1962 Lambretta Li 150 Restoration For An Italian Friend

SA7VA5 · 26th April 2010, 12:41

Dear Team,

Have been missing in action for sometime busy trying to a LI150 upto shape for an Italian friend who wishes to take it with him around the globe where he travels!

So it couldn't be a more serious challenge - right?

Well the first challenge was to get an all original scoot - condition was not an issue since it had to be a grouund up restoration.

So we hunted and found one!

Then we started on it in December last and here it is for you all to see the process. Its almost as maddening a process as I did for my father's machine and the scoot is on road now. Dont have upto date pics - will post soon but lets start anyway!

It was a painful journey but the end results are very very satisfying - I Must Admit! Specially because once we dis-assembled the flywheel cover we found that some one had taken out the original Ducati Mangeto and Stator plate and all that we were left with was a stub of wires that here dangling inside!

So while we started on the denting I called up my contacts in London who got my an original Ducati Flywheel off a machine that had seen ONLY 6000miles in its life and then got converted to a Electronic IGnition with a Malosi kit. The Magnet and coil plate were an expensive item to source from London specially the postage and courier charge but it was all well worth the effort trying to restore the originality of the machine!

Rubbers are all grey and my friend got it from Italy.

SA7VA5 · 26th April 2010, 14:09

Some more pics....the machine is now painted and assembly is on...some shots of engine assembly too - imported Surflex Clutch assembly installed!

Stanher · 26th April 2010, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA7VA5

Dear Team,

Have been missing in action for sometime busy trying to a LI150 upto shape for an Italian friend who wishes to take it with him around the globe where he travels!

Well the first challenge was to get an all original scoot - condition was not an issue since it had to be a grouund up restoration.

So we hunted and found one!

So while we started on the denting I called up my contacts in London who got my an original Ducati Flywheel off a machine that had seen ONLY 6000miles in its life and then got converted to a Electronic IGnition with a Malosi kit. The Magnet and coil plate were an expensive item to source from London specially the postage and courier charge but it was all well worth the effort trying to restore the originality of the machine!

Nice to see this scoot at last, saurabh!

With you in charge of the resto, I'm sure it will turn out as fab as your own Li150!

Although, no offence meant to your friend, but I feel you should've kept this scooter for yourself, this being an early s2.

BTW, what about the Ducati magneto and coil I'd sent? Didnt that work?

Also, does anyone know when the s2 got its horncast changed from the smaller round grille to the pear shaped larger grille? I understand they came with the former until 1962 or so, although the '62 model lost the side-panel Lambretta badges.

SA7VA5 · 26th April 2010, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanher

Nice to see this scoot at last, saurabh!

With you in charge of the resto, I'm sure it will turn out as fab as your own Li150!

Although, no offence meant to your friend, but I feel you should've kept this scooter for yourself, this being an early s2.

BTW, what about the Ducati magneto and coil I'd sent? Didnt that work?

Hey Stanher

Thanks for the nice words.

I wish I could keep all the nice Lambretta's that come my way but then there is no space now at my place!

The Ducati Magnet and coil you sent could not fit into the new crank taper and hence the whole thing didnt work out thats why I was asking you to send me the other stator plate also so that I could try that as well. But finally I got the set from England.

It was in late 62 that the small round horn grille changed to the large type oval horn grill by the way and you are correct about the side panel badge.

Cheers!

SA7VA5 · 28th April 2010, 11:30

Ok Team as I promised here are some initial pics of the scoot - dully finished - well almost - some final knick knacks are left and the final rubbing and polished is to be done now after my Italian friend rides it!

I will post pics - proper ones that do justice this machine once I polish the machine and take it out in the sunlight this weekend.
So here it goes!

SA7VA5 · 3rd May 2010, 15:01

Hi All

As promissed here are the pics of the finished scoot. Its now with my Italian friend who is enjoying the machine.

Cheers!

Sv

Stanher · 3rd May 2010, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA7VA5

Hi All

As promissed here are the pics of the finished scoot. Its now with my Italian friend who is enjoying the machine.

Great to see this scoot completed at last!! Awesome job!

And I must say this was one quick restoration!

The legshields also are correctly "broad" in width, which was the original feature of the early series 2, starting with the series 1! Unfortunately couldnt get this right on my s2! :(

Viju · 4th May 2010, 00:51

Very beautiful scoot there Saurabh!
I can imagine the pains taken for such a proper restoration.
Well done!

