1964 Lambretta 200/225 'S' Type Turismo Veloce Series III Version Two
Frame no. TV3531765
Engine no. TV2533970

In the aftermath of World War II, Ferdinando Innocenti looked closely at an inexpensive form of transport for the masses, his inspiration being the American Cushman scooter that was rapidly becoming a common site around the newly liberated Roman piazzas.

The prototype, "Experiment O," was completed in a short time span with styling cues taken from a torpedo! The design was sleek compared to the rather boxy Cushman, and although it never reached production it set the Innocenti concern on the road – together with rival Piaggio – to dominate scooter production for the next 25 years.

The introduction of the TV – Turismo Veloce - series from Innocenti was a direct result of Piaggio launching their highly successful and sporty 160cc GS – Grand Sport – models, which in turn was a response to demand for more power from the scooter obsessed Brits. Innocenti went bigger and better and launched the 175cc TV series. The now much sought after Series I was an overly complex machine with thumb operated brake and clutch adjusters on the handle bars! The motor too was expensive to produce, complex and fragile compared to the staple tried and tested concurrent Li series machines.

For the Series II machines and onwards through the SX and DL series, the Li motor was adopted and eventually developed to 200cc. The TV was now a tour de force and the standard bearer for the industry.

In the late 1950s, Italian scooters became the chosen transport of the British Modernists, or Mods as they were known. You could make it from London to the seaside towns of Brighton and Margate without getting oil on your Carnaby Street made mohair suit. The American military issue M51 parka protected you from any inclement British weather.

By the mid-1960s competition was on the mind of the British scooterist and outfits like Arthur Francis catered for this trend with a host of speed modifications and upgrades. The 'S' type, as it was known, featured a larger 225cc motor with the use of an adaption kit, reverse pull front disc, Ancillotti megaphone racing exhausts and so on.

This example was found by the vendor in Portland Oregon and had been the property of a doctor since his medical school days. It was decided to restore the machine as closely as possible to full Arthur Francis 225cc 'S' Type specs. To that end, this very sound and original matching numbers machine was entrusted to renowned Lambretta specialists, P-Town Scooters of Portland for a full restoration.

The finished article features all the goodies one might expect, including an Ancillotti megaphone exhaust, tuned 225cc motor, Nannucci race seat, Lucas lamps and Cuppini rack.

Stored unused since completion, this incredibly stylish piece of 1960s industrial design would make the perfect and stylish (if loud) weekend raceabout or a statement at Laguna Seca - or any racing circuit - as the ultimate pure-bred Italian pit bike.