my opinion!. And kudos to this young lady… because it’s one of those very few pics like this where the scoot isn’t on it’s stand 🙂

Spiders even an arachnophobiac would love…

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Spider 3 280510 resizedMost Lambrettisti know about the Innocenti Minis, which I have posted about before. Well, while Innocenti were making deals to manufacture British cars, they also had their eye on the blossoming Italian sportscar market. They wanted to make a small sport car, along the lines of the Frogeye Sprite… but thought that it’s rather distinctive look would not go down too well with Italian buyers. They commissioned Carrozzeria Ghia to design new bodywork based on the Sprite platform, but more to Italian tastes.

I think the results speak for themselves, a very elegant vehicle with shades of Triumph, Healy, MG, Alfa Romeo and even Ferrari about it, depending on the angle you look at it from. The Innocenti 950 Spider is a very handsome sports car.950 Spider (b) Spider just before doing Buttertubs resized

Innocenti Coupé
As well as the Spider there was also a Coupé version. Known as the Innocenti Coupé, or simply the Innocenti C, these had the larger 1098 engine. These little beauties are now extremely rare… with only 795 examples built… and all in one of the three colours of the italian flag. They were also pretty expensive at the time, due to their low production number, and the high quality, ‘hand-built’ finish.  At first glance, the Coupé seems like a Spider with a roof, but virtually all the body panels, including the bonnet, are completely different from the Spider. It is in fact a bigger car all round than the Spider, 4″ wider and 6″ longer. The width produces a roomier cabin, whilst the extra length is all between the rear edge of the door and the start of the rear wheel arch which proportions the car nicely, and helps give the Coupé it’s elegant ‘rear end’.
3 Coupes l to rAuto Italia Brooklands Flying Lady Copyright Ian Hunt Digital Photography resized White Coupe b

All four of the cars shown above, the Spider and three Coupés, make up the Collezione Innocenti. Further details of these four wonderful vehicles, including the various books and magazine articles they have appeared in, and the many concours d’élélegance competitions they have won are on the Collezione Innocenti website, here. And now, after many years in the same ownership this group of four unique cars, is for sale. Well, since I started typing this article, the red coupé has been sold, so if you’re interested, you’d better be quick. Email info@innocentispider.co.uk or call 01943 608900 for more information.

© All information and photography  is copyright of Collezione Innocenti 2014

Minky business… The Lambretta Bubblecar(s)

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1012826_673766576009250_100253005_n 1607062_673789286006979_1068466953_n 1525577_696661540364494_261322690_nRight. I like Lambrettas. I like bubble cars. What could be better than a Lambretta Bubble Car? Well, there was one (or more than one)… or there nearly was one; The Lambretta Mink. Above are pics of a one-off prototype, developed in the 60’s. Details are lost in the murk of history, but we do know it’s powered by a SX200 engine, and is capable of 60mph. The current owner is now looking to sell, so if you’ve got £20k knocking around, contact Ian Frankland (of Taffspeed fame) and he’ll forward you the details (Like those warnings on the +1 channels and iPlayer …if your reading this “in the future” this post was written in January 2014 – don’t pester Mr Frankland).Lawil_s4_berlina_250ccAlthough a complete ‘one off’ the Mink is not totally alone in the Lambretta microcar stakes. There is the previously featured Lambretta Willam… (above) a boxy little car, but with a certain childlike charm about it… it looks like it was designed by a seven year old, in a good way. There’s even a video if you follow the link.

Avolette-1 Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum / RM AuctionsAlso from France, and slightly smoother Lambretta like curves, more along the lines of the Mink is the Avolette. A proper “bubble car” almost of bumper car proportions and appearance. There were several incarnations of this little beauty, with power units from Sachs and Maico. One of the key features of this little gem was the single “cyclops” headlight. The “New Avolette” was a Lambretta engined variant shown at the Cycle-Salon in 1957, but never making it as far as production. The pics come from the Glumso Smart Drivers blog, which has much more info here.

There are of course, the successful Lambro range of commercial vehicles from Lambretta, but these fall into a slightly different category of “micro-commercial” in my book.

Chromeo, Chromeo…

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Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 11.55.30
Where for art thou, Chromeo?
Lovely chrome and candy TV2 on eBay. All the extra bits are either Vigano, Fiiam or Ulma, which will mean a lot to you guys into your original accessories. It’s starting at £4,750, and it’s in Crewe. Here’s that eBay link again.Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 11.56.01 Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 11.55.46 Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 11.55.19 Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 11.56.40 Screen Shot 2014-01-16 at 11.56.15

Double Bubble

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attica1I’ve got a bit of a thing for microcars, or ‘bubble’ cars if you will. You may have spotted a couple of posts, spread through blog. It’s a bit of an odd fixation…but I suppose I look upon bubble cars pretty much like the Germans do when they call them Kabinenroller – which translates as “Cabin Scooters” …and that’s pretty much how I see them, rather than cars, scooters with roofs. And when my waterproofs are leaking (again) they seem eminently sensible!

Anyway… there’s the usual suspects of Messerschmitts and Isettas, which are probably the best known of the bunch (The Lambretta & Vespa of the microcar world, if you will), but, as with scooters, there are a whole bunch of lesser known marques… including the next rank, Heinkels, Subarus (Post coming soon on these) and even one from Piaggio, the Vespa 400. One I had never come across before though is this Greek bubble… (hence the Double Bubble title for those of you who know their CRS).

It’s called a Attica 200, and was produced in Greece from 1968 to 1971, with a fair degree of success in the greek home market. To my mind it’s got some nice lines, kind of like the offspring of a Heinkel Trojan and an old Saab 93. Which is a good thing. Should you wish to know more, Wikipedia provides a few facts as usual, I won’t trouble you with them here. I will give a shout out to the excellent Sake Racers blog, where I found the image originally, and just to get things back on track, here’s a link to the Lambretta Club Hellas, our Lambretta riding friends in sunny Greece. So that’s two Greek flavoured posts in one week… funny how things work out.