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                                                                       Piaggio Vespa

                                                                                 History

Piaggio and Vespa has gripped many in the world. In Scotland we are as passionate as any nation and have very many Vespa obsessives.

Vespa is not just a classic old scooter, unlike many of its rivals of the early years of scootering. Vespa is still a living entity with new classics still in production and even talk of a new 4 stroke geared P range Vespa in the pipe line.

 

Post WW2, Italy was in a dismal state, Up to the plate steps Enrico Piaggio, the son of Piaggio's founder Rinaldo Piaggio, with a plant to abandon the

aeronautical industry and develop a mode of transport that would be affordable to the masses and be able to cope with the roads in Italy, with pot holes and bomb crators

  

           Enrico Piaggio                                   Corradino D'Ascanio

The man responsible for design and construction of the first modern helicopter by Agusta, was employed by Ferdinando Innocenti, General Corradino D'Ascanio. Innocenti had found its self in the same position as Piaggio and needed transform. Ferdinando Innocenti wanted to create an easy to drive vehicle , for men, women and could carry two people. One major criteria was paramount , the rider could wear their Sunday best suit or dress with out getting them dirty (in my case my Kilt!!!)..

 

Corradino D'Ascanio hated motorcycles and approached this revolutionary task and developed a machine that incorporated many aspects of an aircraft. The front had protection from dirt in the form of leg shields and you could step through the frame and sit with your feet on foot rest panels, A woman could easily get on and of the machine with a dress or a skirt on and no greasy, oily chain . The drive shaft as it was in-cased in the engine.

 

Innocenti and D'Ascanio fell out over design. Innocenti, wanted to make the frame out of tubing However, D'Ascanio wanted a molded and beaten spar-frame. D'Ascanio walked away and took his classic design to Enrico Piaggio and in 1946 the Vespa was born. Innocenti went on to produce that other classic Italian scooter Lambretta.

 

History was made at 12 o’clock April 23rd 1946 in Florence as Piaggioe C. S.p.A. . took out a patent for a "motorcycle of a rational complexity of organs and elements combined with a frame with mudguards and a casing covering the whole mechanical part. A motorcycle with rationally placed parts and elements with a frame combining with mudguards and engine-cowling covering all working parts".

 

1946 Milan the Vespa made its entry. Its growth in sale were painfully slow. It was only then that Piaggio set up a H.P facility and sales started to lift. 2,500 Vespas sold in 1947, 10,000 in 1948, 20,000 in 1949, and 60,000 in 1950.

 

Audrey Hepburn on the back of a Vespa with Gregory Peck's at the helm in the classic Hollywood film Roman Holiday saw the sales shoot up by a 100,000. Piaggio also owes a dept to John Wayne, Lucia Bosé, Luis Miguel Dominguín, Marlon Brando, Dean Martin, Abbe Lane, and Charlton Heston all can be associated with Vespa .

 

1952, saw Vespa clubs forming all over the world (Vespa Club of Scotland 1959). Vespas in the 1950s were being made by Piaggio under licence in The U .K, France, Belgium and Spain; in the 1960s, production was started in India, Brazil and Indonesia. By 1956, one million had been sold, then two million by 1960.

 

On its 50th birth date Paiggio had sold over 15 million scooters, making it the most successful scooter of all time.

 

 

As I Said at the beginning Piaggio/Vespa is not just a nostalgic image. It is still a living history and we are so proud to be a part of this history in our little corner of the word here in Scotland.

 

The Romans spent an awesome amount of time, expense and Legionnaire's life's trying to conquer Scotland (Ironically future emperor Vespa-sian was a major player.He commanded "Legion II Augusta" 43A.D) Thank God  they failed and had to withdraw back in to what is now England and build Hadrian's Wall to keep us Scots & Pict’s at bay.

 

 

We are glad they failed, but we welcome being conquered by Piaggio/Vespa .

                                                        Viva Vespa!

 

"The legendary Vespa PX is back on the map (like it ever left!). Just 2 years since production ceased, and 33 years since the first Vespa PX was produced, the Vespa PX returns! (actually going on sale in 2011). In keeping with what PX lovers adore about the  , little changes from the original. Maybe surprisingly, the 2 stroke engine stays (in 125 or 150 form) with help from a new cat and electronic ignition although the old kickstart also remains as back up, a much loved feature. Comfort is the more focal point with the revised PX gaining a new seat with new fabrics, an upgraded headlamp for improved visability. The rear light has seen some refinements to make it classic yet elegant. Enhancements throughout the lighting system have taken place along with the front grille, handlebar grips. Front disc and rear drums are retained together with the handlebar mounted 4 speed manual gear change. Despite having not laid eyes on one in the flesh just yet, the guys at Vespa seem to have consulted PX owners the world over to get this right! Well done Vespa."

 

A Sight For Sore Eyes PX On Sale At Eclips Motorcycles 2011

 

Graeme McMaster Vespa Club Of Scotland