The Lambretta People

Introduced to Britain in the late 1940s, the Lambretta was an unknown quantity, with most critics labelling it as a quick fad. There were those who thought different and, despite early struggles, slowly but surely, began to make it a success. By 1960, the machine from Milan had become the biggest two-wheeled selling vehicle in the country. It didn't stop there; no longer was it just a means of transport as a vast owner's club grew to make the Lambretta a lifestyle choice. None of it could have happened without a dedicated group of individuals who were determined to succeed while at the same time allowing the company that sold it to create a huge empire. From building racing cars with Bruce McLaren and venturing into formula one. To making Suzuki GB the leading motorcycle manufacturer in Britain with a successful racing team that moulded Barry Sheene into a future world champion. The Lambretta was a machine like no other and was responsible in many ways for changing the automotive industry in Britain. Those that made it happen for the first time tell their story of how it all came about, the success, the failures, and the controversy; they are the Lambretta people.