The Lambretta SX, for Special X, was introduced in 1966 as the sporting flagship of the range. Built until 1969 with 150 and 200 cc engines, it is now, together with the TV, the most sought-after Lambretta of the 1960s.
Lambretta SX at a glance
| Maker | Innocenti, Milan, Italy |
|---|---|
| Name | Special X |
| SX 200 | 1966–1969 |
| SX 150 | 1966–1969 |
| Engines | 150 cc and 200 cc two-stroke |
| Body | enclosed |
| Reputation | most sought-after with the TV |
| Prototype link | the 1966 twin-cylinder prototype used SX 200 frames |
The SX has no article of its own; this page is based on the Innocenti Lambretta article in Italian Wikipedia.
History of the Lambretta SX
The SX appeared in 1966, when Innocenti was already selling the Li and the TV and was looking for a more sporting machine. Called the Special X, it was offered with a 200 cc engine and, in the X 150 Special, with a 150 cc unit; both were made until 1969.
The SX represented the performance end of the 1960s Lambretta range. Together with the TV, it is described today as the most desired of the period models, thanks to higher performance and a more refined look than the standard Li. Its chassis was also used for the most ambitious project of the Innocenti research department: between 1966 and 1967 the company developed a twin-cylinder 200 cc scooter, and the two running prototypes were built on SX 200 frames. They are now preserved at the scooter museum in Rodano, near Milan.
The SX was replaced at the top of the range by the GP in 1969. Innocenti closed its scooter production in 1971, and the following year the Milan machinery was sold to the Indian government for three billion lire, after which Scooters India Limited continued producing Lambretta-derived scooters.
Design and features
- Special X: the sporting 150 and 200 cc model of the late 1960s.
- Performance image: more powerful and more refined than the standard Li.
- Prototype basis: the twin-cylinder 200 prototypes were built on SX 200 frames.
- Collector favourite: one of the two most desirable 1960s Lambrettas.
Lambretta SX versions
- SX 200 (1966–1969): the 200 cc version.
- SX 150 / X 150 Special (1966–1969): the 150 cc version.
- Twin-cylinder prototypes (1966–1967): two experimental 200 cc twin-cylinder scooters on SX 200 frames.
The SX followed the TV as the sporting Lambretta and was replaced by the GP. More scooters are in the Lambretta collection.
Video: Lambretta SX 200
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Innocenti Lambretta, Italian Wikipedia: SX dates, model list, twin-cylinder prototypes
- Lambretta, English Wikipedia: end of production and sale to India
