2023 Lambretta 'SX150'

Now then.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Then we’ll begin.

It’s quite a story.

In the late 1960s, the vendor’s father worked for Lambretta at their site on the Purley Way, Croydon.

Over the years he rose through the ranks, eventually reaching a fairly senior position.

He got to know the firm’s customers very well and, of course, developed an enduring passion for the machines.

One particular customer lived at Buckingham Palace, and the vendor’s father would make visits there to work on the owner’s personal Lambretta.

That owner is now better known as King Charles III.

Who knew?

Anyway.

We digress.

As an employee of Lambretta, the vendor’s father could take advantage of the staff discount scheme when it came to buying spares and parts.

Using this benefit to maximum effect, he set about buying all the parts required – and we mean all – to build his very own unique Lambretta.

This went on for years.

As is often the case with the best laid plans, time and events got in the way and the project never really got off the ground.

After he’d retired, he gifted the yet-to-be-assembled scooter to his son, the vendor.

Then, after an accident, the vendor’s father sadly passed away, leaving the project as an unfinished memorial – one his son was determined to see through to completion.

By pure coincidence, one of the vendor’s friends is an automotive paint-shop professional and he set about shot blasting all the parts that need painting and then researching, sourcing and applying the period correct paints for the model.

With that job out of the way, the task of building the Lambretta became the priority.

Again, by pure coincidence and through a friend-of-a-friend, the vendor was put in touch with an engineer/mechanic who used to work on racing Lambrettas in the 1960s and is absolutely fastidious and methodical in his pursuit of engineering excellence, mechanical integrity and, vitally, authenticity.

What you see today is the result of these labours - a scooter constructed almost entirely from parts that were purchased new from Lambretta and have never been used.

The Innocenti engine has never been introduced to petrol (although that may change, as the vendor is currently debating the pros and cons of starting it up).

The mileage is zero.

The only recent purchases are perishable items such as gaskets, rubber seals and badge – everything else is of the period and unused.

It isn’t registered.

It doesn’t have a log book.

It is utterly unique and, in our opinion, really very special indeed – not least because of the deeply personal back-story that comes with it.

This really is a stunning machine.

If it looks like a factory-fresh scooter that’s been held in some sort of time-warp since the 1960s, that’s because it is.

There are no dinks, dents or creases of any significance whatsoever.

Everything is shiny and bright.

There is no road rash – it’s never seen a road.

There are no stone chips – it wouldn’t recognise a stone if you took it to a stone exhibition and introduced it to the Head of Stones.

Aside from one or two tiny scuffs atop the seat cover, this Lambretta is, to all intents and purposes, as pristine as an unused thing can be.

The Lechler paint codes are period and model-authentic.

Again, this age-defying creation is effectively brand new, so anything and everything you see or touch has the look and feel of something that’s been delivered to your door, in 2023, by someone who is time-travelling from the late 1960s.

The instruments are clear and free from any damage, wear or, indeed, recorded mileage.

As far as we’re aware (and we can only assume), all knobs, buttons, levers and toggles do what they’re supposed to do.

Everything looks straight, clean, dry, right and proper.

The engine hasn’t been refurbished, rebuilt or reconditioned.

It’s as fresh as the day the parts left the factory - and the day, decades later, that it was built - and it has yet to experience a single incident of internal combustion (at the time of writing).

Aside from the anecdotal provenance we’ve already given you, this unique Lambretta has no history whatsoever.

And that’s what makes it so tantalisingly desirable and as rare as teeth on a particularly endangered breed of hen.

We think you’ll be waiting a very, very long time for another opportunity like this to come along.

Frankly, you’re more likely to win a few quid backing Lord Lucan to win the 3.30 at Newbury on Shergar.

It’s one of a kind.

And it’s special in every way.

We’re confident to offer this fine scooter for auction with an estimate of £15,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.