Vespa: A History Of Design

Towards%20the%20end%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War%2C%20Enrico%20Piaggio%20was%20driven%20to%20start%20up%20production%20by%20the%20idea%20of%20offering%20the%20widest%20possible%20market%20low-cost%20product.%20And%2C%20with%20this%20in%20mind%2C%20the%20factory%20at%20Biella%20produced%20a%20motor%20scooter%20%281943-1944%29.%20This%20prototype%2C%20designed%20by%20the%20engineer%20Renzo%20Spolti%20and%20coded%20MP5%20%28Moto%20Piaggio%205%29%2C%20was%20christened%20%26%238216%3BPaperino%26%238217%3B%20meaning%20%26%238216%3BDonald%20Duck%26%238217%3B%20by%20the%20workers.%20But%20Enrico%20Piaggio%20didn%26acute%3Bt%20like%20it%20and%20passed%20the%20job%20over%20to%20Corradino%20D%26acute%3BAscanio%20to%20review%20the%20project%20and%20build%20something%20different%2C%20more%20advanced%20both%20technically%20and%20stylistically.%20However%2C%20before%20evolving%20into%20the%20Vespa%2C%20about%20one%20hundred%20Paperinos%20were%20produced%2C%20which%20are%20today%20highly%20prized%20by%20collectors.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

The%20first%20Vespa%20Corsa%20or%20%26%238216%3BRace%26%238217%3B%20was%20conceived%20for%20participation%20in%20various%20race%20circuits.%20With%20it%2C%20in%201947%20Piaggio%20dealers%20could%20enter%20in%20speed%20contests.%20The%20Vespa%20in%20fact%20took%20part%20in%20several%20gradient%20and%20track%20races%2C%20with%20many%20victories%20in%20the%20scooter%20category%2C%20among%20which%20the%20Naples%20Grand%20Prix%20in%201947%20and%20the%20chronograph%20climb%20at%20Rocca%20di%20Papa%20%28Rome%29.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

In%201949%20the%20Vespa%20125%20Corsa%20was%20manufactured.%20The%20frame%20was%20of%20aluminum%20alloy%20used%20in%20aircraft%20construction%20and%20assembled%20using%20alloy%20rivets%2C%20an%20avant-garde%20technological%20feature%20for%20the%20time.%20The%20larger%20fuel%20tank%20stretched%20towards%20the%20steering%20column%20and%20was%20intended%20to%20offer%20increased%20range%20and%20optimize%20riding%20at%20high%20speed.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

In%20order%20to%20promote%20the%20sporting%20image%20of%20the%20Vespa%2C%20Piaggio%20turned%20its%20attention%20to%20record%20breaking%20in%20the%20hope%20of%20reviving%20a%20glorious%20post-war%20tradition.%20On%20April%207%201950%2C%20on%20France%26acute%3Bs%20Monthery%20circuit%2C%20riders%20took%20turns%20as%20the%20Vespa%20spent%2010%20consecutive%20hours%20acquiring%2017%20world%20records%20including%20driving%20over%201%2C000%20kilometers%20%28621.4%20miles%29%20at%20an%20average%20of%20124.3%20km%2Fh%20%2877.2%20mph%29.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

In%201951%2C%20Vespa%20set%20off%20to%20challenge%20the%20most%20prestigious%20speed%20trial%3A%20that%20of%20the%20standing%20kilometer.%20On%20February%209%2C%20between%20the%2010th%20and%2011th%20kilometer%20on%20the%20Rome-Ostia%20motorway%2C%20a%20Vespa%20with%20two%20horizontally%20opposed%20pistons%20designed%20by%20Corradino%20D%26acute%3BAscanio%20and%20driven%20by%20the%20test-driver%20Dino%20Mazzoncini%2C%20beat%20all%20standing%20kilometer%20records%20with%20a%20time%20of%2021.4%20seconds%20and%20an%20average%20speed%20of%20171.1%20km%2Fh%20%28106.3%20mph%29.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

