Vespa (motorcycles)

Classic Vespas in Perth (Australia).

Vespa de la Servicio de Correos de España for the distribution of correspondence.

Vespa is a motorcycle brand belonging to the Piaggio & Co, S.p.A. First manufactured in Pontedera (Italy) in 1946.

The Vespa: prototype of the scooter type motorcycle

The presentation of the first fifteen Vespa motorcycles took place on April 23, 1946 at the Golf Club in Rome. The parents of the new motorcycle were the businessman Enrico Piaggio and the aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio. At the end of World War II, Piaggio had a vision of a comfortable, easy-to-use and cheap means of transport. He entrusted a first project to the engineer Renzo Spolti. The first prototype received the name of Paperino, which means duckling in Italian, with a design inspired by the folding motorcycles used by English paratroopers. The project of the first prototype did not convince Piaggio and he turned to the aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio. The engineer, who liked airplanes more than motorcycles, designed a vehicle that looked revolutionary for its time: he put the engine on the rear wheel and devised the front arm thinking of the landing gear of an airplane. Legend has it that, when Piaggio saw it, he exclaimed: Bello, mi sows a vespa (Pretty, it reminds me of a wasp, in Italian), alluding to the shape of the vehicle: thicker rear part connected to the front part by a slim waist, and the handlebars as the antennae.

Piaggio continues to manufacture the Vespa today, although it was a much more prevalent vehicle in the 1950s and 1960s as the choice of UK youth culture known as Mods, and later Skinheads. Classic Vespas had a one-body chassis pressed from sheet steel, with bodywork covering the legs to protect them from rain and mud. The engine was completely covered by a steel hood to protect it from the heat. Piaggio revolutionized the two-wheeled industry with the Vespa and produced a model that many other scooter-like motorcycles have been based on ever since.

Older Vespas (traditional models) have manual gear changes. They are controlled by turning the handlebar on the left handlebar while operating the handle on the left handlebar that activates the clutch instead of a brake and choosing between 3 or 4 gears. These traditional Vespas always had two-stroke engines, requiring a mixture of oil and gasoline to lubricate the piston and cylinder. In the early days of its production and until the development of better materials and more efficient lubricants, the mixture of oil in fuel produced large amounts of smoke.

On the other hand, its founder Enrico Piaggio wanted the Vespa to be affordable for everyone and he achieved it thanks to the use of a pioneering tool in 1946: installment sales. However, with the economic improvement of the 50s, a strong competitor emerged for the Vespa: the 4-wheel utility car, so it had to reinvent itself by changing its target audience and directed its gaze at young people, but for this, he had to change the sad gray colors for hitherto unknown colors such as red and white.

The use of successful advertising campaigns, together with the collaboration of television series and movies, helped to spread the image of the Vespa throughout the world, which it has continued to maintain throughout the years. The Vespa has been overwhelmingly successful not only because of its original shape, but also because it has known how to evolve over time, incorporating continuous technical advances. On the outside it has kept its simple and elegant line, maintaining its unique style. In the 70 years, more than 150 models were made, being the only scooter type motorcycle made of steel, and its ergonomic position is still the most comfortable of motorcycles. As a consequence, at present, the Vespa is part of social life and there are a large number of conventions and meetings of owners of this brand around the so-called Vespa Club.

The Vespa is an Italian product that has responded to the demands of the market, assuming different functions and integrating into other cultures, but always remaining faithful to its style.

The Vespa in Spain

Since its appearance in the mid-fifties, thousands of units filled the streets of the cities. A sidecar adapted to the motorcycle turned it into a vehicle that was used to transport the whole family.

According to Francisco Franco Salgado-Araujo, the Marquis of Huétor Santillán presided over a company dedicated to importing the Vespa motorcycle made in Italy. General Franco naively comments to his cousin: "I can't understand that being able to export nationally manufactured motorcycles, we import Italian Vespas spending foreign currency on that."

In 1952, Spain was on the way to forgetting the aftermath of its civil war. As in Italy, she needed to facilitate the movement of her people to expand her industries. The Spanish brands of the time (OSSA, Montesa, Lube...) could not compete with the Vespa. Spartaco G. Boldori Malandri is a personal friend of Mr. Piaggio and a Fiat representative in Spain. Mr. Boldori is not one of the skeptics, but one of the enthusiasts and he proposes to Mr. Piaggio the assembly of a factory in Madrid. The idea is accepted without reservation; but ideas need men and names to become reality. And for Mr. Boldori's proposal to take shape, the collaboration of Juan Lladó, then CEO of Banco Urquijo, will be decisive. The first director of MotoVespa will be Lelio Pellegrini Quarantotti who, with an extraordinary group of enthusiastic collaborators, managed to put the first 125 c Vespa on the road in a few months. c. in February 1953.

