Planet Lambretta: Two-stoked
Planet Lambretta just may be the ninth in our solar system. Thankfully ,getting there is much easier than most of the others.
Planet Lambretta just may be the ninth planet in our solar system, thankfully… getting there is much easier than most of the others.
Follow the palm trees swaying in the breeze to this industrial part of Los Angeles county where you’ll find a museum filled with the tapestry and kitch of vintage scooters. Owner Harmik Nazarian has spent the last four years of retirement building his impressive collection of scooters, an ambitious project which forever evolves. Harmik’s dad was an inventor, hence his propensity to crafting objects. Harmik himself is a retired spacecraft mechanical design engineer. Born in Armenia, he
immigrated to the US when he was 16 and quickly adapted to southern California. As a kid he saved his money to buy a camera, a road bicycle and a two-stroke motorcycle. He’s been riding since he was 19, and continues to ride daily. I grew up in LA as well, but for me it was all about the Beach Boys and the surf culture. Harmik managed to find his way to scooters and Northern Soul music. While I was carving through the blue ocean waves, he was slicing through the curves of the Pacific Coast Highway.
Protector of Lambretta
Harmik started doing restorations in 2001, but it wasn’t until Lambretta’s 70th anniversary that he launched his spacious museum. He spent a year looking for a site near his home in Redondo Beach. He found the perfect spot on an inconspicuous street in nearby Gardena. There he built a 2400 square foot structure providing him with a showroom and work space.
PlanetLambretta is a vintage Lambretta dealership decorated with historic posters,
He’s been riding since he was 19, and continues to ride daily. I grew up in LA as well, but for me it was all about the Beach Boys and the surf culture. Harmik managed to find his way to scooters and Northern Soul music. While I was carving through the blue ocean waves, he was slicing through the curves of the Pacific Coast Highway.
rare collectibles, pyramids of spare parts, plus a library of shop and owners’ manuals. It’s a massive collection. The showroom displays about 30 scooters and three mopeds. Harmik’s most rare is an SX200. He owns three of them, two from 1966 and one from 68. He’s been lucky to stumble over multiple barn -finds, and usually he comes home with parts and pieces rather than entire bikes. His collection covers Innocenti history beyond scooters. Three films show in the showroom: one is a video promoting Lambretta; the second shows the manufacturing of the scooter; and the third features the Lambretta model 48.
All of the scooters in Harmik’s gallery are for sale, but Harmik won’t sell to those he feels won’t help keep scooter culture alive. You’re lucky if he gives you the thumbs-up, especially so since he backs each sale with an unbelievable warranty. “I guarantee my Lambrettas for life. For that reason I make sure I like that person before I make the sale.” Even better, Harmik will often make house calls to service a scooter at a client’s home.
Two-stroke smoke
The Southern California scooter-preneur says he feels a great responsibility to keep the iconic Lammy’s alive. “Nothing is unworkable,” he proclaims. If he can’t repair or restore it, he has an army of friends in the business to call for reinforcement. “We all rely on each other,” he adds.
To pick up spares and the latest accessories, he travels to Milan, Rimini and Imola every year, but notes that “the hunt has become a 24/7 effort”.
One year while in Italy he bought a Lambretta scooter. The shipping cost was based on the size of the crate, not weight. He decided to stuff the vacant spaces with parmesan cheese. He and his wife Mickey lived off that for two years.
Mark Coffman, owner of Scooters Bellissimo in Monrovia, California, travelled with Harmik to Italy one year to scout for parts. Mark says: “Harmik is a purist. He’s sincere, and I’m inspired with his impressive collection.”
Marc Wiener, a repeat customer living in Palm Springs says: “Harmik rekindled the passion in me after many nightmare experiences with other mechanics. He’s got a gift.”
Subculture of hoodrats
The scooterist way of life emerges from damp garages to come alive at events such as the big ride Harmik put on, on the second day of my visit. After a long work week, riding with friends seems to be one of the best stress relievers, and these hoodrats were up for it. On the other hand, riding a vintage scooter is a love affair that can get complicated on a 48-mile romp along the Californian coast. The ride was sprinkled with breakdowns that provided plenty of opportunity for the wrenches among 30-odd riders to help everyone make it back to the evening barbecue.
Alcohol and carbs
The party took place on the front lot at PlanetLambretta, under umbrellas in the heat of the L.A. sun. Invigorated from the ride, we were ready for the infusion of alcohol and carbs.
Kelley Bates was hanging with Twila
Ingram, her friend from high school. “I used to pick her up after school on my 74 Vespa 90, to go riding. That was way back in 1986. It took Twila almost two years before she bought a 150 Super.”
It couldn’t have been more blissful as beers were sucked down, and the barbecue heated up while SKA and Northern Soul wafted in the air.
Complicated love affair
Conservators like Harmik Nazarian and Barry Gwin, owner of the San Francisco Scooter Centre, keep the Lambretta alive in the USA. Barry has a very complete collection tucked away above his SF shop, which is also a must see. He says: “Harmik likes to boast about what he has, but is not far off.” Barry was profiled in Scootering’s July 2017 issue. It’s a cultural moment that Harmik and Barry won’t let disappear, and as long as these guys are in the scene the Lambretta will never be obsolete.“It’s about the passion. It’s in the blood. I just feel they are the best scooter on the planet,” says Harmik. Hence, PlanetLambretta. Words & photographs: Penni Gladstone