Rare and Beautiful Italian Scooters That Time Forgot (Part 1)

Scooter Relics - Italy, often affectionately dubbed "The Spaghetti Country," is not only renowned for its cuisine but also as the birthplace of some of the world’s most beautiful and iconic scooters. After World War II, the two-wheeled vehicle market in Italy flourished, giving rise to numerous scooter manufacturers. Among the most prominent were Piaggio, with its legendary Vespa, and Innocenti, the maker of Lambretta.

The scooters atmosphere in Rome around the 1950s in William Klein's camera shots. (Picture from: RTVE.es)

Beyond these giants, several other Italian brands also contributed to the rich scooter legacy, including Ducati, Moto Rumi, Carnielli Vittoria, MV Agusta, and more, also played a role in intensifying the scooter market competition during that period. Many of these manufacturers produced high-quality machines—often even superior to Vespa and Lambretta—but at a higher price point, making it difficult to compete in the global market. As a result, many of these brands eventually faded away. 😢 

 

Let’s take a look back at a few Italian scooter brands that once added charm and character to the world scooter scene during the 1950s:

1. Bianchi

Bianchi, one of Italy’s oldest motorcycle manufacturers, was founded by Edoardo Bianchi in Milan in 1885, originally as a bicycle company. One of their scooter models, the Bianchi Orsetto, featured a tubular frame, a steel body, a short wheelbase, and small wheels—powered by a modest 80cc engine.

1962 Bianchi Orsetto. (Picture from: Instazu)

Bianchi began research for scooter production in August 1959, and the Orsetto debuted at the 1960 Milan Trade Fair. However, due to a financial crisis, production ceased by 1962. 😢 In the UK, the Orsetto was known as the Raleigh Roma, produced under license by the well-known bicycle company Raleigh from 1961 to 1964.

2. Gianca

Based in Monza, Gianca was one of the earliest Italian scooter companies, despite the region’s limited motorcycle industry activity. Their only product, the Nibbio 100, was developed in 1947—predating Lambretta.

1946 Gianca Nibbio 100 at the 2017 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. (Picture from: Prova.de)

Designed by engineer Scarpa, the Nibbio 100 had a 98cc two-stroke engine mounted on a tubular chassis, similar in design to what would later be seen in Lambrettas. Gianca hoped the Nibbio would rival the Vespa and other contemporaries, but by 1949, despite heavy marketing, it failed commercially. The company soon shut down, selling the project to San Christoforo of Milan.

1946 Gianca Nibbio 100 at the 2017 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. (Picture from: Moto-collection.org)

San Christoforo upgraded the design, including a 125cc engine with disc valves and cosmetic changes, yet the scooter again failed to catch on. In 1952, the final iteration—named Simonetta—was even built in France under the name Ravat, but the effort ultimately ended in bankruptcy.😢

3. Toscan
The Toscan scooter emerged around the same time as the Nibbio 100, in 1949, from Tuscany. Only two examples were ever produced, both nearly identical.

1949 Toscan 98 cc scooter. (Picture from: Stablicar.over-blog)

As noted in Scooters Made in Italy by Vittorio Tessera, the Toscan scooters shared similarities with the Nibbio 100: both were hand-assembled and powered by a 98cc two-stroke engine. The manufacturer remains unknown. (If you have more information, please share!)

4. Tunin Prina 

Founded by Antonio Prina shortly after WWII, Tunin Prina transitioned from bicycle production to scooters. Their standout model was the Prina Orix 175 GL (Gran Lusso), launched in 1951 and marketed as "Il gioiello degli scooter" (The Jewel of Scooters).

1951 Prina Orix 175GL at the 2017 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. (Picture from: Prova.de)

This luxurious model featured motorcycle-style large-diameter wheels, a rigid steel single-beam frame, futuristic styling, and generous chrome detailing. It was powered by a 175cc JLO 2-stroke engine with 8.1 hp and a 4-speed manual gearbox.

1951 Prina Orix 175GL at the 2017 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. (Picture from: Motociclismo.it)

Priced at 265,000 Lire in 1952—much higher than the Lambretta (166,000) and Vespa (150,000)—the Orix was beautiful but unaffordable for the mass market. Though it failed commercially, it is now a prized collector’s item.

5. SAI Ambrosini

The Freccia Azzurra scooter was designed by engineer Giuseppe Del Bianco, initially equipped with a 125cc Puch split single engine and a 3-speed gearbox. It also featured telescopic forks for improved handling.

1952 SAI Ambrosini or Freccia Azzura scooter at the 2017 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. (Picture from: Prova.de)

Debuting at the 1951 Milan Show, financial issues led to a partnership with Ambrosini of Passignano, who took over production. This scooter is therefore also known as the Ambrosini scooter.

1952 SAI Ambrosini or Freccia Azzura scooter. (Picture from: Instazu)

In 1952, the model was upgraded with a 142cc Sachs engine and a 4-speed transmission. Aimed at the premium market, it was priced nearly twice as much as comparable Vespas and Lambrettas, which limited its success despite its technical merit. (Wanna see the next part.)

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA [05112019] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SCOOTERHOOD | WOIWEB | PROVA MAGAZIN  | MALAGUTI | MOTOCICLISMO | MOTOPARILLA | MOTORCYCLE CLASSICS]

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