You wait ages for a SX200, and then two come along at once. If you’ve had a hankering after one of the most beautiful models of Lambretta ever made, pop over to eBay (links below), as there’s a brace of near identical scoots on there at the moment. Both for sale at around about the £11k mark (One is asking £500 too much, or too little, depending on your viewpoint).
Here’s the link to the first one
I spotted this rare plastic model kit on eBay. The scooter is an SX200, and, unlike the illustration on the box, is apparently a very good likeness to the real thing, being based on an original Italian kit by Pyro. It’s on for £200… I remember the days you could pick up a Lammie for that (ok, probably not a SX, even in the “good old days”!). Since I originally wrote this post, it’s failed to sell at £200, and been relisted with a starting bid of £150.
The price of Lambretta scooters seems to be reaching new heights, as a quick glance at eBay will confirm. A TV175 Series 3, for the best part of £15k, an SX200 for a ‘buy it now’ price of £12k, and an Italian GP for £7,779… All very nice looking scooters… but that’s a lot of your hard earned cash to spend on a scooter.
The first one is, admittedly a beautiful machine, and the only one of the three I’ve seen in the flesh. Restored by the world famous RImini Lambretta Centre… so you know everything will be done to the highest standard. But still… that’s a lot of dosh. Check it out on eBay here.
The second is another very desirable scooter; a British Registered SX200, in champagne and white, still with it’s original Ken Cobbing seat. Matching frame and engine numbers and original panels and bodywork. Bit still… a little steep at £12K?
Here it is on eBay
If GP’s are more your thing… there’s a nice, 1969 original Innocenti 200. Restored to a high standard, and looking lovely in yellow ochre. A steal at just £7,779? If it’s for you, here’s the eBay link
And it’s not just the more desirable models that are getting expensive… here’s a 150 LD going for £4800… something that would have seemed, if not unthinkable, an “ambitious” price, just a few years ago. Here’s the eBay link to the LD
So, are these machines actually worth these price tags? They’re all very desirable scooters, and look like they’ve been restored to a high standard. So, ultimately, the market will decide. It’s hard to see prices dropping in the future, so a classic Italian scooter may be a good investment, even at these prices. But remember, these machines are always better ridden than hidden.
There are still plenty of more affordable Lambrettas out there, but they may be either less cosmetically attractive, needing some work, or complete ‘projects’. I suppose it’s good news if you already own a Lambretta, or are in a position to buy and restore one… but the downside is it’s getting increasingly difficult for youngsters to get involved in our scene.
Nice, tastefully modded SX200 which combines classic café racer looks with modern performance. Powered by a 34HP 265cc Readspeed engine, it is quick, smooth and reliable. And simply beautiful. Offers over £10k on eBay here
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.
Great pic from the excellent BrettaPower Tumblr blog.
The perfect way to kick off the New Year, A nice video by Nuvolari Legend… Ok, it’s in Italian, but I always find Italian is one of those languages you can get the ‘jist’ of just by listening… and the visuals make up for it. I do wish they’s shot it in landscape though!
Bit late posting this, as it appear in the Mail at the end of June, but with Mr Wiggins back at work in the Tour of Poland, I thought I’d take the opportunity to follow up my post on Britain’s favourite cyclist, olympic hero, mod and Lambrettista.
In what later turned out to be some publicity shots for his new range of clobber for Fred Perry, Wiggo was seen “speeding around on his moped” (the Daily Mail’s words not mine) on Southport pier. Apparently, the gold and white SX200 scooter, is a gift from the clothing range after Mr Wiggins worked with the label to create a cycling inspired collection of apparel, footwear and accessories.
If you follow the link to the Daily Mail article, you’ll find a couple of pics of him scooting down the pier. I’d post them here, but they’re copyright. (I’m sure Fred Perry won’t mind me posting there pics, especially as I’ve linked to their website) But the fact that it was all a bit of a set up for a photoshoot will explain his lack of a crash hat… as he’s been quite outspoken (and rightly so) about wearing a helmet on your bike.
Here’s the original article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2350032/Bradley-Wiggins-spotted-cruising-Southport-SCOOTER.html#ixzz2aRT0rX5C
And here’s the Fred Perry Modern British Hero collection: http://www.fredperry.com/men/bradley-wiggins
And Bradley… if you read the blog, let me know mate. I’d love a celebrity endorsement!
There’s a couple of hard months ahead for those of us toughing it out on two wheels, so scoot safe!
A documentary video of an impressively bearded Italian guy (Alessa Andrini, I’m guessing from his YouTube user name) and a 5,000 km road trip from his home town in Riccione, Italy. Before he sets off to see the British Moto GP at Donnington, and then the Dutch one at Assen, first he has to restore his 1966 SX 150… (although I thought it looked pretty good as it was, you can’t argue with the finished scoot, in vibrant yellow). Follow the whole series via his YouTube page.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Alessandrini1966#p/u/1/NUFPBVFWjf0
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