Imola: The naked Lambrettas

Time for some real scooter-spotting! From the fair at Imola the weekend 9-11 of September. In the region of 2 000 vendors and 40 000 spectators participated at the fair organized by Crame, Club Romagnolo Auto e Moto d'Epoca.

My first visit and I'm just overwhelmed. Scooters, parts and accessories everywhere!

Here we start with Lambrettas, the naked models; A, B, C and D.

Next post will be Vespas, after that other makers, "dressed" Lambrettas, three-wheelers and the last post will be miscellanous.

Here we go:

Lambretta 125m (or A), belonging to Lambretta legend Tino Sacchi.

A 150 D besides two 125 C.

Two totally restored 125 B, and a SX 200 (no nudity!)

A rough 125 B, "conservata". 1948-1950, 35 014 built.

Lambretta 125 C, 1950-1951. 87 500 built. The right price?

This is the 125E, economica. April 1953 to February 1954, 42 352 built.

A unrestored Lambretta B, and wrong sign... 

Another Lambretta B, I don't care for the cap on the headlamp.

Ancora una Lambretta 125 B!

125 F with accessories.

Lid for toolbox and buona fortuna!

Cool extension to the legshield.

Carello, pillion seat and sparewheel holder

The last day of the Imola fair and market has ended. I think it was at least 33 degrees C today. It's overwhelming, in the end you have to exclude lot's of sellers in order to remain sane. I'm used to Swedish fairs where "Scooter parts? That's the guy with yellow cap and the big nose who sells that stuff". So it's a lot of resting during these fairs.
In Imola there is gems everywhere. Below is some of my findings: the Carello "half moon" fog lights intended for my Vespa GS 160 and a horn cover. The fog lights have nice yellow bulbs with the thread intact. They are marked "fendinebbia", nebbia is fog in Italian and fendi might be another word for faro, light.

I also bought a sparewheel holder for Lambretta. Some surface rust but after sandblasting and paint it will be like new. Never seen one of these in Sweden.

I also found a pillion seat for faro basso or Utilitaria. It's sort of anatomic compared to the flat ones I have since before. It was very dirty but thanks to the bathroom in the hotel, some water and soap, it shines! Well...
It is marked "Valentina Valenza Po Gommapiuma Pirelli". Sounds like poetry to me, don't you think?

Once again, the 80's are back!

Bachetta or faro basso?

I had to ask an italian friend about the different names of the early Vespas.
I have used the term "faro basso" on all Vespas with the headlight on the front fender.
In Italy, Enzo told me, "bacchetta" means a rod Vespa, the model after that, 1951-1952, is a "vacanze romane" (Roman Holiday) after the famous film. The 1953-1954 Vespa (VM1-VM2) is the "faro basso". Good to know!
Next; the scooter "Catria" from the firm Motobi Pesaro. Established in 1949 after a row in the Benelli family, six brothers! Giuseppe Benelli and his two sons started Moto B Pesaro in the town of Pesaro. The scooter Catria was named after a mountain nearby. The scoot has a horisontal 175 cc 4-stroke engine.
More Catria pictures:

Another hot day...

Sorry, my brain and body stops functioning when it's to hot. Today it was even hotter than yesterday at the Imola fair. 30-31 degrees in the shadow. A temperature we never reached in Sweden this summer.
Today I bought two Carelli extra lights, the type that is "half". I'll put a picture here tomorrow, too tired now. I think the Carello spot lamps will fit my Vespa 160 GS nicely. Also an engine hatch for a smallframe.
A lot of firms are here. Vespa-guy Mauro Pascoli had a stand close to Lambretta parts supplier Tino Sacchi. And I've spotted the Riminilambretta Centre's bus.
All pictures yesterday and today was taken with my mobile phone. Some better ones will appear on the blog when I'm at home in Sweden.

The strange Pesaro Motobi, I never heard of it before.

The MV Augusta CGT 150 cc from about 1952.

The 80's are back!

Lambretta A, belonging to Lambretta legend Tino Sacchi, outside his market stall.

Everywhere Vespa parts for sale.

Checking the MV Augusta

The second day of the fair at Imola is about to begin. I sure hope that the small passenger train is obtainable. I won't be able to walk that much today.
I shall have another look at a MV Augusta scooter, 125 cc and built around 1952. Much in the vein of the "naked" Lambrettas. Didn't Scootering feature an article about one of these rare scooters?

First day at Imola

First day at Imola. Hot, and absolutely insane. Vespas and Lambrettas everywhere. And parts. And accesoceries. Two obscure MV Augusta CGT from about 1952.
5 km on tarmac, my feet are aching. My face has turned red.
Tomorrow is a new day!

Fenders and side cowls.

The one at the far right is a Vespa "Bachetta", from 1949-1950, "conservata" as they say in Italy.

Lambretta B, around 1949. Also this one is "conservata" = not restored. working according to the vendor. Asking price was 2 800 euro.

Some Vespa engines...

A Benelli Scooter.

A faro basso for someone with skills, time and money.

Lambretta DL 200.

Late night at Imola autodromo

It's very hot here in Imola, at least for a Swede. The fair starts tomorrow but I had to check the area a bit. Quite a few vendors already in place. The earliest Vespa I saw was a cirka 1955 faro basso.
Also a Vespa GS is up for sale tomorrow.
The orange Vespa 50 Special belongs to a youngster attending an outdoor discoteque outside the autodromo. Tomorrow will be exciting!