Could this be the nicest Lambretta Starstream in the US? I certainly have not seen many that are nicer. I am personally not a big fan of the J-range, but this one is crazy clean.
I can say that from experience. I used to own a Lambretta "Super" Starstream as well as a "Cento". The Super Starstream looks pretty much the same as this one, but had a turning front mudguard. It was a pretty rare scooter... but it just wasn't very great. The J-range was trying to compete with the excellent Vespa smallframes, primarily, the Vespa 50. However, the Starstream could not hold a candle to the Vespa Primavera. The J-range vibrates like crazy, is much slower than the Vespa, and honestly just doesn't look as good. Sad really, because the other Lambrettas just look fabulous even when they are standing still. The J-range just missed the mark entirely. That is probably why the Vespa 50 sold millions and the J-range only thousands.
More info and photos below the jump...
Info from the seller:
I acquired this vintage scooter about six years ago, got it running and rode it as a rat bike for a few years. Then I tore it down, did a little engine work and a friend did the body and paint. I gave it a new wiring harness, body rubber, seat cover and the other bits that one usually does with a restoration. I also had the original exhaust tanked and ceramic coated.It runs like a champ and was my daily driver before the restoration. It still could be but now it's so damn nice I don't want to ride it in the rain! It has been back on the road for almost two years. None of my motorbikes are garage queens. They all get real road miles, including this one. As such, the paint no longer perfect but there aren't any serious issues--you don't notice them unless someone pointed them out to you.
More from the seller:
The finish was cut & buffed and shines like a mirror--no orange peel anywhere on this scooter. The custom pinstriping, done by West Coast legend Mitch Kim, sets the whole thing off perfectly. Note the pinstripes on things like the rims and forks as well as the color coordinating striping between the color blocks. Beautiful! The black cherry (burgundy) has a wee bit of fine metal flake in it. When the sun hits it the glow is absolutely stunning. I bought the NOS J50 Deluxe side panels about a year after the scooter itself.
Gee you're so lucky. It's so hard in Australia to get parts for Lammies. They were so popular here in the Mod revival in the early 80s but then the only garage that handled them shut down and after that it's Vespas only! Mind you there was a gorgeous Lambretta show at a Museum here in Sydney on the weekend and it was awesome...