The Lambro was the commercial arm of the Lambretta idea: a light three-wheeler with a small load box, built on scooter mechanics. Innocenti made a range of them from 1963 to 1972, and in India the same vehicles were produced under the Vikram name.
Lambretta Lambro at a glance
| Maker | Innocenti, Milan, Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | light commercial three-wheeler |
| Lambro 200 | 1963–1965 |
| Lambro 450 | 1965–1967 |
| Lambro 550 | 1965–1967 |
| Lambro 550N | 1967–1969 |
| Lambro 550A and 550L | 1968–1969 |
| Lambro 600M, 600V and 600ML | 1970–1972 |
| Tri Lambretta | 1970 |
| Indian version | Vikram, by Scooters India Limited |
The Lambro range is covered by the model list of the Italian Wikipedia article; this page is based on that list and on the English brand article.
History of the Lambretta Lambro
Innocenti had built light commercial three-wheelers almost from the start of scooter production, using the Lambretta engine and front end under a simple cab with a load box behind. These vehicles were initially sold under the Lambretta name as well, and only later received their own name, Lambro, taken from the river that gave the scooter its name.
The named Lambro range began with the Lambro 200 of 1963–1965. It grew steadily: the 450 and 550 arrived in 1965, the 550N in 1967, the 550A and 550L in 1968, and a group of 550 variants in 1969. In 1970 Innocenti added the Tri Lambretta and the 600M, 600V and 600ML, which stayed in production until 1972, after the scooter line itself had closed.
The Lambro had a long life outside Italy. When the Indian government bought the Milan machinery in 1972, Scooters India Limited continued to build Lambro three-wheelers for the domestic market under the name Vikram, just as it continued the scooters.
Design and features
- Scooter mechanics: the Lambro used the Lambretta two-stroke engine and front suspension.
- Load carrier: a small commercial three-wheeler for traders and small deliveries.
- Wide range: from the 200 of 1963 to the 600 models of 1970–1972.
- Indian Vikram: the same vehicle was built in India after 1972.
Lambretta Lambro versions
- Lambro 200 (1963–1965): the first model of the named range.
- Lambro 450 and 550 (1965–1967): larger versions.
- Lambro 550N, 550A, 550L and 550M/V/ML (1967–1969): the many variants of the 550.
- Lambro 600M, 600V and 600ML (1970–1972): the final range.
- Vikram: the Indian-built version.
The Lambro grew out of the early FC and FD three-wheelers and shared its mechanics with the Li. More vehicles are in the Lambretta collection.
Sources
- Innocenti Lambretta, Italian Wikipedia: Lambro model list and origin of the name
- Lambretta, English Wikipedia: Indian production as the Vikram
