Overview of part of the Innocenti factory in Milan showing the immensity of the operations conducted there. The Lambro on the left and the small ant like people give some perspective. This is (I believe) a still from the film Mafioso which was filmed in and around the Lambretta factory.

A picture of me wandering through the ruins of the old Innocenti factory in the Lambrate area of Milan alongside an image of the complex during production. In the RH shot GP (dL) 150s roll off the line while finished models including J Ranges and Lambros await delivery to customers. In the LH shot I wonder how such a huge and important industrial complex could have been allowed to close. British Leyland's usual incompetence coupled with declining scooter sales, militant unions and government inaction.

Looking out from under the Auto Strada flyover which disects the old Innocenti factory site on a rare sunny November day in Milan. This is looking away from the city at one of only 2 of the major structures which still remain. This one is derelict whilst the Innse building next to it is alive and teeming with workers. I suspect this building is where Lambretta and Lambro assembly was done after the various parts were pressed, foundered and painted in other buildings which once stood behind where I am standing and now long gone.

This fabulous photo has appeared many times on the web but very few people seem to understand it's signifacance. Probably taken in 1968 during the final SX150 (not SX200 as many have claimed!) production, it appears to be a delegation being shown a new model. The photographer has no doubt been told not to get any of the new models details in shot but click on the photo to blow it up and you will see that it is the new dl or Grand Prix (in the UK, Australia etc) model.The bike they are looking at seems to have the tell tale square headlight and angled seat of a GP150 (as it is white and red) but look at bottom right behind the legshields of that SX - a pre production set of GP panel stripes is clear to be seen along with the black plastic tail lamp. A great moment in time shot of a group of people (probably importers from a foreign market) invited to the Innocenti factory to preview the new Lambretta model while in the background production of the new bikes continues, the Ochre Yellow of a GP200 clear to be seen.

Looking over the river Lambro towards the rear of the Centro Studi at the old Innocenti factory on a typically gloomy November day in Milano. Click on the photo to enlarge it and you can clearly see the name still on the back of the building. The one from the front is long gone as can be seen in the previous post. This building is in good condition, wouldn't it make a great place for a Lambretta Museum!?!? The building seems to be currently used as a construction site office for the apartment tower developments which are to the right of this shot and which cover most of the older part of the site closest to Lambrate FS and the centre of Milan.

One of the most interesting buildings still standing at the old Innocenti factory in the Lambrate area of Milan is the Centro Studi or Design Centre. Standing next to the River Lambro and facing towards Via Rubattino it is quite a lovely setting with the tree covered car park area out the front. The rear overlooks the Parco Maserati that was created when the freeway went through. Interesting that they called it Maserati (they built Maserati cars at the factory under DeTomaso's stewardship) and not Innocenti or Lambretta. History whitewashed again! The view was not so nice when the factory actually operated as shown in the model - the back of the Centro Studi overlooked the electricity sub station which furnished the plant with it's power needs.

Curved rail line running into the building closest to the Auto Strada at the Via Rubatino end. The location is circled in the model shot. I have never seen photos of the rail operations in action at the Innocenti factory but they must have been quite complex judging by the remaining evidence. If anyone has any photos of this rail infrastructure in action at the Lambretta factory I would love to see them!