I worked for a motorcycle shop which was the last UK distributor for Lambretta spare parts. We had an NSU parts book, but no parts except a couple of pistons. I noticed that they were more sturdy than the Lambretta pistons. That inspired me to study the parts book,and I realised that many parts of the NSU were more sturdy, including the frame and panels. In fact the dry weight of the NSU was a good bit more than the Italian model. That was German engineering, but I have no idea why because the original Lambretta was already a very robust machine, and the extra weight must have slowed down the NSU . We eventually took over the Vespa dealership from a local company which wanted to concentrate on Fiat cars just as the scooter revival of 1979 happened, and we sold hundreds of Vespas, and stocked thousands of pounds worth of Vespa spares. Our customers could literally come in for any part and we had it in stock, as well as accessories and conversion kits. I even became a scooterist and joined a scooter club. I'm old and retired now, but there are still 2 scooters in my garage awaiting rebuild which I will probably never get round to.
Hahaha do it buddy. since i've retired i've restored 3 , this type , a rod model vespa, a raleigh roma, and now a zundapp bella. Keeps your brain sharp. Best of luck.
The engine was mounted on the swinging arm, not on the rear wheel, and therein lies the brilliance of the design, negating the need for an external chain. There was a drive chain but it was enclosed within the covers of the engine/gearbox unit. The engine was a 2 stroke and it was a disaster that Europe banned these peppy little engines in the 1970's. Never seen this NSU version before, very thoughtful design, but I knew people who had the Series 1 LD. It can be seen that the fuel tank was long and narrow. If fuel was very low, this could cause the engine to cut out going uphill. This was changed to a more square tank on the Series II.
NSU built the Lambretta LC under licence and developed the Prima from that design. A little bit naughty .Lambretta wasn't too bothered as by then , as they'd stopped the LC/LD range and were making the LI 'slimstyle' model . The Prima was a great scooter , I'd love one.
@@chasleask8533 many thanks mate we do live n learn, my prima I always felt was very well build never let me down but the Best scooter I had was the 200cc Bella with a Zundup engine that was so well balanced n compared to other scooter had lots of torque, best one to have your girlfriend as a pillion rider, good old days cheers
@@chasleask8533 Maybe my memory is fading faster than I realized but I do Not remember my NSU having an electric start, of all the scooters I had in the 60s the one I didn't like was the Vespa had the GS150 also fast pic up but diabolical going round corners you just opened up n the dumb thing all it waned to do was go strait yet the fun of riding is going as fast as you can round corners Bella was by far the Best balanced of all of them, great job you doing mate hope u can get all the parts you'll need or have the made cheers
@@polygamous1 Both the Prima and the Bella had a choice of starts . Either kickstart or Siba Dynastart, Never both Hahaha , this is Teutonic technology. The Siba system , by Bosch reversed the current from the batteries to the dynamo coils , spinning them round and starting the engine . They needed 12v , so they wired two 6v batteries in series to provide enough power to throw the motor over . My NSU Lambretta and The Bella both have this system , no kickstart . I still don't believe it will work every time I go to start them , but it does.
Not at all sure Cushman were the first scooters produced, several models were produced in the UK prior to WW2 including a full wrap around body type with canvas sides and a roof. And I imagine other European manufacturers were producing some what similar products pre WW2 as well. Triumph produced a scooter with the speed twin engine, but I don't remember exactly when this first appeared,only had a small production run,and I only remember seeing one in regular use back in the 1970's. Owned by a guy in Ewell,for all you yanks reading this Ewell is pronounced Ewe-ll not E well. The South Kensington science museum used to have a goodly collection of motor scooters and bikes dont know what happened to them, probably in the basement stored away. Disappeared when the arty farty brigade remodeled the best two museums in the country and ruined them, [bring back the death penalty for vandals]
Corradino d'Ascanio worked in Piaggio, and he projected VESPA, not LAMBRETTA. They are two differents scooter... it is like i tell that Queen Elisabeth is the queen of the U.S.A!
I had a 1958 Puch RL125 which had a hand gearshift, but unlike this one, which appears to be cables, the Puch was all rods and balljoints - not a good idea, I can assure you!
hi there, please in your own time would you be kind enough to send me some quality pictures of your renovated scooter. to bill. email william.chivers3@yahoo.co.uk thank you in advance...
I worked for a motorcycle shop which was the last UK distributor for Lambretta spare parts. We had an NSU parts book, but no parts except a couple of pistons. I noticed that they were more sturdy than the Lambretta pistons. That inspired me to study the parts book,and I realised that many parts of the NSU were more sturdy, including the frame and panels. In fact the dry weight of the NSU was a good bit more than the Italian model. That was German engineering, but I have no idea why because the original Lambretta was already a very robust machine, and the extra weight must have slowed down the NSU . We eventually took over the Vespa dealership from a local company which wanted to concentrate on Fiat cars just as the scooter revival of 1979 happened, and we sold hundreds of Vespas, and stocked thousands of pounds worth of Vespa spares. Our customers could literally come in for any part and we had it in stock, as well as accessories and conversion kits. I even became a scooterist and joined a scooter club. I'm old and retired now, but there are still 2 scooters in my garage awaiting rebuild which I will probably never get round to.
