The Vision (for when all is said and done)

In speaking with Stu I decided to use an R1/R6 shock conversion for my rear shock. He sent me to Lambretta Club of America (lambretta.org) where a group of guys were going in on a bulk order of shock springs and bushings for the conversion.

Wow! I'd first like to say that the folks in this club are so nice and helpful. These guys offer solutions and share information. The guy, Jake, who placed the order for the springs and bushings not only fronted the cash for everybody, he even drove from San Mateo to SF to deliver my parts to my dad's office. Seriously, good people at the Lambretta Club of America!

Sorry I digress . . .

While perusing the rest of the site I found a section on the "forums" where folks post pictures of their Lambretta's and I came across a 1962 Lambretta TV175 restored to Stone White with a Ox red seat . . . it is exactly the same bike that I have and I have decided to restore it to its original color as well as reuse my red seat. Looking at these photos of this Lambretta is basically like looking at my bike after the restoration is complete.

The bike first looked like this. It was restored by Mike Anhalt, a member of Lambretta Club of America. His post said, "Fully redone TV175 with a GT186, 24mm mikuni, Casa Exhaust. All stainless hardware and proper stickers with orgional floor board extentions. Took about 7 months start to finish (50 hours of 2 hour weekends and mornings)."

Mike wrote the bike was an East Coast rust scoot when he first got it. He was hired by someone to restore it as if Mike was restoring it for himself.

The bike looks a little rougher than my bike, but then again it was 100% complete when Mike received it -- as far as I can tell from the photos.

The beauty in this bike is in the details, I believe. It is clear to me that Mike Anhalt is an experienced restorer and has the eye-of-a-jeweler -- all the small details matter to him. That is the mark of a true restorer. Notice the R1/R6 shock conversion, not stock, but an inexpensive way to build a performance rear shock. I will also build a R1 shock for my TV.

At first I thought that all white scooters were a bit of bore, but with the ox blood red seat the bike really pops. Furthermore, the idea of having the bike look nearly exact the way it did coming out of the factory over 40 years ago seems very cool to me.

I will not add a GT badge on my Lammy, but I will use a Dean's Speed 190 kit so performance wise it may not be different than the 186 kit Mike put on the top end of this TV.

All in all my bike will look pretty similar and also be very mildly customed. My goal, like Mike, is to keep the TV as true to the era.

If bike comes out anything like the one above, I will be so happy.

In Pieces

Here is what the TV currently looks like. We also bought our SS180 (visit: www.vesparestoration.blogspot.com) in pieces as well. I HIGHLY recommend first time restorers do NOT buy a scooter this way, especially a Lambretta with all its parts. It's a good way to buy an incomplete scooter unknowningly, which will cost you a lot more in the end potentially. We bought the Vespa SS180 from a friend we have known and trusted for a long time. We bought the Lambretta TV175, pictured below, from Stuart Werner who has a very good reputation for being honest and upfront, plus he is also respected for the quality of his bikes he sold after restoring himself. We spoke with mentors Tom G. and Christopher Markley before purchasing and the advice they gave me, "is go with it Jeremy. Stu is honest and will tell you what you're missing and what it will cost you." The bike is not complete and Stu did point it all out and after more research I have learned it will cost $$. I can spend just under $1,000 on the suspension alone (if I get the set up I want, which I won't because $1,000 for three shocks is over kill for my purposes). So think about that! I paid $1100 for my TV with two motors and a missing disc brake/front hub and all three shocks. The front hub is $450 new and three performance shocks are $900; therefore the bike is not $1100 rather it is $1350. You need to think carefully when restoring a bike. A complete unrestored TV engine will bring about $500, so you can see that's not balancing the books. I may decide to fully restore the second TV engine and hold on to it for collector's sake or sell it to generate revenue for the restoration of the bike. I have seen original running TVs sell for under $3750 and I can guarantee that my bike will be close to $5000-$6000 in parts/paint. I am totally cool with that and knew that going into it. Just make sure you are too. Note that my second engine, which is 90% complete, is in my basement and not included in these photos.

How to disasemble a Lammy Li

Lambretta LI Stripdown 60's promo film made by Innocenti for dealer and there mechanics. (thanx to scootr99 on YouTube.com)

Feb. 11, 2007 -- The Purchase: 1962 Lambretta TV 175

When hunting down a fuel tap wrench for 1967 Vespa SS180 restoration project we called Stewert Werner to see if had one we could borrow, because the wrench was not available for purchase and if you can borrow it's a penny saved. We asked him if he had any Lammys for sale and he said, "no." When we called to tell him we found a wrench he said, "by the way I found a 1963 TV 175 in the rafters in my garage. Want to buy it?" In late December, 2006 we went to Stu's house to check out his "1963 Lambretta TV 175 with two motors" he had for sale. We liked what we saw. He spent hours with us going over what parts were missing and all of the resources (trustworthy ones only) that are available to us for this restoration. He also showed us what books we should purchase and which weren't so good. He also recommended upgrades, ie GP electric, and explained in detail how that can be done. He gave us the history he knew of, which is limited. He bought the bike from Scooters O in NJ. It was imported from Italy. Stu had planned to restore and resell. He owned Lancaster Lambretta and has personally put many bikes on the road. Stewart had asked for $1,300 for the scooter, which was 98% complete except for some common and pretty-easy parts to find. At the time we did not have the full amount. We offered him a deposit and he just smiled and said, "how about a handshake?" We shook hands. We agreed to meet in three to five weeks. Normally I would never buy a disassembled Lambretta, because I am not familiar with all the parts and would not know what is or is NOT missing.

I knew Stu's reputation for being a person of integrity and checked in my mentor of restorations, Christopher Markley, and a few other people about the deal. The response I got was, "it's a very good deal, especially with two motors, and Stu will be very honest and upfront with you," which has proved to be true.

Stu offered to create a total parts list for me and give me the list. He also offered to go through his personal stock pile and look for any parts that are missing from the TV. His machinist destroyed the TV 175's forks -- so Stu offered Li S3 forks instead along with a weld job to remove the TV rings, which are unique to the TV, and have them welded to the Li forks (the rings are the only noticeable difference to these forks when the bike is assembled). Stu also offered me a few xerox copies from his "secret Lambretta file," which I will not disclose.

On February 11, 2007 Stu asked me to come over and pick up the bike -- he wanted his garage back. He needed to get us a disc front brake to include in the deal from a second bike, but was not able to; therefore he dropped the price to $1,100 thinking he had originally asked $1,500 for the bike. I reminded him he asked $1,300 for the bike so he dropped the final sale to $1,000 even and said that was as low as he could go. A front disc brake costs $430 new and we have half it. Stu kept the two forks for his welder (all included in the final price) and I cut him a personal check.

He also agreed to deliver the finished front fork to us along with the parts list. He said he would like to go over the parts list in detail with us as he looks over the entire bike with us one final time to make sure the parts list is perfect. I think that speaks volumes about who he is as a person. He is of the old world when a handshake was enough. He's a dying breed in today's society.

After I brought the bike bike home I cross-referenced the Serial Number: TV175 503***and learned the Lambretta is actually an 1962 bike as opposed to 1963.

Restoration on this bike will begin after we complete the restoration of my wife's bike -- a 1967 Vespa SS180. Restoration of this bike is half complete at this time and is documented at www.vesparestoration.blogspot.com.

Below is a picture of Stu Werner sitting on his late 1950s Series I "Frame Breather" with his kitted blue/white Series III and cream Series II Lambrettas.