Lambretta, not just a scooter, but an emotion for the boomer generation from the 1900s. Ask your dad about the scooter and he will drench into the nostalgia of the rides he once had. Lambretta, as Indian as the name might sound, has its roots from somewhere outside our country. Yes, that’s true.
1947 – India getomments in moderations its independence, World gets Lambretta
No, the scooter was not invented in India. It is an Italian brand based in Milan. The name of the company is derived from the suburb of Milan named Lambrate. It is derived is the name of a mythical water body which flows along the suburban area where it was first produced. The scooter we are talking about was designed by the Innocenti S.A. which owns the Lambretta brand and licensed it around the world.
The 1950s – India gets Lambretta too
Automobile Products of India (API) started assembling Lambretta scooter. The company began with 48cc scooter. Later, API acquired the license for Li150 series 2 model which was sold in India under the name of Lambretta till 1976. The name was later changed to Lamby due to some legal reasons.
Why was this dad scooter so famous?
Well, the whole credit goes to the Bollywood craze which was at its peak at that time. Many actors were seen using scooters in their movies. In one such movie named ‘An Evening in Paris‘, actor Shami Kapoor can be seen riding Lambretta scooters through the winding hill roads while singing ‘Hoga Tumse Kal‘ to impress Sharmila Tagore.
The Lambretta which was initially aimed at the business class and upper-class people soon became popular among the middle-class too. Sunil Mittal, the billionaire known as the founder of Bharti group used to travel using a Lambretta scooter.
More and more people started buying Lambretta as well as Bajaj Chetak scooters as their first vehicle in the family.
What was the USP of the scooter? It could accommodate 4 people easily. A family of four including two children. One would stand in the front portion ahead of the seat and face the wind. The two elders would sit on the seat and the second child on the spare tyre at the rear of the Lambretta scooter.
1972 – SIL buys the company
State-owned Scooters India Ltd. bought the entire plant and machinery of Innocenti and also the designs, documentation and copyrights. SIL has the rights to the Lambretta scooter till now.
A fun read: Bajaj Pulsar | The History of the Fastest Indian
What led to decline in popularity?
Being a bulky scooter, Lambretta was rather a DAD scooter than a youth-driven scooter. So, it never became as popular as the Bajaj Chetak or the LML Vespa. So in the 1980s, Lambretta eventually phased out.
But this is not the end. The ‘DAD’ scooter will soon be making a comeback to India in an electrified version which is going to cost around 1 lakh rupees. Although there is no official statement as to when.
Have a look: Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter Launched: The Legend Is Back
FAQs
1. In India, is the Lambretta sold?
Lambretta has been working on its return to the Indian market through a collaboration with the Bird Group. The company had announced plans to reintroduce scooters under the Lambretta brand, with additional models expected from 2023 onward. Local production was initially anticipated to begin around 2024, though timelines now reflect that these targets were part of earlier plans.
2. Which is superior, Lambretta or Vespa?
It depends on what you value. The presence of Vespa in India is long and continuous, parts are readily available, and the service network is good, making it a better option when it comes to reliability and service. Lambretta, in contrast, will attract people who value retro design and unique design. In case you give importance to heritage and appearance, Lambretta is the best choice; in terms of functionality and assistance, Vespa is typically superior.
3. What is the price of a Lambretta?
The price of a Lambretta varies by model and area, with estimated prices for the new V125 starting around 1 Lakh and the V200 from roughly 1 Lakh to 1.3 Lakh. Individual prices are also available; for example, the Lambretta V125 starts at 73,750 ex-showroom.
4. History of Lambretta in India?
The first Lambretta to be released in India became accessible after independence, when the Italian maker licensed it to Automobile Products of India (API), and then it was transferred to Scooters India Limited (SIL). Between the 1950s and 1980s, Lambretta scooters such as Loaned Li-series, GP150 and DL models were developed and sold. SIL started focusing on three-wheelers after the plant shut down in 1997.
For your information Innocenti SA is a relatively new company and is nothing to do at all with the original Innocenti family business that designed and produced the Lambretta scooter. The new company Innocenti SA has been deliberately named to confuse people thinking it has a long heritage and history but that is not the case.
Do you have more information regarding the same and how the brand has been misappropriated?
The best vintage scooter ever had. I still own 1963 li 150. Happy with it
I own a Lambretta 1968 model in running condition with all papers intact. I love my lambretta.
Hi Krishnan,
We would love to feature your Lambretta on our blog. It would be great if you can share some pictures of the scooter as well the user manual if you have one! You can send them on gomechanicblog@gomechanic.in. Stay tuned!
Lambretta was like an empalla in scooter. We could enjoyed long drive with three adults and felt like sailing on boat. It was the feels. Despite several other mechanical frequently faced. Vespa of Bajaj was mechanically solid.
Agreed.
I own two Lambretta LD from year 1954. Both in running condition with all original parts.
Glad to hear that.
I own more than a 100 lambretta API and Vijay Super scooters alongwith some Vespa scooters !
Lmk if any for sale
You can go through classifieds; there must be some.
Woah! That’s interesting. Do share a picture on our instagram handle.
hi where you located want to buy if available for sale
Please share your number if you wish to sell any of your vijai super
My dad used to have it.. happy that I too used it sometimes ..now it’s not with us..if the scooter once again is launched ,I will definitely buy probably the same cement colour we used to have..
Good luck.
MY DAD BOUGHT THE FIRST SCOOTER IN OUR FAMILY.LABMRETTA LI 150 BLUE COLOUR.I FIRST LEARNT TWO WHEELER IN IT. VERY VERY STABLE AND SPACIOUS SCOOTER COMPARED TO VESPA OR BAJAJ. I WISH API LTD COMES BACK WITH THE PRODUCT.
Glad you are holding up to this gem of a scooter.
I had bought one from an army officer back in 1960.It is made in Italy, not India.Used it till 1980,since then sadly it is lying in garage.Though I will never ride it again, I have no heart to sell it. No car could give me the pleasure my Lamby did.In case I want to restore it will the parts be available? The model must be 1959.
After some information on a Lambretta LN151 2014. Where was it made, seems to be a gap in years hard to find any information.
I bought a lambs in 1984 from my own earned money working at a remote dolomite mine near Rourkela owned by Tata Steel. I really loved it despite having some starting problems. Later on I replaced it with Bajaj Chetak.