Original image by Gildos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
What is the Lambretta Luna?
First introduced in 1968, the Lambretta Luna is one of the most unique scooters that Innocenti put out – something which says a lot, considering that they once made a scooter with two handlebars.
Designed by Giuppo Bertone, who also designed the DL/GP models, Luna’s design was much different from the scooters that came before it.
Just take a look a the GT 200 model below:
It looks pretty bulky, doesn’t it? Well, the Lambretta Luna’s design, with its smaller frame and emphasis on minimalism, was a stark contrast to that.
And with the space race to the moon being on, it only made sense to give the model the name “Luna” (literally meaning “Moon” in Italian).
Fun trivia
The Luna was only known as the “Luna” outside of Italy – the versions made for the Italian market got the name “Lui.”
To attract the young people the Luna was aimed towards, Innocenti advertised it not just in magazines but even in textbooks used in Italian schools.
Despite its stunning design, the Luna wasn’t the success that Innocenti was hoping for, largely because of an economic downturn that hit the Italian motorcycle industry hard.
Just two years later, in 1970, the last Luna rolled off the assembly line. And then, the following year, Innocenti ceased all scooter manufacturing.
3 Different Versions of the Lambretta Luna
50 C
As the base model of the Luna/Lui range, the 50 C had a short seat and a pair of handlebars similar to those found on a bicycle.
Furthermore, instead of a speedometer, it had a blanking plate.
Not that a speedometer would have mattered because with the 50 C’s 50cc engine and a 12mm carburetor, it only had a top speed of about 40 km/h (25 mph).
50 CL
The 50CL is the luxury model of the Luna range, although the engine was nearly identical to the base 50 C model. The only major things that separated the two versions were:
- A properly integrated headset
- Chromed rear light
Although a few 50 CLs made it to the UK, they were never imported at a more grand scale.
50 S
Made solely as an export model, which featured, among other things:
- A more extended seat (the same kind found on the later Vega models)
- An unswept exhaust pipe
Certain models that were exported to Scandinavia even had longer mudguards fitted at the front.
75 S (Vega)
The Lui 75 S was unveiled at the 1968 Tokyo Motor Show, where Innocenti was the only European company present.
This time, the engine size had been increased from 50 to 75cc, and a new 20mm carburetor had been fitted.
This meant that it was now possible for the scooter to 82 km/h (51 miles per hour).
And unlike the previous Luna models, this one was imported to the UK.
Although at one point, the Lambretta Concessionaires (the importers of Innocenti products to the UK) could not keep up with demand, especially when the Luna became popular for competition.
In fact, a modified version of the Vega holds the honor of being entered in the 1970 Welsh Two Days Trial – being the only one for that event.
75 SL (Cometa)
While the 75 SL (also known as the “Cometa”) is essentially identical to the Vega’s bodywork and engine, it also has a groundbreaking feature.
This innovative feature was an automatic oil injection system – something no Italian motorcycle or scooter maker had done before.
Known as the “Lubematic,” it ensured the oil could be delivered straight to the inlet port via the crankshaft and either increase or decrease the amount based on how much the rider rolled on or off the throttle.
Innocenti’s own advertising described the Cometa’s Lubematic like this:
“the Cometa has the space age sophistication of an oil-injection system which operates automatically from two separate tanks, one pure petrol [gasoline] – one pure oil”
Read More About the Lambretta Luna/Lui:
- Lambretta.com
- ScooterCentral.com
- Casalambretta.us
-
Davies, P. (2017). The Lambretta Bible: Covers All Lambretta Models Built in Italy: 1947-1971 (4th ed.). Veloce Publishing.
