Lambretta scooter

restoration

August 2010

Here's something different.

I am the proud owner of a Lambretta scooter, an original 1965 GT200. I've had the scooter since 1985 and years ago, travelled all over the country on it attending various scooter rallies.

For the last ten years however, the scooter has been sat in my garden shed. I just haven't had the time or inclinitation to do anything with it.

Then last year, through delivering my courses at Northampton College, I got to know paint and body lecturer Alan Sparham who works at the college. Alan is also a keen scooter enthusiast and when he heard that I had the scooter, offered to restore it for me as part of a qualification he was delivering for a group of his students.

I have to admit, I was sceptical at first. College students? Restoring a scooter? We'll see I thought. So, in September last year, we transported the scooter in the back of my car to Alan's house from where it was then transferred to the college for work to begin.

Mine was one of three Lambretta's to undergo a complete strip down (literally to bare metal). Every last nut and bolt was removed, cleaned and following close inspection, either replaced with original spec components or refurbished and refitted.

The central frame strutt to which the stand is attached had many years ago become fatigued and snapped off. I had this part welded back on but it was not straight and so the scooter leant to one side slightly. Alan had the old strutt cut away and a new one welded exactly in place.

Other refurbishments included straightening out a dent in the main body shell and replacing the old seat cover with an original spec part. Alan even had the frame and all body panels bead blasted back to bare metal so that the scooter could be completely resprayed from scratch, again to original spec colours. The GT stickers on the front of the legshields were a nice addition as well.

Most of the hard work of course was carried out by Alan's students who, under close supervision and tuition from him did all the stripping down and dismantling of body and mechanical parts. This included a full engine strip and rebuild using new parts where necessary.

The students learnt how to prepare panels and other frame and body parts for painting. They also learnt mechanical skills and carried out refurbishment of brakes, forks and fuel system components.

And then we got to the electrics. Well naturally, this was where I came in. Although Alan had previously attended electrical courses with me for CPD, he decided that this was my forte. So, in March this year, I went over to the college to help out.

This was where I saw the nearly finished Lambretta for the first time. To say that I was impressed would be a gross understatement. Suffice to say that I find it difficult to put into words how pleased I am with the very high standard to which the scooter has been restored.

Finally, Alan entered all of the finished scooters in the Vintage Motor Scooter Show at Coventry in April this year. Although none of the restored machines won any prizes which is a shame, it was a proud moment for Alan and his students as well as for me to have the scooter on display at a national show.

How much did it all cost? Professional restorations normally run into several thousand pounds. This was a non profit making amateur student project and so all I had to pay for were parts and materials. Nobody was out of pocket. Everybody had a lot of fun doing the work and I saw change out of £500. Well pleased!

So what's next? Well I've also got a 1960 Zundapp Bella scooter. Maybe I'll do something with that.

Thank you for visiting my scooter restoration page. If you own a scooter or would like to make any comments, click here to send me an e-mail.

Regards,

Tony Kitchen

(AK Automotive)

Alan Sparham (second from left) with students