NSU Lambretta & Prima
NSU Lambretta & Prima | |
Manufacturer | |
---|---|
Production | Lambretta 189 000 units / Prima 76 911 |
Engine | Single cylinder, 2 stroke |
Top Speed | 85 km/h / 52.8 mph |
Ignition | Battery, 12 V, carburetor |
Spark Plug | E3.32 |
Transmission | Three speed gearbox, with twist grip gear selection |
Frame | Rigid tubular steel frame, rubber mounted noise-isolated body |
Suspension | Rear: Swinging arm with dual coil springs and hydraulic telescopic shock absorber |
Weight | 123 kg / 271 lbs (dry), |
Manuals | Service Manual |
It could reach a top speed of 85 km/h / 52.8 mph.
Engine[edit | edit source]
The engine was a Air cooled with blower cooled Single cylinder, 2 stroke.
Drive[edit | edit source]
Power was moderated via the Multi plate.
Chassis[edit | edit source]
The bike weighed just 123 kg / 271 lbs.
Photos[edit | edit source]
Overview[edit | edit source]
NSU Lambretta and Prima
The motor scooter started to gain a foothold in post-war Germany. NSU responded fastest and presented the NSU Lambretta for the first time at the Frankfurt Trade Fair in 1950, built under licence from the Italian company Innocenti. The new NSU target group: women. With standard fuel consumption of 2 liters/100 km, the Lambretta enjoyed superb commercial success in Germany. 1100 scooters rolled off the production line in August 1951 alone.
The NSU Lambretta started life in 1950's, being made under
license in Neckarsulm, and between then and the time the production stopped in
1957, some 189,000 examples were turned out of the factory. Based on the 125cc
engine unit, early example were as Innocenti had designed, but soon the NSU
works modified the scooters with there own "extras".
The first model to receive this treatment was the NSU Luxury Lambretta, which
gained two tone paint, highly polished bits of ally on the rear side panels
(supposed to protect the side panels), a front bumper bar, and a parking light
that could be switched on directly on the "motor scooter dashboard".
NSU carried out studies of there owners, and tried to
convince manual workers that the NSU was not just a "rich daughters" or "white
collar worker" mode of transport. The PR department regularly brought out
statements relating to the NSU as car like in its controls and creature
comforts, in an effort to push up sales.
August 1954 saw a new "worked on" (by Neckarsulm) engine
of 150cc displacement, with the improved hp of 6.2ps, not just available at high
revs, but across the range. The new engine could manage, two up journeys in
first gear of inclines up to 31.5%, which made it manage most of the pass's in
he Alps.
The NSU Lambretta's name switched to NSU Prima in 1956,
for no other reason then the license with Innocenti expired, this was due to
Innocenti's strict control on export (NSU were the first to export Lambretta to
the USA!). Production of the NSU ceased in 1957, as the NSU works supposedly got
bored with scooters and switched slowly to other four wheeled products. Perhaps
it was the lack of factory support that persuaded the Germans to switch!
Make Model | NSU Lambretta / Prima (specifications for the Prima) |
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Year | 1950-57 |
Production | Lambretta 189 000 units / Prima 76 911 |
Engine Type | Single cylinder, 2 stroke |
Displacement | 150 cc / 7.6 cub in |
Bore X Stroke | 57 x 57.6 mm |
Cooling System | Air cooled with blower |
Lubrication | Oil bath |
Ignition | Battery, 12 V, carburetor |
Starting | Electric |
Spark Plug | E3.32 |
Exhaust System | Single exhaust |
Max Power | 4.6 kW / 6.2 hp @ 4500 rpm |
Clutch | Multi plate |
Transmission | Three speed gearbox, with twist grip gear selection |
Final Drive | Shaft |
Font Suspension | Bottom link suspension |
Rear Suspension | Swinging arm with dual coil springs and hydraulic telescopic shock absorber |
Frame | Rigid tubular steel frame, rubber mounted noise-isolated body |
Dimensions | Length 1905 mm / 75 in Width 686 mm / 27 in |
Ground Clearance | 140 mm / 5.5 in |
Wheels | 4.00 x 8 in |
Rear Brake | Drum |
Tank Capacity | 7.6/ 2 US gal |
Dry Weight | 123 kg / 271 lbs |
Average Consumption | 2.7 l/100 km / 37 km/l / 87 US mpg |
Top Speed | 85 km/h / 52.8 mph |
Colours | Jade Green, Mitro Red, Alpine Blue, Ebony/Black |
Source | audi.com |