Lambretta: A 77-Year Ride Through Steel, Style and Reinvention

Birth in the Rubble – 1947 Milan

Ferdinando Innocenti's steel-tubing factory lay in ruins after Allied bombing raids. Rather than rebuild pipes, he envisioned affordable mobility for a devastated Italy. Aeronautical genius Corradino D'Ascanio sketched a pressed-steel scooter with a 123 cc two-stroke engine, enclosed mechanics and step-through frame. Christened "Lambretta" after the mythical sprites of the Lambrate River, the Model A debuted at the 1947 Milan Trade Fair and sold 9,000 units in its first year.

Golden Age of Innovation – 1950-1968

• 1951: Model D introduces torsion-bar rear suspension; for a brief moment it outsells every other two-wheeler on earth.
• 1957: TV (Turismo Veloce) becomes the world's first production scooter with a front disc brake—made by Campagnolo.
• 1961: SX200 and GP ranges set speed records on the Monza circuit and cement the "racer-for-the-street" image.
• By 1965 Innocenti operates plants in France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina and India; over 2 million machines roam the planet.

The Mod Crown – Britain's Love Affair

Sleek lines, chrome flashes and easy tunability make Lambretta the chariot of choice for Britain's Mods. Clubs like the Ace of Herts (1958) host 24-hour endurance runs; Roy Wilson wins the 1964 Southend International Rally in front of 3,000 riders. Jimmy's Li 150 Series 3 in the film Quadrophenia immortalises the brand in pop culture.

Global Footprints

• India: API assembles CKD kits from 1950; Scooters India Ltd. (SIL) buys full rights in 1972, producing the 150 DL, Vijay Deluxe and rugged three-wheeler Vikram.
• Spain: The Serveta factory in Eibar exports "Serveta Lambrettas" to the UK under the Jet-range badge.
• Argentina: SIAM produces the 175 cc DL until 1975 for South American markets.

Sunset in Milan – 1971-1972

Affordable small cars and Honda's four-stroke motorcycles erode scooter demand. British Leyland's takeover of Innocenti fails to reverse losses; strikes and oil shocks shutter the historic Lambrate plant on 30 June 1972.

Afterlife in the East – 1972-1997

SIL Lucknow carries the torch: peak production of 35,000 scooters in 1980-81, innovations like 12 V electronic ignition and Japanese-style CDI units. Yet cheaper Japanese bikes and rising incomes shrink volumes to 4,500 by 1987. Final Indian Lambretta rolls off the line in 1997; SIL pivots to Vikram three-wheelers and finally closes in 2022.

Modern Rebirth – 2017-Today

The Swiss-based Lambretta Consortium resurrects the marque with the V-Special range (125-200 cc fuel-injected engines, ABS, LED lighting) unveiled at EICMA 2017. Built in Taiwan with EU-certified quality, the new machines blend vintage curves with smartphone connectivity and Euro 5 compliance. Global dealerships from London to Bangkok report brisk sales among nostalgic riders and Gen-Z urban commuters.

Cultural Legacy & Collector Scene

• Dictionary entry: In Brazilian Portuguese "lambreta" is the generic word for scooter.
• Rallies: The Isle of Wight's "Scooterist Meltdown" still draws 2,500 Lambretta riders every August.
• Custom Culture: Tuners squeeze 33 bhp from a 225 cc Nikasil barrel, hydraulic brakes and expansion chambers for café-racer chic.
• Museums: Milan's Museo Scooter & Lambretta displays pristine TV175 and rare Luna line models.

Timeline at a Glance

• 1947 – Model A launch
• 1951 – Model D torsion-bar suspension
• 1957 – TV world-first disc brake
• 1964 – GP range, Mod culture peak
• 1972 – Innocenti closure
• 1972 – SIL begins Indian production
• 1997 – Last Indian Lambretta
• 2017 – V-Special rebirth
• 2022 – SIL factory shuts, spare parts continue

Ride On – Why Lambretta Still Matters

From post-war reconstruction icon to Mod-culture legend, from Third-World workhorse to 21st-century lifestyle statement, Lambretta has repeatedly reinvented itself without losing its soul. Whether you're polishing a 1963 SX200 or commuting on a 2023 V-Special, the same spirit—affordable, stylish, democratic mobility—thunders beneath the leg shield.

Lambretta Famous Models – Quick Reference

(UK-market prices are approximate period retail, converted to GBP where necessary)

Model	Years	Engine (cc)	Claimed Power	UK Launch Price	Notable Firsts / Highlights
Model A	1947–1948	123	4.3 bhp	£110	First ever Lambretta – open-frame "motorcycle-style"
Model D	1951–1958	125 / 150	5.2–6.8 bhp	£129–£149	Torsion-bar rear suspension; outsold every other two-wheeler in 1952–53
LD 150 Mk III	1957–1958	150	7.1 bhp	£190	Full "closed" bodywork, fan cooling, 12 V lighting option
TV Series 1	1957–1959	175	8.7 bhp	£205	Flagship model; dual seat, 10-inch wheels
Li 150 Series 2	1959–1961	148	8.2 bhp	£178	Slimmer styling, Li family becomes backbone of the range
Li 150 Special	1963–1966	148	8.2 bhp	£186	Three-penny-bit headset, "Pacemaker" flashes
TV 175/200	1963–1965	198	10.5 bhp	£215	World's first production scooter with front disc brake (Campagnolo)
SX 150	1966–1969	148	8.8 bhp	£192	Sportier ports, 4-speed box, chrome flash trim
SX 200	1966–1969	198	10.5 bhp	£215	70 mph attainable; ultimate Mod scooter
GP/DL 200	1969–1971	198	11.2 bhp	£235	Last Innocenti-built Lambretta; electronic ignition on late runs
Luna 50 CL	1968–1970	49	2.4 bhp	£99	Bertone design, economy commuter model
V-Special 125 (2017–)	2017–present	124.7	10.1 bhp	£3,299 OTR	Euro 5, LED lighting, ABS, smartphone app
V-Special 200 (2017–)	2017–present	168.9	11.8 bhp	£3,699 OTR	Modern fuel-injected reinterpretation of the classic GP
Indian GP 150 (SIL)	1972–1997	145	7.5 bhp	₹ 16,500 (1980)	Bullet-proof workhorse for sub-continent; 35,000 built in peak year