After the return of the Lambretta… iconic US Cushman scooter makes a comeback

Posted on February 17, 2012 by crocodilejock

That’s right folks. I never saw this one coming! Cushman’s are being made again in the US, by K-Jack Motors in California. And they look pretty good too. Those that know their Lambretta history will know the original Lambretta’s owed more than a little to the Cushman, who were around since the early 1900’s… and their “Airborne” model scooter, dropped with US paratroops in Italy during WW2. When Innocenti (and Piaggio) had to re-engineer their factories from making military vehicles and armaments, many regard the lightweight Cushman scooters as a spark of inspiration for both these companies.

The rest is history. The two italian firms went on to dominate scooter production in the 50’s and 60’s, firstly in Italy, then Europe, and finally worldwide. Without the styling elan of the Italian models, the Cushman became regarded as a bit of an oddball… at least in Europe. Even in the US, Italian scooters were seen as sophisticated and cosmopolitan.

But the world has changed… and in an era of generic, plastic scooters these re-engineered Cushmans have more than a little elan of their own. They are certainly stylish, and certainly look much more like the original Cushman than the new Lambretta’s… look to their predecessors.

There are two models, (see EDIT / UPDATE) the Highlander and the Step Thru. Equipped with modern engines – up to 400cc, disk brakes front and rear, and an all steel frame, they are nippy, and sturdy too. The styling that I used to regard as laughably clunky and boxy now looks (to my eye, anyway) funkily utilitarian, and retro chic. The day of the Cushman may finally have arrived!

EDIT / UPDATE: Jack Chalabian of K-Jack has been in touch to tell me there are actually FOUR models of the Cushman II in the pipeline… the Highlander, Step-Thru, Eagle, and Trailster. They will have a 9 or 14 horsepower overhead cam engine with electric start in all the models. While trying (and succeeding, I reckon) to keep the original look with modern DOT requirements; they are compliant throughout the United States… including California.

via Visordown

Find out more at the K-Jack Website, or Facebook page.

The Brazil Connection – The Xispa

Posted on September 22, 2011 by crocodilejock

Everybody knows that the Lambretta comes from Italy. Most know that it was also made in India. And many know it was also made in Spain. At a pinch you might even mention Germany and France. But Brazil? Or Brasil, as it is more correctly spelled? Perhaps it’s my Eurocentric world view, but I was quite surprised when I first found out. (For completists, Lambretta’s were also made under license in Argentina, Taiwan and Colombia).

The history of the Lambretta in Brasil stretches right back to 1955, and in fact it has clams to being Brasil’s first automotive manufacturer. Between 1958 and 1960, in it’s heyday the factory was producing more than 50,000 scooters a year. The mainstay of Brazilian production was based upon the Italian LI Series 2, which they produced from 1960. Known from 1964 as “Pasco Lambretta” the scooter market began to suffer the same slow decline in fortunes that was happening in Europe.

In an attempt to kickstart the market and keep up with changing automotive fashions, they launched one of the Lambretta families more unusual members (to European eyes anyway)… the Xispa. This was a kind of hybrid scooter/monkeybike with many (as you’ll see in the pics) Lambretta components.

There was a 150cc and 175cc version which did well in the domestic market, until the inevitable rise and eventual dominance of imported Japanese motorcycles and mopeds. This all but saw the end of Lambretta production in Brazil, although their final throw of the dice was the slimline style Lambretta Cynthia (which I will feature at a later point I’m sure) and the ‘cutdown’ version of this… the MS150… the factory trimmed sidepanels and MS designation earning it the nickname “the MiniSkirt”.

As I mentioned in a previous post, there is a healthy interest in classic Lambretta’s and active club scene in Brasil (and also Argentina, but that’s another story). There also appears to be a few Xispa’s on the market… an ideal machine for the Lambretta collector with an eye for the unusual. For instance, here’s a very nice example, going for about 4,000 Brazilain Reals (about £1,100 at current exchange rates). You’ll have to ship it over from Brasil of course! I like it, I think it’s got a certain ’70s charm… and it also reminds me of those fantastic racing “Lambretta da Corsa” scooters from the fifties.