The Spanish Vespas began to be manufactured in a factory located on Julián Camarillo street in Madrid by the Moto Vespa SA Company, whose majority shareholders were initially the I.N.I. (National Institute of Industry) and Banco Urquijo, and the Italian brand Piaggio.

Unlike the rest of the Vespa factories, which gradually closed down, the Spanish factory created its own product in 1968 to face the drop in sales, the Vespino, with a Spanish patent, which kept the production of the Vespa at Spain until 1990. In the following decade, the multinational Piaggio acquired the majority of the shares of Moto Vespa SA and later those of the Derbi brand. This made the situation unfeasible, as it had 3 production centers, so a long relocation process began that ended with the closure of the Madrid factory in 2003.

The 150 S model was at the time the top of its range and its design corresponded to that of a “Spanishized” version of the Italian 180, but with a smaller engine. The basic version was the 125.

Timeline

• 1884 Rinaldo Piaggio founded the company Piaggio dedicated to the naval and railway construction.
• 1914 Coinciding with the beginning of the First World War Piaggio is introduced into the nascent aeronautical sector and the construction of military aircraft begins.
• 1921 Piaggio buys the factory of Pontedera, future manufacturing center of Vespa.
• 1944 In the Second World War, Piaggio factories in Genoa, Pontedera and Finale Ligure are bombarded and destroyed.
• 1946 Arnaldo and Enrico Piaggio, sons of the founder of the company, reconstruct Pontedera. The Vespa is born, the fruit of the collaboration of Enrico Piaggio and the aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio, with a first model, the Vespa MP6, 98 c., 3.2 CV power and maximum speed 60 km/h. It was only two years in production.
• 1948 The Vespa 125 model is created with cylinder 125 c. with new suspensions. The Ape tricycle is created as a transport vehicle.
  

  The model of Vespa Ape created for commercial transport.
• 1950 The company Hoffmann Werke of Lintorft initiates the manufacture of Vespa in the German Federal Republic.
• 1953 Increases power to 5 CV and speed is at 75 km/h. The rear side changes design. A cheaper version is created, the Vespa 125 U, in which the U refers to the "utilitarian" word, with a reduction of 20000 liras regarding the standard model. The lighthouse is placed on the handlebar instead of being placed in the front range. Moto Vespa España S.A. starts manufacturing Vespa in Spain. In the world 10,000 dealers are already accounted for and Vespa is produced 500,000.
• 1955 The 150GS model is marketed, which mounts a 150 c.c. engine and 4-speed change. It redesigns the handlebar that includes the lighthouse and new 10-inch tires. Reach the 100 km/h.
• 1956 The production of one million Vespas is reached.
• 1962 The 160GS model emerges, with design change, carburator and suspensions. The power reaches the 8.5 CV. Two Spanish law students, Santiago Guillén and Antonio Veciana managed to turn the world around in 79 days on board a 150S model outfit, signed for the occasion by Dalí.
• 1963 The 150 GL model is born, with design changes. The Italian army is provided with a version of Vespa designed to be parachuted.
• 1964 As a result of new legal criteria in Italy, for which all the cylinders above 50 cc are to be registered, the Vespa 50 model is born, with a new engine, with a 50 c. c. l.}} cylinder geared at 45 degrees instead of adopting a horizontal situation. It represents the latest project of Corradino D'Ascanio. Enrico Piaggio buys his brother Armando his part of the brand. It is dedicated to the aeronautical sector in a completely independent factory.
• 1965 With Vespa 180SS you reach the 181,14 c. and 10 CV power. Reach the 105 km/h. The Super Sport model replaces the GS 150 and 160.
• 1966 Vespa 125 also adopts a cylinder inclined at 45 degrees. The Super Sprint model emerges, a series derived from 50, 90 and 125 cc, with a curious trunk between the seat and the steering column. The model 90 c. Comes to the 90 km/h.
• 1968 The model of the Vespa Primavera, which together with the PX, has formed the longest of the brand. With Vespa 180 Rally it is generalized the admission by rotary valve in all engines of the brand, all of two times. It is a more powerful lighthouse and a more aerodynamic and narrow chassis.

Spring Vespa 125.

