Lambretta Scooters

Maybe it was something in the Italian water - for a time there the country was the world hub for scooter innovation. However it's difficult to track down exactly where the concept of scooters originated, as they existed pre World War II, and scooter-like motorcycles were used by assorted military forces during the war itself.

Whatever the exact details, both Vespa and Lambretta began building, in 1946, what we recognise today as the modern scooter. A small but significant difference between the two brands was that Vespa mounted its powerplant beside the rear wheel, while Lambretta generally mounted its units just ahead - making for a longer looking machine.

Lambretta was founded by Ferdinando Innocenti, who is known to have established his first workshop at the age of 18, in 1909. By 1931 he had moved to the Milanese suburb of Lambrate, where he established a steel company.

His plant was all but destroyed in the war and, after the armistice, he like many others faced the somewhat daunting task of rebuilding from scratch. He also, like the folk at Vespa and many motorcycle manufacturers, saw the demand for cheap transport.

 His first machine, the model A, was a 123cc two-stroke. It was more utilitarian looking than the equivalent Vespa, with no wrap-around bodywork. That was to come later, with the last naked scooter - the 125cc F model - produced in 1955.

Lambretta publicised its machines with speed record attempts. Perhaps its most impressive effort was with a streamlined 125cc machine ridden by Romolo Ferri in 1950, which achieved 195km/h.

The company spread its wings internationally, at various times developing licensed manufacturing agreements with Germany (NSU), Spain and India. It also worked its way into the car industry, developing ties of various sorts with Ford, Volkswagen, Austin and de Tomaso.

Innocenti's company dabbled in motorcycles, producing a very sweet looking 50cc machine in the late 1970s. However its most legendary effort was a 250cc V-twin four-stroke, with Guzzi-like engine layout, built during the early 1950s. The single overhead cam machine was quite advanced for its day, with triple coil valve-springs and shim adjustment, five-speed gearbox and shaft final drive. It claimed 30 horses and a top speed of 190km/h. It was seen as a warning shot across the bows of Moto Guzzi, and others, sending the message that they should keep out of the scooter market - unless they wanted Lambretta to develop a real interest in motorcycles.

 The firm's most powerful scooter was the 11 horse SX200, built from 1966 to 1969.

At its peak, Lambretta employed 7000 people and some models were built in the hundreds of thousands. Unfortunately the death of its founder in 1966 signalled the start of a downhill trend, and the firm was in serious financial strife by 1975 when it was taken over by the Italian government and various sections broken up into new companies.

Today an American firm, calling itself Lambretta USA is working on reviving the brand, using Lambretta layouts, and (ironically) powerplants from Piaggio, the owner of Vespa. It's very early days for this effort, and there's no guarantee of success.

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