The%20Vespa%20side-car%20was%20advertised%20in%20March%201948%2C%20following%20the%20success%20of%20the%20new%20125%20cc%20engine.%20The%20Vespa%20150%20VL%201%20was%20the%20first%20to%20be%20built%20in%20this%20displacement.%20The%20first%20were%20sold%20at%20the%20end%20of%201954.%20Studied%20in%20minute%20detail%2C%20the%20Vespa%20with%20the%20sidecar%20had%20suspension%20coil%20springs%20for%20stability%20and%20comfort%20on%20long%20rides.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

In%20the%201950s%20the%20French%20defense%20ministry%20commissioned%20ACMA%2C%20Piaggio%26acute%3Bs%20French%20licensee%2C%20to%20produce%20a%20vehicle%20for%20military%20use.%20The%20result%20was%20the%20very%20special%20Vespa%20150%20T.A.P.%20%28Truppe%20Aereo%20Portate%20or%20%26%238216%3Bair%20troops%20carrier%26%238217%3B%29%2C%20of%20which%20about%206%2C000%20units%20were%20produced%20from%201956%20to%201959%20at%20ACMA%26acute%3Bs%20factory.%20Used%20by%20the%20Foreign%20Legion%20and%20French%20paratroopers%2C%20the%20Vespa%20T.A.P.%20could%20be%20parachuted%20and%20had%20a%2075mm%20cannon.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

At%20the%20peak%20of%20the%20success%20of%20the%20Vespa%2C%20Piaggio%20decides%20to%20make%20an%20entrance%20into%20the%20world%20of%20the%20four-wheeler%2C%20still%20in%20the%20optic%20of%20producing%20an%20economic%20vehicle%20for%20a%20wide%20market.%20Once%20again%20Corradino%20D%26acute%3BAscanio%20set%20out%20designing%20the%20little%20Vespa%20400%2C%20a%20two-stroke%20car%20built%20in%20two%20versions.%20After%20its%20debut%20in%201957%2C%2030%2C000%20models%20were%20produced%20by%20ACMA%2C%20Piaggio%26acute%3Bs%20French%20licensee.%20In%201959%2C%20it%20even%20ran%20in%20the%20Monte%20Carlo%20rally.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

This%20Vespa%26acute%3Bs%20paint%20job%20was%20designed%20to%20pay%20homage%20to%20the%20artist%20Salvador%20Dali.%20%5BImage%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

The%20Super%20Sprint%20is%20no%20doubt%20the%20most%20stylish%20Vespa%20with%20its%20unmistakable%20aggressive%20design%2C%20its%20speed%2C%20its%20irresistible%20spurt%20and%20its%20stirring%20riding.%20Production%20started%20in%201965.%20It%20features%20a%20smaller%20leg%20shield%20and%20an%20oddments%20pannier%20placed%20between%20the%20saddle%20and%20the%20handlebar.%20Like%20the%20Vespa%20GS%20of%201955%2C%20the%20spare%20wheel%20can%20be%20positioned%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20the%20floor%20platform.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

This%20vehicle%20appeared%20in%20the%20film%20Dick%20Smart%202007%20%281967%29%20starring%20Richard%20Wyler%2C%20Margaret%20Lee%20and%20Rosanna%20Tapados.%20For%20this%20movie%2C%20the%20Vespa%20180%20Super%20Sport%20was%20transformed%20by%20Piaggio%20and%20by%20the%20English%20factory%20Alpha%20Willis%20to%20race%20along%20the%20road%2C%20fly%20like%20a%20helicopter%2C%20sail%20and%20dive%20like%20a%20submarine.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

In%201970%20in%20order%20to%20be%20sold%20on%20the%20French%20market%2C%20the%20Vespa%2050%20underwent%20a%20particular%20transformation%3A%20pedals.%20Although%20little%20appreciated%20from%20an%20aesthetical%20point%20of%20view%2C%20this%20solution%20was%20necessary%20to%20adapt%20to%20the%20French%20homologation%20provisions.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

