Paul Green reflects on why Lambretta means so much to him. In this article for Scootering Magazine, he explores the history, the attitude and the culture built around the Lambretta.
Opening Reflection
Keep going. Keep riding. Keep showing up, even when it’s raining, your clutch cable’s snapped and your tent’s leaking.
I was talking to a friend a couple of weeks ago about his car. It’s a Maserati (!), which he described as being ‘more than just a car’.
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There’s something about the Lambretta that feels ‘more than just a scooter’ to me. It’s not just the lines, the chrome or the way it leans into a corner on track. It’s the history, the attitude and the culture that’s been built around it. For many of us, the Lambretta has never been just a mode of transport. It’s a statement. A lifestyle. A badge of honour.
First Encounters
I remember the first time I saw one up close. I must’ve been about 16 and had been to see Quadrophenia. Loitering around outside the cinema, I clocked a metallic brown Lambretta with chrome side panels. With his parka, Hush Puppies and an unmistakable air that said: “I’ve been places, kid,” the guy riding it looked like he’d stepped out of a Quadrophenia poster!
Origins and Cultural Adoption
Lambretta, of course, wasn’t born in the UK. It came from post-war Italy, a product of industrial necessity and a desire to get people moving again. But when it landed on British shores, it found a second home. Mods in the 60s took one look at the sleek lines and thought: “Yes, that’ll do nicely.” And just like that, the Lambretta became part of the British cultural fabric.
It wasn’t just about getting from A to B. It was about ‘how’ you got there. Parked outside a cafe, or outside the pub, lined up at a rally or screaming down a dual carriageway, the Lambretta always looked the part to me. And it still does. I went through a variety of styles, from Mod scooter to custom paint through to street racer, but the feeling never changed. They’ll always be a part of my life.
Nostalgia, Identity and Community
People often say the scooter scene is built on nostalgia. And sure, there’s a bit of truth in that. We do love a good throwback. But it’s more than that. It’s about identity. About community. About shared stories and muddy fields and breakdowns on the A1 that somehow become the best part of the weekend. The Lambretta is central to that. It’s the machine that brings us together, whether we’re polishing it in the garage, racing it on the track or just talking about the one we shouldn’t have sold back in ’94.
Built to Be Ridden
One of the things I love most about Lambrettas is that they’re not just showpieces. They’re meant to be ridden. Sure, there are some pristine examples that only come out for custom shows, but the real heart of the scene is in the riders who still take them out in all weathers, who still do the miles, who still get their hands dirty keeping them on the road.
I’ve seen pensioners kick over a tuned TS1 and blast off like they’re late for a date with 1983. I’ve seen teenagers, barely old enough to ride, grinning from ear to ear as they take their first spin on a GP. That’s the magic. It spans generations. It doesn’t matter how old you are, just that you ‘get it’.
A Living Culture
There’s always talk about the scene dying out. That young people aren’t interested. That it’s just old blokes reliving their youth. But then you go to a rally, or a race meet, or even just a Sunday rideout, and you see the truth. The culture is still alive. It’s just evolving.
If there’s one thing the Lambretta teaches us, it’s resilience. These machines weren’t built to last 60 years, but they have. They weren’t designed to be raced, or customised, or ridden across Europe, but they are being. They’ve been crashed, rebuilt, tuned, painted and loved. And they just keep going.
Keep Going
Maybe that’s the lesson. Keep going. Keep riding. Keep showing up, even when it’s raining, your clutch cable’s snapped and your tent’s leaking. Because that’s what makes the scene what it is. Not just the scooters… but the people who ride them.
So next time you see a Lambretta, give it a nod. And if you’re lucky enough to own one, take it out for a spin. Remind yourself why you fell in love with it in the first place. Because in a world that’s always changing, the Lambretta is a reminder that some things are worth holding on to.
Article appeared in Scootering Magazine October 2025 issue. To subscribe and grab £99 worth of freebies visit https://classicmagazines.co.uk/scootering?offer=SCOME2026
