Design and Scooter Evolution
Lambretta scooters work with a three or four gearing transmission system, depending on the model. The transmission choice is controlled manually, using a dual steel cable system controlled by the left twist handle on the headset. The throttle works similar to a motorcycle with a twist handle design on the right side. Braking uses a combo system, again similar to the motorcycle, with a hand brake lever on the right handle for the front brake and the right foot pedal at the bottom of the scooter for the rear brake.
The Lambretta engine utilized a two-stroke design, mixing the engine oil into the gas to lubricate the engine combustion chamber. The two-cycle approach was simple, producing a significant amount of power that would quadruple with each larger engine design, being able to hit modern highway speeds and more with the later models by the late 1960s. Model C Engine, Brian Snelson, 2010.
Suspension
was provided in the front and back of the scooter. The front utilized a
dual leg front fork system with springs inside the fork attached to
links at the bottom. The links hooked onto the front hub axle which
included the brake drums and hub cavity and the front wheel (later
replaced with a disc brake system). The rear suspension bolted to the
tube frame underneath the rear of the rider's sitting area behind the
gas tank and to the back side of the engine. This provided the bulk of
the riding dampening effect while the front springs took on the initial
bumps in the road.
The first scooter models came with a choice of a stripped down frame or a body-paneled option that moved around with a 50cc engine. As mentioned earlier, the Lambretta production design used a tube frame as its core as opposed to the pressed monocoque steel frame of its scooter cousin. The only exception to this rule was the mid to late 1960s J series Lambrettas which did try the Vespa-style frame. The early Lambrettas gave owners the option to either have a fully-bodied model or a stripped-down frame only vehicle. Dubbed models A,B, C, and D, Innocenti was very simplistic in the beginning product line offered to customers. The first two models, A and B, came as stripped down frame scooters with only a legshield as the noticeable sheet metal cover. Models C and D provided an upgraded option and it was Model D that ended up being the most popular in sales. This signaled to Innocenti management and marketing the preference was clearly for a fully-assembled scooter rather than a utilitarian frame-style model.
David Daniels, 1956 Custom Model D Lambretta, 2011.
Continuing into the late 1950s, the Lambretta scooters became bigger, stronger and more complex in assembly. A clear sign of advancing design was the increased number of specialized tools necessary to work on the scooter during advanced repair. The LD models appeared by 1957 providing a full-body scooter with all the
internals
fully enclosed, including the engine and fuel tank. The scooters
provided either one or two seats with a saddle design on a big spring
for cushion from the road (which wasn’t much dampening at all, but it
was better than a hard-tail alternative on the rider’s tailbone). Given
the low price and easy accessibility to parts and support, the Lambretta
quickly became attractive as a means of easy transport for a whole
generation of teenagers in Western Europe.
As the Lambretta scooter frame became bigger with advanced models, room was provided in front of the gas tank for the air filter system and an internal glovebox underneath the front rider. The container was closed up with a door and latch system, providing enough space for an oil cup, container of engine oil, a few spare tools, and cleanup rag or gloves.
Lambretta scooters work with a three or four gearing transmission system, depending on the model. The transmission choice is controlled manually, using a dual steel cable system controlled by the left twist handle on the headset. The throttle works similar to a motorcycle with a twist handle design on the right side. Braking uses a combo system, again similar to the motorcycle, with a hand brake lever on the right handle for the front brake and the right foot pedal at the bottom of the scooter for the rear brake.
The Lambretta engine utilized a two-stroke design, mixing the engine oil into the gas to lubricate the engine combustion chamber. The two-cycle approach was simple, producing a significant amount of power that would quadruple with each larger engine design, being able to hit modern highway speeds and more with the later models by the late 1960s. Model C Engine, Brian Snelson, 2010.
Suspension
was provided in the front and back of the scooter. The front utilized a
dual leg front fork system with springs inside the fork attached to
links at the bottom. The links hooked onto the front hub axle which
included the brake drums and hub cavity and the front wheel (later
replaced with a disc brake system). The rear suspension bolted to the
tube frame underneath the rear of the rider's sitting area behind the
gas tank and to the back side of the engine. This provided the bulk of
the riding dampening effect while the front springs took on the initial
bumps in the road.The first scooter models came with a choice of a stripped down frame or a body-paneled option that moved around with a 50cc engine. As mentioned earlier, the Lambretta production design used a tube frame as its core as opposed to the pressed monocoque steel frame of its scooter cousin. The only exception to this rule was the mid to late 1960s J series Lambrettas which did try the Vespa-style frame. The early Lambrettas gave owners the option to either have a fully-bodied model or a stripped-down frame only vehicle. Dubbed models A,B, C, and D, Innocenti was very simplistic in the beginning product line offered to customers. The first two models, A and B, came as stripped down frame scooters with only a legshield as the noticeable sheet metal cover. Models C and D provided an upgraded option and it was Model D that ended up being the most popular in sales. This signaled to Innocenti management and marketing the preference was clearly for a fully-assembled scooter rather than a utilitarian frame-style model.
David Daniels, 1956 Custom Model D Lambretta, 2011.
Continuing into the late 1950s, the Lambretta scooters became bigger, stronger and more complex in assembly. A clear sign of advancing design was the increased number of specialized tools necessary to work on the scooter during advanced repair. The LD models appeared by 1957 providing a full-body scooter with all the
internals
fully enclosed, including the engine and fuel tank. The scooters
provided either one or two seats with a saddle design on a big spring
for cushion from the road (which wasn’t much dampening at all, but it
was better than a hard-tail alternative on the rider’s tailbone). Given
the low price and easy accessibility to parts and support, the Lambretta
quickly became attractive as a means of easy transport for a whole
generation of teenagers in Western Europe.As the Lambretta scooter frame became bigger with advanced models, room was provided in front of the gas tank for the air filter system and an internal glovebox underneath the front rider. The container was closed up with a door and latch system, providing enough space for an oil cup, container of engine oil, a few spare tools, and cleanup rag or gloves.
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