After%20the%20Vespa%20180%26acute%3Bs%20great%20success%2C%20Piaggio%20presents%20for%20the%20first%20time%20in%201972%20the%20Vespa%20200%20cc.%20It%20has%20immediate%20success.%20Vespa%20fans%20are%20even%20ready%20to%20wait%20for%20months%20to%20have%20it.%20From%20an%20aesthetical%20point%20of%20view%2C%20the%20Vespa%20Rally%20200%20is%20immediately%20recognizable%20due%20to%20its%20adhesive%20stripes%20on%20the%20sides%20and%20on%20the%20mudguard.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

The%20Vespa%20Primavera%20ET3%20is%20a%20specific%2C%20limited-edition%20variant%20%28144%2C000%20units%20were%20produced%20overall%29%20of%20the%20Vespa%20Primavera.%20The%20initials%20ET3%20indicate%20that%20the%20vehicle%20had%20electronic%20ignition%20and%20that%20the%20engine%26acute%3Bs%20single%20cylinder%20had%20a%20third%20transfer%20port.%20The%20smaller-sized%20body%2C%20like%20that%20of%20the%20Vespa%2050%20cc%2C%20gave%20the%20vehicle%20more%20maneuverability%2C%20a%20feature%20that%20made%20this%20Vespa%20a%20favorite%20of%201970%26acute%3Bs%20youngsters.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

This%20Vespa%20model%20was%20built%20for%20the%201977%20show%20to%20launch%20the%20Vespa%20in%20Paris.%20Brought%20back%20and%20jealously%20guarded%20by%20the%20Piaggio%20Warehouse%20team%2C%20the%20Vespa%20was%20painted%20by%20artist%20Stefano%20Tonelli.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

At%20the%20end%20of%201982%2C%20the%20year%20in%20which%20the%20Italian%20national%20soccer%20team%20wins%20the%20World%20Cup%2C%20the%20new%20Vespa%20PK%20is%20presented%20with%20two%20different%20displacements%3A%2050%20and%20125.%20The%20versions%20are%3A%20Basic%2C%20Luxury%20%28optional%20extras%20of%20a%20case%20and%20blinkers%29%2C%20Elestart%20%28with%20electric%20start%29%20and%20Automatic.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

Proposed%20at%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%201990s%20to%20satisfy%20both%20yesterday%20and%20today%26acute%3Bs%20enthusiasts%2C%20the%2050%20Special%20was%20the%20most%20beloved%20Vespa%20with%20the%20young%20of%20the%201960s.%20Appreciated%20all%20over%20the%20world%2C%20the%2050%20Special%20is%20back%20again%20in%201991%20in%20a%20limited%20edition%20%28only%203%2C000%20produced%29%20to%20become%20acquainted%20with%20those%20who%20in%20the%201960s%20were%20not%20yet%20born%20or%20were%20absent-minded.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

This%20is%20the%2050th%20anniversary%20Vespa%2C%20presented%20in%20September%201996%20in%20Rome.%20The%20Vespa%20approaches%20the%20millennium%20without%20losing%20its%20traditional%20elegant%2C%20appealing%2C%20immediately%20recognizable%20and%20reassuring%20styling.%20At%20the%20same%20time%2C%20it%20has%20become%20technologically%20innovative%2C%20reaching%20new%20a%20milestone%20in%20terms%20of%20comfort%20and%20confirming%20its%20greatest%20strong%20point%2C%20the%20ability%20to%20reflect%20the%20fashions%20and%20requirements%20of%20the%20moment%20better%20than%20any%20other%20two-wheeler.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D

This%20is%20Piaggio%26acute%3Bs%20homage%20to%20the%20Ferrari%20racing%20stable%20on%20the%20occasion%20of%20their%20victory%20in%20the%20Formula%20One%20World%20Championship%20in%202000.%20These%20vehicles%2C%20personalized%20with%20the%20names%20Montezemolo%2C%20Todt%2C%20Schumacher%20and%20Barrichello%2C%20are%20painted%20on.%20The%20leather%20saddle%20is%20made%20of%20the%20same%20material%20used%20to%20upholster%20Ferrari%20cars.%20%5BImage%2FText%20Credit%3A%20Piaggio%5D