When researching the Exotic Engines section for the Complete Spanner’s Lambretta Kit Book (available here and perfect for the Christmas list!) Tino Sacchi directed me towards his German importer, Timo Drack of TD Customs.

Timo and his wife Susanne are affirmed Targa Twin nuts. They own many Lambrettas powered by Targa Twin 275 engines with different specifications of cylinder, exhaust and carburettor. The hilly country roads around Timo’s hometown in Eastern Bavaria proved the perfect place to appreciate the unmatched howl of two Targa Twins riding together. The sound is simply glorious.

Timo and Susanne with just some of their Targa Twin Lambrettas…
The first video shows the difference between either the 2-into-1 exhaust built by Jolly Moto and another with twin exhausts by JL. It doesn’t matter which you choose, these engines sound delicious and vibrate much less than a standard Lambretta. Ironically, since the video was shot Mr Jolly has retired and the brand has been bought by JL. Tino Sacchi has now found another source for the 2-into-1 exhausts. These now boast improved ground clearance. Tino has also decided to standardise production of future Targas by deleting the piston-port configuration and selling exclusively the reed-valve version. I understand the idea to rationalise but the piston-ported Targas rode perfectly fine and were quick enough without being so extreme as to scare anyone.
Reedvalve revelation

The truth about most buyers of exotic Lambretta engines is that they are all keen to show off. In a ‘Top Trumps’ scenario with big numbers scoring higher in bragging rights, often without taking into account ride quality. “Oh, so you have a 265cc single-cylinder, well mine is a 275cc twin…” That sort of thing. However, if you are after something with performance to match the Top Trumps specification then the 275 reedvalve engine is a leap ahead of the piston-port versions. The fantastic sound and minimal vibration are still both present but this is also a device of real hooliganism. It will lift the front wheel off the throttle quite happily but that also means that you need a really good chassis with decent brakes and a good dollop of riding skill to boot.

Alan Skelly’s Targa Twin 275R
We had one of these motors on the same dyno at Diablo Moto as used for the rest of the book and it produced a shade over 40hp. That’s not to be sniffed at on 10-inch wheels.

Reliable option?

With two carbs, two spark plugs and even two exhausts there are unarguably more things to go wrong on a Targa than a normal Lambretta engine. That said; it is definitely possible to make them into reliable rally machines if you build them with all the best parts and keep them serviced and maintained.

Timo’s class-winning 10-hour race team team at Magny Cours.
This is evidenced by Timo’s completion of a recent 10-hour endurance race in Magny Cours, France with a reedvalve Targa taking a class win and 6th position overall. Another Targa was used in the latest BSEC 6-hour race in Teesside.

Due to the complexity of the twin, Tino insists that Targa engines are only fitted by accredited and experienced dealers. I’d argue that they should be serviced and maintained by specialists too.

What’s inside?

The Targa engine layout is based on Innocenti’s ‘Project 137’ twin-cylinder prototypes drawn by engineer Ugo Malther. Two examples of this 200cc twin still survive in the Museo Scooter & Lambretta near Milan.

TT275 reedvalve barrels are a big step ahead of the original TT250
Tino’s project, drawn by Franco Dell’Aqua, utilises some of the same solutions, including the bolt-together crankshafts loaded from each side of the engine. Unlike the separate cylinders for the piston-port Targas – which only had one exhaust port per barrel – the conjoined reedvalve barrels have a far more modern layout. Each bore has 3 exhaust ports, 4 main transfers and two boost ports coming out of the inlet port.
Tino Sacchi revving his Twin inside the ‘bunker’
Electric start on the Misano mag housing is also offered as an option on the Targa Twin engines

Want to know more?

If you’d like to know more details about the history and construction of the Targa twin project then there is a wealth of coverage in the Complete Spanner’s Lambretta Kit Book.

For owner feedback there is a special Facebook group called THE LAMBRETTA TARGA TWIN 250 ~ CLUB PAGE

Words video and images: Sticky
Additional material thanks to: Timo Drack, Tino Sacchi and Alan Skelly

Electric start on a Lambretta isn’t exactly new a kit to retrofit to pretty much any Lambretta has been available in the UK for a few years. We covered the Supertune version on SLUK in 2018. If you’d like to be able to start yours at the turn of a key have a look here.