The Lambretta Bible

You cannot help but think a book with such a title is only for the real enthusiast, but here you would be wrong, there is lot more behind this book.

Yes anybody who wants to know just about everything there is to know about the Italian Lambretta's built between 1947 and 1971 cannot afford to be without it. At the rear you can get carb settings, gear ratios, frame numbers, colour schemes, the DNA of these bikes is literally all there.

Given that it has been written by Pete Davies, who was the vehicle registrar for the Lambretta Club and is now running the British Lambretta Archive in the UK, you would expect nothing less!

But, this hardback is much more than a Lambretta anoraks dream; it is a rattling good read. I picked it up to thumb through it and suddenly realised two hours had disappeared. This has got something to do with the way the text is given in each chapter on the specific models.

First you get the information on the model including the price when new. Then you get the production changes and this is then followed up by a ‘Did you know?’ section that has some fascinating facts about the model. Lastly there is information on ‘What the tester said!’ at the time in the various press reviews which really helps bring it all alive.

The text is well spaced and clearly readable in amongst some excellent period black and white images and modern shots colour plates of restored bikes. Add in some advertising brochures, the odd line drawing and some sport, all pulled together by an easy going writing style and you have something well worth reading. Whatever your particular interest in two wheels you are guaranteed to learn something!

The author Davies and Veloce the publisher have done an excellent job over 160 pages and it is well worth £29.99, both as a definitive reference work, as well as a good general read.

Available from all good bookshops or direct from Veloce (plus p&p) www.veloce.co.uk or infor@veloce.co.uk ISBN 978 184584 086 0

Review by Ian Kerr