The Lambretta J was the Junior range introduced in 1964 to sell small, simple scooters to younger riders. Built as the J50 and J125 until the end of Innocenti scooter production in 1971, it was one of the last families of Milanese Lambrettas.
Lambretta J at a glance
| Maker | Innocenti, Milan, Italy |
|---|---|
| Junior 50 | 1964–1971 |
| Junior 125 | 1964–1969 |
| Engines | 50 cc and 125 cc two-stroke |
| Body | enclosed |
| Also built in India | J50, by Scooters India Limited |
| End of production | 1971, with the rest of the range |
The J range has no article of its own; this page is based on the Innocenti Lambretta article in Italian Wikipedia.
History of the Lambretta J
By the early 1960s the scooter market was changing. Innocenti already offered the Li and the sporting TV, and in 1964 it added a smaller range called the Junior, built as the J50 and the J125. The idea was to offer a lighter and cheaper Lambretta for young riders and for towns where a 125 was more than the buyer needed.
The Junior 50 stayed in production from 1964 until 1971, while the Junior 125 was made until 1969. Both used the enclosed bodywork that had become standard on Lambrettas since 1957. The J range sat alongside the LUI, the small Lambretta that kept an open body: the LUI was the exception to the rule that every Lambretta after 1957 had closed panelling.
The Junior was among the models still on the price list when Innocenti ended scooter production in the middle of 1971. The Milan factory then sold its scooter machinery to the Indian government, and Scooters India Limited continued to build the J50, together with the DL and GP, for many years.
Design and features
- Junior range: a small and cheap Lambretta for young riders.
- Two sizes: the 50 cc J50 and the 125 cc J125.
- Enclosed body: the family followed the post-1957 panelled style.
- Long afterlife: the J50 was among the models built in India after 1972.
Lambretta J versions
- Junior 50 (1964–1971): the small-capacity version.
- Junior 125 (1964–1969): the larger version of the same range.
- Indian J50: built by Scooters India Limited after the sale of the Milan machinery.
The J was the small alternative to the Li and the SX. More scooters are in the Lambretta collection.
Video: Lambretta j 50 2
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Innocenti Lambretta, Italian Wikipedia: Junior dates and Indian production
- Lambretta, English Wikipedia: end of Milan production and sale to India
