Lambretta -- 1959 Scottish Six Day Trial - ( Part 1)

http://www.lcgb.co.uk/index.html
http://www.innocenti.org/
Links To LCGB & LCS
Lambretta was a line of motor scooters originally manufactured in Milan, Italy by Innocenti but also manufactured under licence by Société Industrielle de Troyes (S.I.T.) in France, NSU in Germany, Serveta in Spain, API in India, Pasco in Brazil, Auteca in Colombia and Siambretta in Argentina. In 1972, the Indian government bought the Milanese factory and the rights to the Lambretta name, creating Scooters India Limited (SIL). Today, the Innocenti brand name rights are owned by Fiat whereas the oldest Lambretta and Lambro trademark registrations are owned by Lambretta Consortium and are licensed to various companies who want association with the iconic brand.
n 1922, Ferdinando Innocenti of Pescia built a steel-tubing factory in Rome. In 1931, he took the business to Milan where he built a larger factory producing seamless steel tubing and employing about 6,000. During the Second World War, the factory was heavily bombed and destroyed. It is said that surveying the ruins, Innocenti saw the future of cheap, private transport and decided to produce a motor scooter competing on cost and weather protection against the ubiquitous motorcycle.
D'Ascanio, who hated motorbikes, designed a revolutionary vehicle. It was built on a spar-frame with a handlebar gear change and the engine mounted directly on to the rear wheel. The front protection "shield" kept the rider dry and clean in comparison to the open front end on motorcycles. The pass-through leg area design was geared towards women, as wearing dresses or skirts made riding conventional motorcycles a challenge. The front fork, like an aircraft's landing gear, allowed for easy wheel changing. The internal mesh transmission eliminated the standard motorcycle chain, a source of oil, dirt and aesthetic misery. This basic design allowed a series of features to be deployed on the frame which would later allow quick development of new models.

However, General D'Ascanio fell out with Innocenti, who rather than a moulded and beaten spar frame wanted to produce his frame from rolled tubing, there by allowing him to revive both parts of his pre-War company. General D'Ascanio disassociated himself with Innocenti and took his design to Enrico Piaggio who produced the spar framed Vespa from 1946.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• lambretta
• vespa
• scooters

[Bevoin1970]

Brilliant, love this vintage footage. It's great that the guys on the Scooters attempt this sort of thing at all, makes great viewing. I just love to see the fashions at that time and how folk just dress in their normal sporting jackets, ties, caps etc...

A real gem. Definitely a 5 star

[manmangee]

SSDT didn't require helmet in the competition until 1974. It is very nice to see these good old British motorcycles. Ariel,Greeves,Villiers, Triumph etc...four years later, the Spanish two stroke machine is shown up to win.

This film reminded me of riding SSDT in 1973 on tiny but heavy Honda TL125!

I know how tough finishing SSDT on such a scooter.

Applause for the three Lambretta guys!

[ag00241]

Hi, My Uncle (Alan Kimber) is riding bike #3. Is it possible to obtain a copy of the footage you have, as this would make my Mother very happy. Alan went on to bring Suzuki, Life & Nolan brands into the country. Launched Devit & worked extensively with Rickman Bros as well as becoming the first Honda 5 Star motorcycle dealer at his shop in Purley, Surrey. Great guy & superb marketeer. Cheers. Mark.

[RetepV1st]

LOL, great to see how modern motorbikes have progressed. :) At least a modern bike does not have problems with bumps over 2 inches high. :+

[dadswizz]

me old man used to do the the scottish on his greves and villiers etc

[Avantone]

Fantastic historical movie - really interesting. Thanks for posting : )

[scalpsie]

Wholeheartedly agree with previous comment ...fantastic footage from a bygone day ....hugely nostalgic and just sheer brilliance.Wonderful.Thank you.