TV1

Milan was introduced the new ’slimstyle’ series in April 1957. Introduced to compete with Vespa’s G.S. in terms of both style and performance, the T.V. was a huge step in styling and engineering to its predecessors. The new TV boasted curvey lines, the front mudguard was fixed and didn’t turn with the handlebars as all previous models had. The shapley TV panels had slots at the front which helped to assist in cooling, ansd the rear passenger floor boards continued the flowing lines down towards the rear of the scooter. The rear light on the TV sported a red lens, and two round orange lenses on either side for the brake lights, The headlight unit was positioned in the same place as the earlier LD models, cast into the horn casting. A 70mph speedo was fitted as standard on the handlebar casting which also housed a steering lock and key ignition switch. The brake a clutch lever supports were polished alloy, and had a thumb wheel adjuster cast for adjusting the cables. Later on purportedly for reasons of people looking at the TV1 while the owner had parked it, people would often fiddle with the adjusters, so when the owner returned the brakes and or clutch had been altered, so Innocenti stopped using the adjusters. At first, they still cast the shape of the adjuster into the handlebars, but it was solid, and then later they dropped this altogether and the casting was just smooth. Larger 10 inch wheels were fitted for increased comfort and stability, along with newly designed trailing link with internal springs front suspension, and external dampers. At the rear, a hydraulic shock absorber unit which allowed the engine to swivel on its silent blocks
The TV also boasted a completely new design in engine. The power unit was now 175cc (bigger than Vespa’s 150cc GS) and a claimed horsepower of of 8.6 or 9.0 gave the T.V a good turn of acceleration as well as a top speed of 64mph despite its bulk and width of the new leg shields. The largest carburettor ever used on a standard Lambretta was to be seen on the T.V. at 23mm and the longest stroke at 60mm. The barrel assembly now was in line with the rest of the engine, horizontal instead of the earlier upright position, and with a bore of 60mm, Innocenti had made a machine with the ‘magic’ square and bore configuration, preferred by the tuners of that time. Gone was the shaft drive as used on all previous models, to be replaced by a duplex chain. The cylinder faced forward, and again for the first time was horizontal.
More new features included larger 3.50 * 10 wheels, gave an undreamt of handling and comfort. A new four speed gearbox, complex kick start mechanism, air intake via the the frame tube with the air filter featuring a diaphragm to smooth the air flow, and floor mats instead of ‘runners’ were other additions to the new range of Lambretta’s. The badging on the TV wore long “Lambretta embellisher” to the bottom of the panels, and a large TV175 bolt on badge beneath, either side as well. An Innocenti crested badge, with chrome surround was in the centre of the horn casting. On the leg shields was fitted a thin chrome Lambretta badge, with the TV175 model badge beneath it, again chromed. UK models also gained a round brass badge, with the St Georges dragon on it. All body rubbers and trim were grey, along with the control cables, except for the following :- The stand feet and kick start rubber were black, the rear light body gasket was white.