Mitch · 10th May 2010, 19:58

Saurabh,
Are the 'running in' waterslides in Italian? If so, where did you get them?

SA7VA5 · 17th May 2010, 17:16

HI Mitch - The waterslides are in English - Italian are not easy to find - atleast I have not come across any commercially available so far.

Cheers!

S

Dussey · 17th May 2010, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA7VA5

HI Mitch - The waterslides are in English - Italian are not easy to find - atleast I have not come across any commercially available so far.

Cheers!

S

Lovely job Saurabh ! The scoot looks excellent and one wonders if it came out of the API factory that good !

Good colour too.

SA7VA5 · 20th May 2010, 11:05

Dussey Sir - thank you for the appreciation!

Long time....

Cheers!

Saurabh

SA7VA5 · 1st December 2010, 11:33

My Italian friend never got down to taking this machine with him to England. So this machine is back with me now

kevinephraim · 1st December 2010, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA7VA5

My Italian friend never got down to taking this machine with him to England. So this machine is back with me now

is it for sale? or are you gonna keep it and add it to your collection?

priyadarshan.b · 2nd December 2010, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by SA7VA5

My Italian friend never got down to taking this machine with him to England. So this machine is back with me now

This beautiful scooter deserves to be with you as you brought her back to this sparkling life.. Good that your friend didnt take it. Congratulations..

26th April 2010, 12:41	#1
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	1962 Lambretta Li 150 Restoration For An Italian Friend Dear Team, Have been missing in action for sometime busy trying to a LI150 upto shape for an Italian friend who wishes to take it with him around the globe where he travels! So it couldn't be a more serious challenge - right? Well the first challenge was to get an all original scoot - condition was not an issue since it had to be a grouund up restoration. So we hunted and found one! Then we started on it in December last and here it is for you all to see the process. Its almost as maddening a process as I did for my father's machine and the scoot is on road now. Dont have upto date pics - will post soon but lets start anyway! It was a painful journey but the end results are very very satisfying - I Must Admit! Specially because once we dis-assembled the flywheel cover we found that some one had taken out the original Ducati Mangeto and Stator plate and all that we were left with was a stub of wires that here dangling inside! So while we started on the denting I called up my contacts in London who got my an original Ducati Flywheel off a machine that had seen ONLY 6000miles in its life and then got converted to a Electronic IGnition with a Malosi kit. The Magnet and coil plate were an expensive item to source from London specially the postage and courier charge but it was all well worth the effort trying to restore the originality of the machine! Rubbers are all grey and my friend got it from Italy. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by SA7VA5 : 26th April 2010 at 12:42.
	() Thanks

26th April 2010, 14:09	#2
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	Some more pics....the machine is now painted and assembly is on...some shots of engine assembly too - imported Surflex Clutch assembly installed! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

28th April 2010, 11:30	#5
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	Pics of the finished scoot Ok Team as I promised here are some initial pics of the scoot - dully finished - well almost - some final knick knacks are left and the final rubbing and polished is to be done now after my Italian friend rides it! I will post pics - proper ones that do justice this machine once I polish the machine and take it out in the sunlight this weekend. So here it goes! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

3rd May 2010, 15:01	#6
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	Hi All As promissed here are the pics of the finished scoot. Its now with my Italian friend who is enjoying the machine. Cheers! Sv Attached Thumbnails Attached Images
	() Thanks

4th May 2010, 00:51	#8
Viju Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yokohama, Japan Posts: 1,070 Thanked: 2,596 Times View My Garage	Very beautiful scoot there Saurabh! I can imagine the pains taken for such a proper restoration. Well done!
	() Thanks

10th May 2010, 19:58	#9
Mitch BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 104 Thanked: 5 Times View My Garage	Saurabh, Are the 'running in' waterslides in Italian? If so, where did you get them?
	() Thanks

17th May 2010, 17:16	#10
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	HI Mitch - The waterslides are in English - Italian are not easy to find - atleast I have not come across any commercially available so far. Cheers! S
	() Thanks

20th May 2010, 11:05	#12
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	Dussey Sir - thank you for the appreciation! Long time.... Cheers! Saurabh
	() Thanks

1st December 2010, 11:33	#13
SA7VA5 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DELHI Posts: 297 Thanked: 154 Times	News My Italian friend never got down to taking this machine with him to England. So this machine is back with me now
	() Thanks