Hahaha do it buddy. since i've retired i've restored 3 , this type , a rod model vespa, a raleigh roma, and now a zundapp bella. Keeps your brain sharp. Best of luck.
God bless you mate . I must have watched this a hundred times while building my LC.
That was one of the reasons for making these videos. Glad it helped.
my father had this in 60 s , my childhood
beautiful. love this look
The engine was mounted on the swinging arm, not on the rear wheel, and therein lies the brilliance of the design, negating the need for an external chain. There was a drive chain but it was enclosed within the covers of the engine/gearbox unit. The engine was a 2 stroke and it was a disaster that Europe banned these peppy little engines in the 1970's. Never seen this NSU version before, very thoughtful design, but I knew people who had the Series 1 LD. It can be seen that the fuel tank was long and narrow. If fuel was very low, this could cause the engine to cut out going uphill. This was changed to a more square tank on the Series II.
Wow pretty cool!!! I always like the LD Models.
My NSU was called NSU 150 Prima never had the name Lambretta on it in the 60sI bought it
NSU built the Lambretta LC under licence and developed the Prima from that design. A little bit naughty .Lambretta wasn't too bothered as by then , as they'd stopped the LC/LD range and were making the LI 'slimstyle' model . The Prima was a great scooter , I'd love one.
@@chasleask8533 many thanks mate we do live n learn, my prima I always felt was very well build never let me down but the Best scooter I had was the 200cc Bella with a Zundup engine that was so well balanced n compared to other scooter had lots of torque, best one to have your girlfriend as a pillion rider, good old days cheers
@@polygamous1 I'm renovating a Zundapp Bella R204 at the moment . It has the same electric start system as the NSU . I find them fascinating.
@@chasleask8533 Maybe my memory is fading faster than I realized but I do Not remember my NSU having an electric start, of all the scooters I had in the 60s the one I didn't like was the Vespa had the GS150 also fast pic up but diabolical going round corners you just opened up n the dumb thing all it waned to do was go strait yet the fun of riding is going as fast as you can round corners Bella was by far the Best balanced of all of them, great job you doing mate hope u can get all the parts you'll need or have the made cheers
@@polygamous1 Both the Prima and the Bella had a choice of starts . Either kickstart or Siba Dynastart, Never both Hahaha , this is Teutonic technology. The Siba system , by Bosch reversed the current from the batteries to the dynamo coils , spinning them round and starting the engine . They needed 12v , so they wired two 6v batteries in series to provide enough power to throw the motor over . My NSU Lambretta and The Bella both have this system , no kickstart . I still don't believe it will work every time I go to start them , but it does.
History wont lies..my lambretta vintage
Not at all sure Cushman were the first scooters produced, several models were produced in the UK prior to WW2 including a full wrap around body type with canvas sides and a roof. And I imagine other European manufacturers were producing some what similar products pre WW2 as well. Triumph produced a scooter with the speed twin engine, but I don't remember exactly when this first appeared,only had a small production run,and I only remember seeing one in regular use back in the 1970's. Owned by a guy in Ewell,for all you yanks reading this Ewell is pronounced Ewe-ll not E well. The South Kensington science museum used to have a goodly collection of motor scooters and bikes dont know what happened to them, probably in the basement stored away. Disappeared when the arty farty brigade remodeled the best two museums in the country and ruined them, [bring back the death penalty for vandals]
simply awesome.
Corradino d'Ascanio worked in Piaggio, and he projected VESPA, not LAMBRETTA. They are two differents scooter... it is like i tell that Queen Elisabeth is the queen of the U.S.A!
I had a 1958 Puch RL125 which had a hand gearshift, but unlike this one, which appears to be cables, the Puch was all rods and balljoints - not a good idea, I can assure you!
I want buy it
does it still run and drive
Io ne o una identica del 53 bellissima
I've got a 1953 model exactly the same as a lc
Dear Sir, I have repaired it a lot. I am its spacelist mechanic.
2019
Hello from England. I have exactly the same scooter which I've just rebuilt. Would you like to get in touch?
hi there, please in your own time would you be kind enough to send me some quality pictures of your renovated scooter. to bill. email william.chivers3@yahoo.co.uk thank you in advance...
William Chivers hi buddy , I'm on the point of finally getting the LC up and running . if you'd still like pics let me know.
Me to I've got a 1953 nsu lambretta lc could do with seeing how the rear wheel arch bolts in
@@191gav Hi Buddy , Could you be a bit more precise . Are you referring to the rear mudguard?
@@chasleask8533 hi yes its the rear mud guard is they a bracket that attaches it to something
the landing geat fork was Used By the Vespa NOT the lambretta, the lambretta used a real motorcycle fork wich was better
I think our friend here has got mixed up. I understood that D'Ascanio worked for Piaggio on aeroplanes.
mantap