UPDATE:

Some useful links if you want to find out more about Lambretta’s in Brasil. Or stat tuned and I’ll get round to writing some more, espcially abut the Cynthia, and the MS!

http://www.lambrettatradicionalbrasil.com.br/historia.htm

http://lambrettabrasil.blogspot.com/

Cushty Custom Cushman

Posted on September 2, 2011 by crocodilejock

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.

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…

From Russia with love

Posted on August 31, 2011 by crocodilejock

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.

Scooters at the Peterson Automotive Museum

Posted on August 4, 2011 by crocodilejock

There’s some beautiful scooters over at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, where alongside the Americana, historic vehicles and supercars they are running a special Scooters Exhibit until May next year. Here’s a video of what you can expect to see if you go.

There’s a lot here that fits into my own person category of “oddball”, which basically means anything that isn’t a Lambretta or V*spa… please note that is not a derogatory term, I would love to own a Moto Rumi for example… I’m even starting to see the charm of those Cushmans and Salisburys these days!

If you’re in the LA locale, it’s worth a visit.

Video, and heads up from JohnnyScoots

Lambretta Helicak

Posted on July 20, 2011 by crocodilejock

An unusual Lambretta/Rickshaw type contraption from Indonesia, these Helicaks (because they look like a Helicopter, presumably) are one of the odder Lambretta conversions I’ve seen.

They were introduced in Jakarta in the early ’70s, but by the late ’80s were deemed unsafe, as in an impending accident, the drivers tended to abandon ship, leaving the passengers trapped in the fibreglass cab to take the brunt of the collision.

Lambretta Scrambler on eBay

Posted on June 7, 2011 by crocodilejock

One of the more unique Lambretta’s on eBay at the moment, this scrambler dates from the mid 1960’s, and comes complete with some history and a box of cine film, from period scrambling events!

It’s an amalgam of a 1957 frame (A Model D would be my guess) and LD 150 engine, which has recently had a pro rebuild. It’s not looking terribly road legal… but it’s not for that. Imagine the fun you’d have (and the looks you’d get) blasting about the campsite on a rally on this!

It’s currently sitting at £3,300… which puts it in the same price bracket as a new LN. Here’s the link.

Manurin Concorde

Posted on May 11, 2011 by crocodilejock

Sycronicity at work again, posted up that link to a group of eBay barn finds (hit the link or just scroll down), and then I stumble across this lovely page about Manurin scooters. So, with a little time, know how, patience and elbow grease your resto project could look something like this.

I must admit, I’d never heard the name Manurin before, gut this big wheeled scoot from France has a beauty all of it’s own. And in 1957, they were the third most poplular scooter in Europe, behind Vespa and Lambretta of course.

If the shape is ringing any bells for you, but your not thinking Manurin… maybe it reminds you of a DKW Hobby… which it is pretty much a ‘badge engineered’ version of.

A clutch of oddballs

Posted on May 10, 2011 by crocodilejock

There’s a selection of weird and wonderful scooters on eBay, from this fella. All of them look like they need a fair bit of work, and don’t come with any documents as they were barn finds.

There’s a couple of LD’s in there, as well as a Vespa Sportique, a Triumph T10, a BSA Sunbeam (or it maybe a Triumph Tigress… they’re pretty much the same beast), a Jawa Manet, and a Manuhin Concorde. None of them are much money (at the moment anyway). If you fancy something different, and you’re handy with a spanner, you might be able to grab yourself a bargain.

Back in the USSR

Posted on May 10, 2011 by crocodilejock

Classic Lambretta’s were tricky to get hold of. However, those clever Soviets produced their own version. The 200cc Tula Tourist isn’t as pretty as a SX, that’s for sure, but I’ve seen uglier scoots. This one if for sale over at Car and Classic… here. £750 or near offer.

And if you want to check out more information about Tula scooters, Autosoviet is a great site.

If I had it, I’d probably paint it bright red, with a big hammer and sickle and CCCP on the side panel. But maybe that’s just a bit obvious.

lambrettista.net

A blog dedicated to the Lambretta, the world's finest motor scooter.

Tag Archives: oddball

After the return of the Lambretta… iconic US Cushman scooter makes a comeback

The Brazil Connection – The Xispa

Cushty Custom Cushman

From Russia with love

Scooters at the Peterson Automotive Museum

Lambretta Helicak

Lambretta Scrambler on eBay

Manurin Concorde

A clutch of oddballs

Back in the USSR

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