Custom Creations: Lambretta Super Sprinter
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On the Open Day at the Rimini Lambretta Centre in Italy, Jesco met a true legend of the scooter scene: Alberto Ancillotti from Florence. His name is inextricably linked with one of the most spectacular Lambretta conversions of the 1960s - the Lambretta Super Sprinter, with which he set a world record in 1966. Marco, one of the owners of the Rimini Lambretta Centre, kindly made himself available as translator. Many thanks, Marco!
Back then, we travelled to Elvington, England, to a disused airport. On the runway, Ancillotti reached a breathtaking top speed of 172 km/h with his scooter - a mark that was anything but a matter of course in 1966. The record was set in the frame of a sprint race, where the aim was to reach maximum speed over a short distance.
Inspired by the motorbike
For his record attempt, Alberto made a conscious decision in favour of a Lambretta frame - and against a Vespa. The reason was clear: the Lambretta frame was more similar in design to a motorbike and offered greater stability than its Vespa counterpart. This laid the foundation for an uncompromising sprint machine.
The conversion of the Engine is particularly interesting from a technical point of view. Based on an original cylinder, it was completely modified, the transfer ducts extended and redesigned. The displacement was increased to 240 cc. Much of the work was done by hand: Ancillotti's father made Bushes, Gear Cogs and other parts himself - including the front sprocket. He passed this technical knowledge on to Alberto and his brother.
Due to the lack of a test bench, it was difficult to precisely quantify the performance at the time, but the end result was clear: 172 km/h on the straight - with a classic breaker ignition.
Exhaust as the key
Another highlight was the specially developed Exhaust. A Racing Exhaust was developed based on the original Lambretta exhaust. The Exhaust Manifold was newly developed and leads into the original box. This was enlarged to create more volume. The exhaust pipe was also redimensioned to adjust the back pressure. In principle, Ancillotti had developed an early box-type Exhaust that would only become established on the tuning scene 40 years later.
Alberto Ancillotti epitomises an era in which technical creativity, craftsmanship and a passion for racing came together. His Lambretta Super Sprinter is not only a piece of motorsport history, but also a symbol of the unlimited possibilities of customisation - in the spirit of Custom Creations.
