Lambretta D, LD, DL and GP: books - history and construction

Lambretta D/LD 125/150 (1951-1958): History, models and documents / Storie Modelli e documenti

The industrial and technical history of the Lambretta D/LD series, the classic Lambretta par excellence, the model that has represented the purest essence of the scooter "made in Italy", as told through invaluable archive materials.
Previously unpublished photos and official documents discovered in the Innocenti archives along with accurate texts by Vittorio Tessera, the leading expert on the historic scooter in Italy and the world.

With this model, Innocenti proved capable of conquering the national and international markets; exported throughout the world, the D/LD was a great success, loved and appreciated by thousands of users.

Chapters dedicated to advertising, to the famous people who fell in love with it and to the marketing of the D and DL series around the world complete this latest title in the series that also includes the volumes Lambretta LUI, Lambretta TV/LI Series I and Lambretta TV/LI Scooterstyle Series III.

Lambretta Lui : History, Models & Documentation

The first and only monograph entirely devoted to the Lambretta LUI scooter, produced by Innocenti in their tens of thousands, designed by that master of body styling, Nuccio Bertone.

The Lambretta LUI was innovative - perhaps too much so - and that was possibly the reason it was not understood, and it was unable to cut for itself as big a slice of the youth market as it should have done.
Innocenti believed in the LUI with all its conviction, having invested considerably in advertising it in all available media: television, cinema, newspapers and magazines. A mighty effort that did not bring in the hoped-for results.
But today, the LUI has been recognised, quite rightly, as one of the shining examples of Italian design as applied to a scooter.

Published as the first in a series of books spotlighting the most important and significant Lambrettas, this treatise unveils all the technical and stylistic secrets of the LUI model by model, illustrated by invaluable archive material never before published, and is written by Vittorio Tessera, a major historian on the popular two-wheeler in all its variations.

Lambretta DL/GP - Storia, modelli e documenti - History, models and documentation

This book looks at all aspects of this special scooter: it history, its technical evolution, its sporting victories, with a specific chapter devoted to the British market, which more than any other took the DL to its heart and still today considers it to be the pinnacle of Innocenti's production.
The last model produced by Innocenti had been developed at the famous Bertone design centre in Turin which, with a few but substantial modifications managed to breathe new life into the Lambretta, making it even more sporting and elegant, sophisticated and modern.

With a curious black splash on the leg shield, the new model soon became a best-seller on the crowded international scooter market.
It enjoyed enormous success in Great Britain, being transformed into a cult object for the most sporting and demanding scooterists. More than fifty years after its launch, its styling its styling is still modern and the model is still very popular with scooterists all over the world.

Lambretta Junior 50, 100,125 - History, models and documentation / Storia, modelli e documenti

NEW

In the early Sixties, Innocenti took a technological leap in the engineering of the Lambretta, introducing for the first time a monocoque frame clearly inspired by the scooter's direct rival, Piaggio's Vespa. This led to the Junior series, models destined for a younger clientele and with a retail price that was more affordable compared to the traditional LI and TV models.

The Junior series was produced with various displacements, from the smallest 50 cc, aimed at the 14-year-olds, to the higher performance 100 and 125, designed for young people looking for a practical and economic means of transport that could be used for out-of-town weekend trips.
Initially, in the early months of 1964, only the 100 cc displacement was available, destined prevalently for the export markets; late in 1964, the range was expanded with the 50 cc and 125 cc models.
1966 saw the introduction of the new 125 four-speed, which was much punchier and faster, while in 1968, the 4 Dl boasted redesigned side panels and 10" wheels.

The final version produced was the 50 Special with a number of styling modifications and new colours. This last model remained in production through to the closure of the factory in May 1971.
A total of 167,784 examples were produced in the three displacements. The series was without doubt a commercial success and still has a place in the hearts of Lambrettisti the world over.

This book devotes specific chapters to questions of production, technology, advertising, and many other areas of interest regarding this series of models that once again enjoyed notable success with the public.

The history of the Lambretta Grand Prix

The Grand Prix was the final series of Lambretta scooters to be built. Launched in 1969 it was based around the restyling of the SX model with the transformation being carried out by Italian designer Bertone.
Offered in three different choices and a striking new colour scheme it became an instant hit with customers. The Grand Prix 200 was fitted with the most powerful engine Innocenti ever produced and was capable of 70mph, thus labelling it the ultimate sports scooter.