Beschreibung
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
12th July, 2023 10:00
1958 Lambretta LDA Mk3 AVV Electric Start
Estimate
£5, 500 - £6, 500
Registration: VXW 926
Frame No: 307753
Engine No: 315288
MOT: Exempt
Original British sold Electric start LDA
Restored in Coffee and Cream colours
In excellent working order
V5C ready for use on UK roads
After WW2 Innocenti needed to find a new product in order for the business to survive. Inspired by the Cushman scooters that the US army imported into Italy Innocenti realised he could apply many of the parts that the factory was already producing to motor scooter production. Innocenti started production of Lambretta scooters in 1947, the year after Piaggio started production of its Vespa models.
The Lambretta LD was a very popular model globally throughout the 1950’s and in the UK had its ardent admirers even after the much-improved Li series was introduced. The AVV electric start 150cc version is a very rare scooter anywhere but particularly in Great Britain. The price of this ‘luxury model’ was as high as the TV series 1 when it was introduced and there was slight cross-over between the two models in 1957. One of the sales strategies at this time was to paint the scooters in unusual but stylish colours of the day and ‘Coffee and Cream’ was applied to limited numbers of both the last LDs and the new Series 1 Lambrettas.
This example painted as such was restored by the vendors friend an engineer and restored over a period of about 10 years. There are some photos supplied of the scooter prior to painting in the file. We were able to note that a great many original parts have been used and overall the scooter is presentable and comes supplied with some attractive accessories including original period tartan waterproof saddle covers and an original Wistonia sliding rear ‘trombone’ rack. The side panels on the scooter fitted well. The AVV being 12v is also applied with a Smiths electric 12v glovebox clock although this was disconnected to save the battery. The battery is now a modern 12v gel battery. The scooter is also supplied with a box of parts used in the restoration and some useful technical documents.
We were able to see the scooter working and it started easily by way of the electric start. This scooter might well be entirely suitable for someone who wishes to ride a classic scooter without the necessity to operate a kick start. These AVV models are rare and this example is available house now and in an attractive colour scheme.
