Quadrophenia (1979)

Original UK 1979 hard-stock World-Northal export-only Front of House Card.

Phil Daniels’ Jimmy astride his mechanical pride and joy, his Lambretta scooter bristling with an absurd, beautiful array of chrome mirrors and crash bars, as he flirts with Leslie Ash’s Steph. The scooter functions as far more than a prop; it is Jimmy’s literal vehicle for escapism, a glittering chariot of working-class defiance against the drab, brick-and-mortar reality of his London existence.Produced exclusively for overseas theatrical promotion, these export lobby cards were issued in limited numbers and are considerably scarcer than standard UK publicity material.

The obsessive customisation of the Lambretta and Vespa scooters depicted in Quadrophenia represents a fascinating intersection of post-war European economics and British working-class rebellion. Originally designed as cheap, utilitarian transport for a devastated post-war Italy, these sleek scooters were co-opted by 1960s British youth as symbols of cosmopolitan sophistication.

• Year: 1979
• Size: 8 X 10 Inches
• Condition: Unframed
• Product Code: T6938