The Lambretta 'A' scooter goes on sale. Pregnant women across the UK moan simultaneously as Mod's kick at the wall of their mother's wombs, trying desperately to see their future.
Ferdinando Innocenti hires General Corradino D'Ascanio, rumored to have a deep hatred for motorcycles, to the job of designing a simple and affordable two-wheeled vehicle. Ego, more than design, leads to the General having a falling out with Innocenti. With a big, "Screw you!", D'Ascanio disassociated himself from Innocenti and took his design to Enrico Piaggio, who produced what would become Lambretta's arch-rival Vespa. The final design of the Lambretta would be given to aeronautical engineer Pier Luigi Torre.
Much to Innocenti's chagrin, the Piaggio Vespa would become the standard for scooter. Finished in 1946, using aircraft design and materials, D’Ascanio's 98cc scooter had various radical design concepts, including a sleek, stress-bearing structure. The gear-shift lever was moved from the feet to the handlebars for easier riding. The engine was placed near the rear wheel. The internal mesh transmission eliminated the chain, a never-ending source of oil and dirt. The typical fork support was replaced by an arm similar to an aircraft carriage for easier tire-changing ability. The elegantly styled body protected the driver from wind and road dirt, and bore little resemblance to uncomfortable and noisy motorcycles. The smaller wheels and shorter wheelbase provided improved maneuverability through narrow streets and congested traffic. Combining the best elements of automotive, aeronautical and motorcycle design, the Vespa quickly became an icon of design and economy.
Months later, at the Paris Motor Show in 1947, Innocenti introduced the Lambretta, beginning a long-standing rivalry with Vespa. The scooter was designed by Innocenti, his General Director Giuseppe Lauro and Torre. The Lambretta 'A' went on sale on December 23, 1947. At a time when gas was severely rationed, the scooter was a more efficient way to travel. And much more stylish. It had a top speed of 45 mph from a 123cc, fan-cooled engine. 9,000 of them were sold the first year.
Lambretta's popularity (and sales) increased dramatically when Jimmy Cooper (Phil Daniels) rode a Lambretta Li 150 Series 3 in the 1979 film "Quadrophenia". Across the UK, hoards of Mod's, some screaming, some crying, ran to their local scooter dealers.
Did you know...the scooter was named after Lambrate, the Milanese neighborhood where the factory had stood prior to the war.
