Lambretta Concessionaires - The Complete Story 1951-1971

Owen, Stuart

Scooterproducts

Vespa and Lambretta remain the two most iconic motor scooter brands, even four decades after the latter's demise. But what made them such a European sensation in the postwar era? And why were they particularly popular in Britain in the 1950s and '60s? Motor scooter expert Stuart Owen explains the rise of Innocenti's Lambretta and Piaggio's Vespa, from the wartime ruins of Italy, through years of plenty as the two manufacturers exploited a ready market for affordable, economic transport, and then their decline into more uncertain times as motor cars trespassed on their success. He also explores the rich history of accessorizing and customizing the scooters, their essential role in the mod movement, and the revival in Vespa's fortunes following the release of the cult film Quadrophenia.

Vespa and Lambretta Motor Scooters (Shire Library, 856)

History

Historical Study & Educational Resources

Shire Publications

The golden age of scootering - to which everything else harks back - was the 1960s. The scooter was an essential component of Mod subculture - alongside the fishtail parka, tailor-made suits, all-night dancing clubs and The Who. Scootering writer Stuart Owen looks back at the scooter scene's formative years and the 'moral panic' which characterized the clashes between Mods and rockers. This was the very beginning of the customization craze - since older machines were now available and the fear of voiding a warranty was no longer an issue. Some of the most iconic and influential custom scooter designs were created during this time.

Scootering in the 1960s

Engineering & Transportation

Automotive

Mortons Media

Scootering in the 1980s

Lambretta and Vespa scooters dominated the British two-wheeled market back in the 1950s. Originally seen as a vehicle primarily for transport, the scooter quickly grew into something very different. Perceptions underwent a radical shift and machines once disregarded as a functional and mundane became a way of life for their owners. Subcultures such as the Mods and scooter boys grew up around the scooter, a focal point for fashions that have continued to develop.Soon each owner was customizing their scooter according to their own tastes and desires as far as their budget would allow. The age of the scooter as a status symbol had arrived.From the early days with chrome mirrors and lights in the 1960s to the extravagantly painted murals of the 1980s, owners were using their scooters as canvases upon which to express themselves. Rivalries sprang up and as competition between owners grew, so too did the outrageousness of their creations. Today the custom scooter scene thrives and is a strong as it ever has been - with fresh creations showcasing the talents and imaginations of their owners like never before. More and more people are reminiscing about the iconic scooters of yesteryear and the movement shows no signs of waning.This book goes right back to the beginning to look at how it all started, the different styles each decade produced and the most famous machines ever built.

The Evolution of the Custom Scooter

Banovallum

Young scooter owners of the 1960s had a seemingly insatiable appetite for speed and power. Shops appeared offering performance tuning services for the first time and a new era of scootering dawned. The scene went underground in the 1970s but the release of Quadrophenia inspired a new wave of devotees going into the 1980s. The introduction of the TS1 cylinder kit for the Lambretta and the T5 Vespa by Piaggio took the tuning scene in a new direction. Now the pure Lambretta and Vespa street racer came to the forefront. Owners blew huge budgets and their stunning creations took these machines to a new level. Today the Lambretta and Vespa Street racer scene continues to thrive. Author Stuart Owen traces the development of Lambretta and Vespa tuning down the decades using dozens of rare period images and highlighting every significant technological milestone along the way.

Lambretta & Vespa Street Racers

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