Colors

I've been planning my colors. A lot of ideas have been tossed around, but at least one of our Lambrettas needs to be red and white. I found PPG paint codes for original Lambretta colors and decided on New White and Coral Red. TV200's came in New White with several different color options on the sidepanels including Coral Red. Unfortunately after getting the paint mixed, I saw that Coral Red is even more orange than I expected. It's also very close to the red used on Ming's TV200 and I don't want our scooters to copy him.

I then decided on 2009 BMW Melboune Red which is much darker with a bit of pearl in just the right light. It goes very well with the New White.

Here's a possible colorway. The light gray represents chrome.

Way back when, in the mid 1980’s I got a my first scooter. All my friends had Vespas but this was something different. For $300 I got a 1965 Lambretta TV200 in original condition. I quickly rattlecanned it red and white and rode it all the time. It had a host of Lambretta and TV related problems that I slowly learned about over a few years. Some issues were fixed, some never got fixed. Eventually it got a nice paintjob with real materials and a tuned cylinder, 30mm Dellorto carb, and Fresco expansion chamber. A photographer named Mark Rabiner took pictures of a bunch of us around 1986. Here's his shot of me back in the day.

After a few years, I sold it to someone in California. Big mistake. I went through a series of other Lambrettas and a few Vespas. I had a Series 1 Li125 with a Dave Webster tuned 190 motor, a Series 3 Li125 with the same motor (damn that was fast), a P200E, a J100 Cento, a Primavera, a GS160, a 1966 SX200, another GS160, and a TV175, plus several others that I can't remember. But my favorite was always that damn TV200.

Twentysomething years later I bought a 1965 Lambretta TV200 in pieces from Craig through LCUSA that is in far from original condition. The body is in great shape but the silver paint could use a little updating. Several of the bits are chromed. This isn’t the coolest thing right now but I can appreciate the 80’s aesthetic. I’m keeping the chrome and embracing the era. The motor needs a full rebuild, but at least it’s original. Being a basketcase, there is a host of missing parts, but all the important stuff is there. The plan is to build up a scooter similar to my original TV200, but with a higher quality build that I was never able to afford back then. A standard red and white two tone with chrome bits and a slightly tuned engine. I’ll be using a mildly ported GP cylinder bored out to 225cc, a 28mm BGM PWK carb, and a PM expansion chamber. 12V electronic ignition is also a must. It won't be fully stock or original, but I don't think this particular one really should be.