Web Analytics

 Innocenti Lambretta - 250 Gran Premio
 Back to brands list


Innocenti Lambretta Gran Premio motocyclette motorrad motorcycle vintage classic classique scooter roller moto scooter
Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
3308

Capacity : 250
Model : Gran Premio
Production : 1951 - 1952
Category : (R) Racing

LAMBRETTA

250 GP -1953

Unfulfilled promise

Drunk with the success of its scooters, but wanting to free itself from their everyday image, the Lambretta company decided in 1952 to compete in a Grand Prix with a machine which was at least original. Its designer was the engineer Pier-Luigi Torre, the same man who had conceived the marque's famous scooters.

Original Layout

The 250 Lambretta was certainly technically original. The transverse mounting of its V-twin engine broke new ground, while its shaft drive was also astonishing on a racing machine. The rear suspension was by torsion bars mounted below the axis of the fork.

Encouraging Beginning

Nello Pagani and Romolo Ferri were put in charge of preparing the machine, which only raced once, on the Locarno circuit in August 1952. The outcome was at least encouraging. The machine proved very powerful, but this one and only race ended in a Did Not Finish while Ferri was placing second to Anderson's Guzzi. The 250 never again appeared in a race. After that, Lambretta was too busy, both industrially and commercially, fending off the threat to its bikes from the Piaggio Vespa, and the effort needed to develop the 250 seriously would have been roo big a distraction. Two examples of this exceptional machine were built, one of which survives today, modified in 1953 to take a twin-cam head, and with its torsion bars replaced by conventional rear suspension.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 247cc (54x54mm) air-cooled 90- degree V-twin four-stroke

Power Rating: 29 hp @ 9000 rpm

Valves: twin overhead-camshafts

Fuel System: two 25mm carburetors

Transmission: shaft final drive

Suspension: telescopic forks (front); swing arm (rear)

Brakes: drum (front & rear)

Wheels: 2.75x18 inch (front); 3.00x18 inch (rear)

Maximum Speed: 106 mph

 

The result of Lamhretta's one attempt to break out of the straitjacket of scooter construction –resulted in an inconclusive withdrawal.





Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.