Lambretta TV 175
Series 1
On April 10, 1957, the first Lambretta TV 'Turismo Veloce' 175 was presented to the public. The aim was to stand up to Piaggio, who had admittedly produced an epoch-making success with the Vespa GS 150. The Tourismo Veloce is a major step forward for Innocenti in terms of both innovative styling and performance.
Unlike the previous models, the front mudguard was rigidly attached to the body and no longer rotated. The elegant side hoods had air intakes to aid cooling. The rear running boards echo the flowing lines of the scooter. The front headlight is recessed into the cascade, as on the earlier LD models. A real highlight is the rear light of the TV, with its red reflector and the two round orange lenses for the rear light.
The speedometer in the handlebars, which reaches up to 120 km/h, is standard. The same applies to the clutch and brake levers, which are equipped with adjusters for readjustment. Unfortunately, these disappeared in the course of production. The chassis breaks new ground with larger, 10-inch tires for increased comfort and directional stability. The suspension solution with internal springs in the fork and a rear hydraulic shock absorber was retained up to Series 3. The solution with the separate rear shock absorber allows the engine to be lowered in order to carry out service work on the cylinder. The exhaust has a union nut, which unfortunately is no longer found on any Innocenti moped.
The TV not only introduced a completely new engine, it was also the first model with additional front shock absorbers. The advantage over the GS 150 was 15 cc in displacement and 8.6 or 9.0 hp (depending on the source) and allowed the TV to accelerate considerably and reach a respectable top speed of 102 km/h. Both the 23 mm carburetor and the crankshaft with 60 mm stroke set Innocenti records in terms of dimensions. The cylinder with a bore of 60 mm is now horizontal and no longer upright like its predecessors. The drive is also no longer via the cardan drive, but via an internal duplex chain. The TV has an air intake for the carburetor through the frame (also known as a framebreather) and floor mats instead of treadplates. All rubber parts and cables are gray. But no rule is without exception: the kickstand feet and the kickstarter rubber are black, the seal under the rear light is white. After 10,086 units were built, the Lambretta TV 175 (Series 1) was discontinued in October.
The TV Series 1 was Innocenti's flagship model and unfortunately had a few teething troubles that were carried over into production and were noticeable in operation. Today, you can hear stories in the pizzeria about container loads of TVs that were dumped in the sea off Sicily. It represents a milestone in Innocenti's company history. It is the link between the A to F models and all subsequent Lambrettas in the Li family. With over 150,000 units built, the Series 1 is a great commercial success for Innocenti.
TV - 1st version
(September 1957 to April 1958)
The horn grille cannot be unscrewed from the cascade. The first 1800 models have brake and clutch levers on which the cable play can be adjusted.
TV - 2nd version
(May 1958 to July 1958)
Horn grille and cascade are two parts. The roller bearing in the maghousing is replaced by a roller bearing. The stand splash plate is introduced. The nut of the rear brake drum gets an additional lock washer.
TV - 3rd version
(August 1958 to December 1958)
The adjustable brake and clutch levers are removed.
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