Lambretta FA / 125F

Italian Production Dates: Prototype only 1947-48

The very first Lambretta three-wheeler, the FA never went into production but contrary to what has always been thought, at least three prototypes were produced, one for each type of body.

An original Innocenti design, to be precise one related to the spindle of the wheel, is dated 12/04/1947. This shows that the beginning of the design of the motor van "f" coincides with the first months of 1947 when the "M" Lambretta was about to be marketed.

On 29/04/1948, two FA were exhibited at the XXVI trade fair in Milan, one with a large open box and one with a closed box.

At the design level, there are at least four variants but traces remain only of 3.
The first project of which there are no original drawings, had a handlebar with double fold similar to that used many years later on the E scooter and had been prototyped in wood for the photographic shots to make the famous advertising leaflet.
The second project (original drawing of 20/02/1948) showed a complete revision of the handlebar, the conveyor for forced cooling, shorter footrests and a smaller saddle was added.

Finally, in the last known project (original drawing of 14/04/1948 with "experiment 4" highlighted) there are further changes to the footrests, the braking system and the saddle was now identical to the "A" third series scooter. In the latest project it is not clear about the gearbox mechanism but the dimensions are close to the FB model.

Another curiosity was the numbering of the chassis and engine in case it entered production. Specified in the original drawing of 3/09/1947, the numbering would have had a prefix Type 12 and the numbering would have started from the number 5001 "M" for the engine and "T" for the frame.

In 2016, Bruno Strigini, a life-long Lambretta enthusiast decided to start on an incredible project and recreate the FA. These are some of his words about the rebuild:

‘Before proceeding with the reconstruction, I designed all the components in common with the other Lambretta models. I had the engine, the top box, the rear fender and the rims available. Everything else had to be remade.

On a dimensional level the reconstructed model is very faithful to the Innocenti design, even though I have chosen some details of all three original versions. For example, the saddle is faithful to the first brochure and the handlebar to the second design. The reconstruction in working version took about three years of work.’

We think that Bruno has done incredible work with his research, designs and reconstruction of the very first Lambretta three-wheeler, and restored a piece of Innocenti history, previously lost to the past. There are so many questions about the history of Innocenti’s iconic three-wheeler and Bruno has helped answer some of the most important ones!

 

Pictures and Documents

Lambretta FB 125

Italian Production Dates: February 1949 - March 1950 Frame Prefix: Unknown The market for small utility vehicles was growing at the time Lambretta launched the FB 125. It was released shortly after the Lambretta B scooter. The third wheel allowed for a commercial box to be fitted at the front to enable the carriage of goods. The FB had a carrying capacity of around 200kg.

The rear of the three-wheeler utilised technology as used on the Model B Lambretta scooters which helped make these vehicles affordable to produce and to purchase. The B was available from Lambretta with a choice of front compartments; a closed aluminium box, a closed wooden box and an open box with wooden sides or as chassis only. As with the later models, many concessionaries and companies produced alternative bodies and adaptations.

 

Pictures and Documents

 

Lambretta FC

Italian Production Dates: November 1950 - October 1952
Frame Prefix: Unknown

The FC featured many improvements over its predecessor including a redesigned frame, rear suspension and a slightly wider wheelbase. Many mirroring the newly improved mechanics on the C and LC Lambretta scooters. The rear bodywork of the three-wheeler was of the C and the engine and cooling systems from the Lambretta LC. The FC retained the box and two wheels at the front of the vehicle with the single driving wheel on the back. The electrics remained at 6volt, as did the kinematic steering, teleflex gear cables and a 125cc engine. The independant suspension with tranverse leaf spring also continued in the FC.

Modifications included hydraulic brakes operating on all three wheels controlled via a foot pedal rather than cable and a brand new mechanical parking brake. The FC did not have a reverse gear.

Special Note: Thank you to Bruno Strigini for help with information, manuals and photos. This is Bruno's FC in the pictures. Without him this information would not be here for us to share! Thank you Bruno!

Technical Specifications

Overall Dimensions

Maximum Length:	2480mm	Ground Clearance:	140mm
Maximum width :	1200mm	Wheelbase:	1557mm
Maximum height:	1060mm	Track width:	1050mm

 

Frame

Frame	Central tube with 2 crosspieces welded for support of the box
Front suspension:	Parallelogram with traverse single leaf spring
Rear suspension:	Rear rocker box has a pair of helical springs in parallel.

 

Wheels and Brakes

Wheels	Interchangeable and easily removable wheels	Tyres:	4.00 x 8”
	Stamped sheet metal discs.
Brakes:.	Drum brakes. Hydraulically operated pedal on three wheels;	Tyre pressures at full load:	1.6kg/cm square
	Mechanically operated handbrake on front wheels.

 

Electrical Equipment

Lights powered by magnetic flywheel. Circuit powered with 2 coils at low voltage (headlight has two lights, rear light and position lights). Horn and low beam are powered by a 6-volt storage batteries Ah charged with the same magnetic wheel, with the assistance of a rectifier.

Horn: Electric, with control on the same switch as the lights.

Position	Bulb	Position	Bulb
Headlight	Headlight	Front Side Lights	6V 1.5W
	6V 3W (Dipped)	Rear Side Lights	6V 3W

Engine

Engine:	Single cylinder two stoke.	Carburettor	Dell’Orto M16C or Zenith type 18 MCT
Bore:	52mm	Choke:
Stroke:	58mm	Max. Jet:	65 (Dell'orto) or 80 (Zenith)
Capacity:	123cc
Output:	4.3CV at 4200 R.P.M.	Compression Ratio:	1:6

Start:	Pedal (sector gear, pinion and spring completely enclosed in a case applied to the motor)
Clutch:	Multi-disc type in oil bath
Gear Box:	Three speed
Total transmission ratios (Rear Wheel RPM/ENGINE RPM)	1st gear: 1/19
	2nd gear: 1/11
	3rd gear: 1/7
Transmission	From engine to gearbox: by gears with flexible coupling.
	From gearbox to rear axle: by hollow shaft with splined couplings and two flexible couplings

 

Performance

Dry Weight with box and spare wheel.	140kg	Min. Turning Radius:	3500mm
Useable length of Body	1090mm	Max Speed: 45km/h
Useable width of body	850mm	Tank Capacity: 5.6litres (plus 0.7litre reserve)
Carrying Capacity	200kg
Weight distribution: front wheels	270kg	Weight distribution: rear wheels	130kg

 

Pictures and Documents

 

Parts Manual and User Manual available SOON in our Downloads section.