• 1970 Vespa 50 Elestart is born, the first electric starter, among other improvements in equipment. The production of four million Vespas is reached.
• 1972 The historic Vespa Rally 200 is born, with this Cylinder, 12,35 CV and 116 km/h maximum speed.
• 1976 The Vespa 125 Spring ET3 model is born that means elettronica 3 transvestition, electronic and with three transfers that confer greater power and brightness of the engine.
• 1978 The PX saga is born with the Vespa P 125 X, with a new design of the front shield and the addition of the glove compartment on the back. PX 200 E is also presented with integrated intermittents.
• 1981 The PX 150 E model is presented.
• 1983 The Vespa PK 125 replaces the Spring with new aesthetics. PK 50 appears with four speeds and electronic ignition.
• 1984 The PK 125 Automatic Vespa is born, the first without changing manual speeds in the fist. Do not mount brake pedal and is available with separate mix and electric start.
• 1985 The Vespa T5 Pole Position, a sports version of the PX, has a new engine with an aluminium cylinder of 5 transfers. In series, it has a small windshield and a spoiler on the shield. The U.S. environment rules stop the commercialization of Vespa in that country.
• 1986 In Italy the limit of 1.5 CV for the category of mopeds and comes Vespa 50 of 2 CV.
• 1988 The production of 10 million Vespas is reached.
• 1990 Cosa CLX 125 and 200 with hydraulic brake are launched.
• 1996 Coinciding with the 50 years of Vespa, the first with 4-stroke engine, Vespa ET4 125.
• 1997 The Vespa ET2 Iniezione is the first scooter with a two-time engine with injection and catalyst.

Model PX 125 of 2003.

• 1999 The Vespa ET4 150 is designed for the reintroduction of the vehicle in the US market. Mount the new 4-stroke Piaggio Leader (Low Emission Advanced Engine Range).
• 2000 The ET4 50 Vespa is the first 50 c. of four times, reducing consumption and increasing autonomy to 500 km. The Vespa museum is opened in Pontedera with the exhibition of 100 different models.
• 2001 The Vespa PX 125 and 150 cc equip front disk brake and recover the brand's historic logo. In 25 years there have been two million units of these models. Vespa's marketing is restarted in the United States.
• 2003 The Vespa Granturismo is launched to the market. At that time the Vespa Granturismo 200 c. is the most powerful one developed by the brand to date. Equip a 4-stroke engine, 4 valves, liquid cooling, disc brakes on both axes and 12-inch tires.
• 2005 The Vespa LX is released replaces the ET, with motor 50 c. 2 and 4 times and 125 cc and 150 cc of four times. A restyling of the Vespa Granturismo is made to be called Vespa GT. To the range of the Vespa GT is added a more powerful and fast model, the Vespa GTS 250 ie, with motor 250 c. of four times, 4 valves, liquid cooling, electronic injection, disc brakes on both axes, with an ABS version. It exceeds Euro 3.
• 2006 - The brand is 60 years old. The 60th anniversary models are born, GTV, LXV and GT 60. The production of 16 million Vespas is reached. It presents a hybrid prototype, with an explosion engine 50 c. of four times and an electric one, the Vespa LX HyS (Hybrid Scooter), synchronized to reduce polluting emissions.
• 2008 - Cesa the manufacture of the PX model, the last of the Vespas considered classic, due to strict pollution laws: the 2T motor loops did not comply with the Euro3 regulations and Piaggio decided to bet on their new models with 4T engines. The Indian company LML acquires the rights to manufacture motorcycles identical to the PX model.
• 2009 - The company that assembled the PX for Piaggio takes care of the distribution of "vespas" manufactured in India and Vietnam based on the PX model (they are no longer Vespas by the brand, but yes by the appearance, chassis, motor...).
• 2010 - Piaggio presents in the Hall of Milan EICMA 2010 the Resurrection of the Vespa PX 125/150. In theory, the only change has been to adapt a new catalyst exhaust to meet the Euro3 standard. Several special series are released on the models for sale: LX Touring, GTV Via Montenapoleone, Vespa px SuperSport and S College, which include specific colors and accessories.

Vespa GTS 300 SuperSport.

• 2011 -
• 2012 - The Vespa S is launched in the 50 (2T and 4T) Cylinders, 125 ie, which is a minimalist version of the myth that highlights the essence and young spirit of Vespa.
• 2013 - The new limited edition Vespa 946 is launched and the name and style of the old model vespa spring is recovered, with a new model that bears the same name.
• 2018 - The first Vespa with electric motorisation is launched commercially: Vespa Elettrica. Made on the small chassis you share with the Vespa Primavera and Vespa Sprint. With L1 approval (European Standard) being classified as a moped

Electrical Vespa L1.

• 2020 - The update of the Electric Vespa is released commercially with the version: Vespa Elettrica, on the same chassis with homologacyon L3 (European Standard) being classified as a motorcycle.