20th Jul, 2022 11:00

National Motorcycle Museum

 
Lot 140
 

1952 Lambretta 125D Racer
Original Italian privateer racer

Sold for £6,440

(including buyers premium)


Lot details

Registration No: Unregistered
Frame No: 125D 074596
Engine No: 120020 125D
CC: 125
MOT: Exempt

  • Imported from Italy in 2021
  • Very high quality racer with a myriad of original racing parts
  • Raced in anger in Italy
  • Correct numbers.
  • 70 years old and very rare
  • Superb investment
  • NOVA supplied to register for V5 for UK roads

During World War II Ferdinando Innocenti ran a steel tubing factory in the Lambrate district of Milan in northern Italy, producing components for the Italian Air Force and construction. After the war Innocenti needed to find a new product in order for his business to survive. Innocenti started production of Lambretta scooters in 1947, the year after Piaggio started production of its Vespa models.

In the first year of production the first Lambretta the Model A changed many times as it evolved into a saleable product however in 1948 Innocenti did build a factory racer version off the Model A with many components of the new model B which it is said could achieve 70 MPH but it was only with the arrival of the model B that speed racing became viable with several factory versions, dealer versions and private individual built machines appearing. In 1949 Innocenti built a record breaker based on the model C which was developed to produce 13 HP at 8800 RPM in ‘supercharged’ form more than triple the original scooters output. This machine achieved a new 24 hour record in Montlhery, France covering 2467 Kilometres at an average speed of 102.8 km/h. A limited production of these racers were released into the market and always in colour red. By 1952 there were numerous endurance races all across Italy including the ‘Giro de Lombardi e Piemonte’ the ‘Giro D’Italia’ and regular track racing at Monza and Imola. This inspired a whole scene of Lambretta racers and a supply industry of tuning services and the parts required for the machines.

This superb 1952 example was built by a senior member of the Lambretta Club d’Italia and has been raced many times in competitions. We are told it is very very quick. It is built with the correct parts and period racing accessories as only found in Italy. It is in a different league to the British enthusiast built replicas. Features include:

  • Drop handlebars
  • Innocenti Veglia Speedometer
  • Fork tubes dropped by 10 cm
  • Plunger forks original of the era
  • Trimmed and edged leg shield
  • Proper racing fuel tank (not fixed to avoid being classed as a motorcycle)
  • Hand made expansion chamber
  • Vortex cylinder head
  • Tuned barrel
  • Uprated gearing
  • Professionally narrowed tool box
  • Tape on front and rear lights (to comply with scrutineering)
  • Wheel nuts marked (to comply with scrutineering)
  • Lock down fuel cap
  • Lever choke instead of pull choke
  • Rear foot brake moved to racing position
  • Rear RIV accessory shock absorber
  • Period ribbed racing tyres

This is a very high quality racing Lambretta. A restoration build of this magnitude would cost very many thousands of pounds and it appears to be correctly prepared in every way. It is a beautiful example indeed. We were able to see the scooter running recently and it sounded very good. The recent Italian owner appears in the Notiziaro Lambretta issue 26 of 2008 which is supplied with the scooter. On the fuel tank there are the unique signitures of Pipo Cantarella, world speed skating champion in the 1970's and Aldo Mirimin Moto Guzzi the 1970/1980s motor racing champion. These 1950’s racing Lambrettas are tipped for rocketing collectibility in the near future. This example has been prepared so well that it represents a great opportunity for a serious collector.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Diamond
info@vintagescooters.co.uk
07768 313001

 

Auction: National Motorcycle Museum, 20th Jul, 2022

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Wednesday 20th July 2022, from 9am

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