I’ve become an owner of a Lambretta again these last few months and whilst I’ve visited the site a few times have only just got around to posting following sorting my membership and log-in details etc.
I had no intention of buying a scooter again (I have a number of motorbikes – cue boo etc!) but a friend of mine in Cornwall (I’m in Warwickshire) rang me up (he also has motorbikes and a Series II Li 150) and asked if I was interested in a Series III TV 175 that a neighbour of his was selling. I was a bit cold on the idea due to a lack of space and convincing my wife that I “needed” another two wheeler.
Despite offering the scooter to another friend in Stratford-on-Avon and others in Cornwall it was still available when my wife and I went to stay with our friends in May. He was going to put the scooter on Ebay for his neighbour and when he said he was going round to take photographs and get details I made the “mistake” of going with him!
Whilst I liked the scooter my interest was a little muted as I didn’t think my wife would be too happy with me buying it. Don’t get me wrong I’m no mouse, but I’d already bought a number of motorbikes and cars over the last few years (i.e. spent a lot of money!) and as I’ve said, space is also an issue.
But in the pub (like you do
) I said I would buy it if my friend would keep it down in Cornwall (he and other friends would ride it) and it would be there when I went down. He of course agreed! So the next day we went round again and I did the deal.So to details. It’s an early Series III TV 175 and was manufactured in 1962. I don’t know the date of first registration as the scooter was caught in a flood in the 1960’s and the original documentation lost and a new logbook, with original registration no. issued in 2012. The last owner bought it some years ago and rebuilt it, pretty much to how it was, though as you can see with a polished horn housing and footboard saddle. I like it like that though so will be keeping it that way.
It goes pretty well but not with the air filter in. We suspect that the barrel may have had some work done to it due to this and the fact that it has a noticeable step in performance at high revs, more than expected, and can struggle up hills (and there’s plenty in Cornwall!) if you let the revs drop too much. Over time we will look at this and get it to run properly with the air filter in.
Only other thing that requires attention are the side panels. One has a couple of very small dents in it and the other has an abrasion when it came off. These will be repainted. I did toy with the idea of adding some colour but like the original colour-scheme.
Went back down a week ago and had a longer ride on it. Really glad I bought it now as it looks great, particularly parked up outside one of the local hostelries! Found out as well it has a metal front mudguard like on the SX. Not original but is nice.
As I said I’ve become an owner again, for the second time, with a 40 year gap! My first was a Series III TV 175 of 1963 vintage. It was a horrible darkish green colour (not standard!) with chrome side panels – more on those later. I resprayed it 2-tone blue but left the side panels. I took my test on it – after messing around with the front brake all the previous day to get it to do a decent emergency stop! I passed my test and sold it not long after as my mates had moved on to big motorcycles.
Now those side-panels. When looking through an old book (from my first time around) on the Lambretta, I’d given to my friend some time ago I came across mention (nothing in newer, bigger books I’ve recently bought) about a TV 175 Grand-Luxe which came with chrome side panels! So it appears that those were probably original as it would have been expensive for an owner to have done. Interesting or what – always nice to come across something you didn’t know.
Couple of photographs. My first TV 175, sorry not good quality and in black and white! And my second one with my friends. I think I may have a photo with the side view of my first Lambretta somewhere, will have a look.
