Dick's Lambretta adventures - It's (Norman) Nippy outside...

[Dick Cheeseburger]

PR shots I'm assuming...

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Interesting post from Tippers.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I just spotted this post from @Cavcraft and it got me thinking. 

Series 3 Li Lambrettas are the last of the cheapies. I'm a series 2 convert these days after owning various series 3s but still like the simplicity of their looks. 

It'll be interesting to see what happens with the values of Italian Lammies over the next decade. There must be more on the road now than there were years ago thanks to the constant supply of Italian imports making their way onto these shores. Despite that, I'm seeing more and more owners buying modern Royal Alloy Lambretta-a-likes. I'm assuming the Lambretta values will eventually drop a bit as they're ousted by owners in favour of modern twist and go scooters. Or will diehard fans continue to keep hold of their classic machines? 

I've no intention of letting my 1960 series 2 go in the foreseeable future, regardless. 

 

[Cavcraft]

It'll be interesting to see what happens. It's quite funny how some of the 'plastic shit/Chinese rubbish/no proper scooter fan would own one of them' gang  are now turning to modern automatics and it's gone from being one of just two auto owners at a big meet up or ride out, to stacks and stacks of them.

They won't ever be as fun as a (2T) Lambretta or Vespa and so far I don't think market values of either of them have dropped, probably the reverse.  Indian GPs have perhaps levelled out a little, mind.  The S2 is a proper nice looking thing.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

20 years back at rallies, some previous traditionalists were buying modern four stroke twist and go Vespas and raving about how fast, comfortable and reliable they were. I reckon the Royal Alloys have largely replaced those Vespas. They're  even more popular than the Vespas though I reckon, as they look a bit like old Lambrettas if you squint when drunk. 

The market is flooded with Italian import Lammys now though so, combined with the shift to Royal Alloy, I'm convinced values of traditional machines are no longer going northwards. Maybe I need to keep an eye on the market for a series 2 tv175... 😂

[Cavcraft]

44 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

20 years back at rallies, some previous traditionalists were buying modern four stroke twist and go Vespas and raving about how fast, comfortable and reliable they were. I reckon the Royal Alloys have largely replaced those Vespas. They're  even more popular than the Vespas though I reckon, as they look a bit like old Lambrettas if you squint when drunk. 

The market is flooded with Italian import Lammys now though so, combined with the shift to Royal Alloy, I'm convinced values of traditional machines are no longer going northwards. Maybe I need to keep an eye on the market for a series 2 tv175... 😂

The brief (iirc) was that the Scomadi TL was as close to the Lambretta as possible, so that even things like the rear racks from the originals would fit.  Paul Mellici (spelling?) from PM Tuning and Frank Sanders set the company up, then R.A basically just ripped their design off (allegedly, of course) and Scomadi took them to court, losing  a hell of a lot of money in the process, and not really gaining anything. Scomadi floundered, you couldn't really get their scooters during the 'war' with R.A, then the latter pretty much cleaned up the market in the U.K.

Lambretta themselves then got involved by making their own copy of the original, and laughably it ended up not only looking less like a Lambretta than a Scomadi or R.A, but also looked sodding awful at the same time.

Would love a TV, but I'd be worried whether it actually was one, or another 'RS Mexico job' where someone had built one using a TV log book and an Li frame, or something.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Just spotted this photo of some early 70s GP Supertune Lammies from back in the day. 

Interesting to see the scooter in the foreground has the older style black and white plate, yet the G and H plate next to it have gone for the modern yellow and black alternative. 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Latest acquisition. 1961 Norman Nippy. Could  be interesting...

[LightBulbFun]

2 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Latest acquisition. 1961 Norman Nippy. Could  be interesting...

you are @AdgeCutler AICMFP

I can source an Invacar Mk12E for you if you want the full house?

[Cavcraft]

On 26/10/2024 at 16:29, Dick Longbridge said:

Latest acquisition. 1961 Norman Nippy. Could  be interesting...

That's ace, but don't brake too hard or you'll end up with some knacker shaped dents in the petrol tank if you don't adjust the seat!

[Dick Cheeseburger]

On 29/10/2024 at 17:53, Cavcraft said:

That's ace, but don't brake too hard or you'll end up with some knacker shaped dents in the petrol tank if you don't adjust the seat!

Ha! The seat just needed a quick tighten up and job was a good'un. 

The bike was last on the road in 1978. I have an up to date V5 for it and now need to register it for tax and MOT exemption. Any ideas? A quick Google suggests I need to start with from V112...

[Cavcraft]

'Officially' I think you have to take the V5 to your nearest Post Office, fill the form (V112?) in and then send it away to the DVLA. Sometimes (if you're lucky) you can tax it online and it'll let you select the MOT exempt  option and DVLA will then refund the tax and send a new log book out in a few weeks time. It doesn't always work, but if you want to get out on the road quick smart, it can be worth doing.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

On 31/10/2024 at 12:27, Cavcraft said:

'Officially' I think you have to take the V5 to your nearest Post Office, fill the form (V112?) in and then send it away to the DVLA. Sometimes (if you're lucky) you can tax it online and it'll let you select the MOT exempt  option and DVLA will then refund the tax and send a new log book out in a few weeks time. It doesn't always work, but if you want to get out on the road quick smart, it can be worth doing.

I ended up downloading the V112 and handed it into the post office along with my V5 yesterday. They've sent it off and hopefully I'll hear back in a few weeks. The fella on the PO counter did ask if wanted the bike taxed for tomorrow (which is now today) and I agreed. It's still showing as tax due on July 1st 1978 on the system 24 hours later though, so no idea what's going on there. 

[Cavcraft]

It can take a while to show on the system. If you got a receipt you could take it with you if you go for a ride.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

22 minutes ago, Cavcraft said:

It can take a while to show on the system. If you got a receipt you could take it with you if you go for a ride.

Unfortunately, haven't got a receipt. Foolishly, I didn't take a photo of the V5 before the fella swiped it and informed me I'll be receiving a new one soon*. 

[Cavcraft]

You'll probably be ok, it can take a few days to update the system.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

23 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

You'll probably be ok, it can take a few days to update the system.

Pleased to see it's now showing as taxed for first time in 46 years!

[Dick Cheeseburger]

So, the Nippy sold. Time to get back to the trusty Series 2 when I can find it at the back of the garage again... 

[autopaul]

39 minutes ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

So, the Nippy sold. Time to get back to the trusty Series 2 when I can find it at the back of the garage again... 

Any idea of prices of series 2 li125's these days? Need to rescue mine from my mates lock up this summer and finish off building it back up

[Dick Cheeseburger]

10 hours ago, autopaul said:

Any idea of prices of series 2 li125's these days? Need to rescue mine from my mates lock up this summer and finish off building it back up

They've stagnated a bit, tbh. More info would help - is it an original paint import? Restored UK Lammy? Stick some photos on here as it would be interesting to see, regardless!

[Dick Cheeseburger]

This one's restored and £4k. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1A528CVU13/

[autopaul]

It was having custom paint done and full restoration. Everything was done just needed building back up. But it has been up at my mates lack up for about 3 years now. Slowly getting round to finishing these projects off.

 

I sold the cream and red one about  years ago for 3600 so yeah prices haven't really changed much.

[LightBulbFun]

11 hours ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

So, the Nippy sold. Time to get back to the trusty Series 2 when I can find it at the back of the garage again... 

I admit my internal thought process while reading this was "you have a Land Rover?! *then longer then it should of taken* "oh right he means Lambretta"