A Lambretta Olympic affair
When the 1960 Olympic Games were held in Rome, Innocenti decided to produce 80 unique blue and white Lambretta Series 2 models to be used throughout the event. After the Games ended, these scooters are believed to have been distributed to Lambretta dealers across Italy. Only a few survived in original spec and today they are very sought-after collector’s items.
Olympian and trainer Antonio Pasin from Padova acquired his Lambretta Series 2 on April 2, 1960 (before the Games began) and cherished his machine for a number of decades before deciding to let it go to a new owner. A deluxe model of its time, the TV175 Lambretta was the most powerful standard scooter produced by the Innocenti stable at that time with a 175cc engine and other additions to the former Li150 model.
Finding its way to the UK via enthusiast Nic Tolley in Newport, this scooter was eventually purchased by pub landlord Mark Richardson. Mark also owned another Series 2 TV175 Lambretta (one of the very early production machines with a welded spine along the frame loop, commonly known as a ‘ridgeback'); this scooter was restored by the guys at Rimini Lambretta Centre to an incredibly high spec.
BLURRED HISTORICAL TIMELINE
The first TV175 scooters rolled off the Innocenti production line in 1959. They were stamped on the frame with the series of VIN numbers starting at 100,000; but around 1960, this numbering system changed to 200,000. I'm unsure why this happened and while researching various publications on this machine, I couldn't find anything other than slight changes to the model production. Mr Pasin's model frame number starts with 202,###, so it puts it in line with the third version of the TV175s produced in mid-1960 – and yet it was first registered in April 1960.
Many times now when writing about different Lambretta models, I find differences and odd details in production of the machines, some more unusual than others. The ‘ridgeback' version supposedly came about when scooters off the early production line developed cracking between the frame tube from the rear, under the seat, to the area near to the scooter's bridge-piece. Again, not officially confirmed, but to address this, the factory recalled them and placed a steel spine on the frame tube, all the way along the problem area.
This third version of the scooter model has what was eventually decided among the engineers in the business as the best solution – replace the frame tube on the later models with a thicker gauge tube at the start of production – a far more efficient and less costly procedure than stripping each machine down and rebuilding with a welded frame tube.
The TV175 was also distinctive in other ways; I suppose with the extra power output, it might have been thought that it was going to be a noisier machine. So before being passed on to customers, they had a black thick treatment placed on the rear mudguard, head cowling and inside the side panels (maybe to deaden the sound a little; or was it another reason? I'm not sure, maybe someone out there can enlighten us on the procedure?).
In original Azzuro 8042 paint, this Lambretta model is also fitted with a number of original accessories. The footboard side protectors were produced in alloy; they were fitted with a front mudguard bumper bar and embellisher plus an ornate horncast embellisher above that. The rear of the scooter was finished off with a number plate surround and a light embellisher above the original frame cover.
I've seen many Lambretta Series 1, 2 and 3s that have been fully restored, only then for the owner to search far and wide to find a certain original vintage embellisher that was used back in the then larger 1950s/60s scooter scene. Costing hundreds of pounds, these items can become collectible parts on their own; Corello Half-Moon light units, horncast embellishers or even fork boot covers, Viganò, Falbo, Fiaam exhausts and Ulma products are some of the brand names that produced some of the more highly regarded items. Another was the Stinger light unit which became a regular addition on the American import market for Lambrettas.
The TV175 Series 2 model with its long history will, I'm sure, prevail as one of the most collectible of Lambrettas, and this particular very special original specimen is obviously one of only a few to survive through the decades, unmolested from being restored or changed in any way from original.