For our Italian readers, of which there are quite a few. This document from http://ordinearchitetti.mi.it/index.php/page,Milanochecambia.AreaCronologia/aree_id,33 goes some way to expaining the strange goings on at the old Innocenti Lambretta factory in the Lambrate area of Milan. It looks like the long promised real estate development fell foul of the GFC and that is why Innse suddenly re-appeared at the site last year under the stewardship of Camozzi Group. The owners of the development company Rubbatino 87 ran out of money and either sold or leased the old Innse building back to Innse. There is also another park planned for the site as part of the "Metrobosco" or metropolitan bushland park that is supposed to ring the city. It will be called Parco Lambretta if it ever gets done. Finally some recognition of the history of the site.

It is amazing how the legend of Innocenti and Lambretta have been wiped from memory at the old factory site in the Lambrate area of Milan. The park in the middle of the old site is called Parco Maserati and the Piazza on the site is called Piazza Vigili del Fuoco (Firefighters Square). However there is one place where they pay homage to the mythical product of Innocenti. In the middle of the Piazza sits the Bar il Lambrettino. Sharing its name with a creek which ran though the factory which was used by Innocenti as the moniker for some of it's mopeds this is a great little bar to drop in on if you are walking around the site. Of course being in Europe you can even get beer on tap in this little Cafe.

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.