The engine

The engine is out!

I have begun stripping components ready for vapour blasting (This is a process like sand-blasting but rather than sand, a high-pressure mixture of water and crushed walnut shells is used because it doesn't damage the dimensions of the component) 

The internals of the engine are very clean, there is some slight wear on the kickstart gear which is to be expected. But other than that everything else is in very good condition and very clean around the cylinder.

The engine will get new gaskets and a new full exhaust system, keeping it original as possible.

Strip tease

 So we've started stripping the Lambretta, here's a few pictures of our progress..

It's been going well, currently still taking all the panels back to bare metal and cleaning everything up. Danny is doing most of the manual work, but Olivia did have a go at paint-stripping, she is mostly doing the organising side of things. 

Here are the fuel tank and a side-panel looking shiny, back to bare metal and ready for etch-primer..

Here is the bare frame, 95% stripped. 

Once everything is 100% stripped to bare metal we can begin prepping everything for filling, flatting and painting.

The lamb

This is the Lambretta as we bought it from an Italian Lambretta dealer. She is a 1962 LI125, early series 3, the engine already runs. So the things that need doing are: breaks need overhauling, stripped of all it's parts, new paintwork, new chrome parts, rubber seals, some light welding, new exhaust, re-wiring, new tyres, engine needs vapour blasting and then it will be put back together!

Chapter 1

Hello, We are Olivia and Danny and we've just bought a 1962 Lambretta LI125, we're starting this blog to share our restoration project with whoever's interested!

Danny works for a classic restoration company specialising in Rolls Royce and Bentley motors (CRS in Chichester) and Olivia is a Design student at Falmouth University, we both have an interest in vintage design, making things and upcycling.

We recently travelled to Croatia and rode around the islands on a hired scooter, it was so fun and relaxing, it inspired us to purchase a beat-up Lambretta and restore it as an affordable project and investment. With Danny's experience and resources and Olivia's financial/organisation skills it should be a breeze!