History
Lambretta LD 150cc with a Tilbrook Tom Thumb Sidecar
Here we have an unrestored 1957 Lambretta LD150 which is said to be the only one with its unique original Australian Tom Thumb Tilbrook sidecar fitted since new in 1957.
This Lambretta and Tilbrook Sidecar was originally sold new in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. It was used for 3 years and traded back into the same original dealer where it was originally purchased from. The gentleman who owned the dealer kept the Lambretta for just under 40 years where his wife rode around the sugar cane farms on it using it for grocery shopping etc. The original dealer retired and then opened a museum where he had the bike cleaned up with a 'blow-over' paint job in some parts using the same original colours. There it sat in the museum alongside the Nortons, BSA's, Rolls Royces and the old period gramophones!
The entire museum collection was sold off and the 3rd owner bought the Lambretta in about 2001 and kept the bike till 2011 where it sat in his shed with very little use during the 10 years he owned the scooter. In March 2011 the owner was said to say " I cleaned out the tank and took her for a ride around the block a few times and everything was just fine and working like the day I bought it". In 2011 the Lambretta was sold to the 4th owner who is believed to have been an active member of the Lambretta Club of Australia. In 2015 it was sold and brought down to Melbourne retaining its originality and now enjoyed by its current owner.
As this Lambretta is a 1957/58 model it never had a brake light switch fitted. In collecting the history of this unique bike it has been noted by previous owners that there is NOT ONE reproduction part on the entire bike apart from the tyres for roadworthiness of course. This bike also retains the original cables which still have the factory grease nipples! There is no aftermarket Italian, Indian or Vietnamese parts fitted on this bike which truly makes it very unique considering its age. You will note there is slight crease damage to the front leg shield where the wife had hit something small but it has been left without any major repair as to retain its originality.
The bike has just over 23,000 miles on its original speedo and the odometer is still working so i can confirm its accuracy. When i purchased the bike the spare tyre was confirmed as being the original Pirelli tyre with the hub cap accessory fitted.
The sidecar, which was fitted new, is made by Tilbrook of Adelaide, and it is understood to be a one off piece as there were several made of the “Tom Thumb” type models but no record of this type. Most would know a windscreen and chair could have been fitted for those gain enough to fit into the side car but the cart was never used for this purpose. The tonneau cover is still the original cover.
The overall history and maker of the Tilbrook sidcarts was Rex Patterson Tilbrook.
Back in Adelaide, Rex Tilbrook’s skills were utilised by the war effort in the munitions industry, but when peace returned Rex’s mind once again swung to making motorcycles. In a shed in the back yard of his home in the Adelaide suburb of Kensington Park, he produced the first in a long line of accessories . By 1947 business was ticking over sufficiently for him to expand to a proper workshop in the same suburb, where he produced a greater range of motorcycle components as well as the first of the stunning Tilbrook sidecars. These unique creations featured a lightweight tubular chassis with torsion bar suspension carrying a stressed metal skin body mounted on tension springs.
The motorcycle part of the business was minute compared to the sidecar production. 1,500 units were produced for both the home and export markets, ranging from the tiny 26 kg Tom Thumb version that was specially designed for lightweight motorcycles to the Dandaloo (aboriginal for ‘thing of grace’). This latter model was available as either a single or dual seater, with rubber bush mounting to insulate the sidecar from the vibrations of the motorcycle. Even after the closure of the engineering business in 1976, Rex continued to supply parts for sidecars, and even built the odd complete unit to special order.
The old Tilbrook factory at 64 Bridge Street Kensington has been fully restored to its original condition called the Rising Sun Inn, and is today a very popular restaurant in Adelaide. Along the walls are several original photographs of the premises back from when it produced motorcycles and sidecars.
