The exquisite Vespa 98, where it all began
I’m sure the Italian scooter pioneers would never have envisaged their humble Vespa still being around in 75 years time when they filed the first patent on April 23rd 1946…
A motorcycle featuring a rational elemental and organic complex combined with frame and fenders and an engine hood covering all mechanical parts”
Hardly a sexy description for the Vespa 98 above! They may have been onto something though. 75 years later and Vespa is known around the world and sold in 83 countries on every continent. Making it one of the best known ‘Made in Italy’ products. Surprisingly, production is still on the up, in 2005 they were producing 50,000 units per year. That doubled by 2007 and from 2018 it doubled again to a staggering 200,000 units per year.
The iconic Italian motor scooter has surpassed all expectations, outlived its rivals and become one of the best known, two-wheeled brands in the world. The brand has celebrated by rolling the 19 millionth Vespa scooter (a 75th anniversary GTS) off the Pontedera production line. Below we have some archive video footage from Piaggio and a brief rundown of the brand’s rich history.
We all know that riding a Vespa (other brands may also be available) is more than just a fashion statement. It’s something that gets in your blood and once you’re hooked, you’re in it for life.
VIDEO | Vespa 75 year archives
On 23 April 1946, Piaggio (founded in 1884) files the patent for their first model. The Vespa is born. The motorised scooter with a 98 cc, 2T single-cylinder engine is built in the Pontedera plant, in Tuscany.
1948 – The Vespa 125 cc model is introduced.
1949 – The Unione Italiana Vespa Riders, incorporating 30 clubs, is formed and holds its first convention.
1950 – Vespa begins production in German under a licence agreement with Hoffman-Werke.
1951 – Vespa begins production in the United Kingdom under license to Douglas of Bristol and in France with ACMA of Paris.
1952 – The Vespa Club Europea is born in Milan to bring the clubs in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium together. Worldwide Vespa Club membership surpasses 50,000. There are more than 10,000 Vespa service stations around the world.
1953 – Vespa 125 is immortalised in the film Roman Holiday by William Wyler with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.
1955 – Vespa GS is the most elegant scooter ever built and marks a turning point for Vespa which, for the first time, exceeds the 100 km/h mark, adopts a 4-speed gearbox for the first time and mounts 10 inch wheel rims.
1964 – The Vespino is born – Vespa in the 50 cc engine capacity.
1965 – Vespa sales surpass 3.5 million.
1968 – The “Chi Vespa mangia le mele” campaign (Those who Vespa eat the apples) revolutionises the advertising world.
1968 – Vespa Primavera is one of the longest-lasting Vespa models and the vehicle of new generations all over Europe.
1976 – Vespa Primavera 125 – ET3 is the first Vespa scooter with electronic ignition.
1978 – Vespa PX is born in the three-cylinder “classic” 125, 150 and 200 cc versions. It would be the most sold model in Vespa history with more than 30 million units.
75 years later, still celebrated and ridden around the world
1980 – Four Vespa PX units participate in the Paris-Dakar, the most epic and gruelling race in the world. Incredibly, ridden by Marc Simonot, one of them would go on to finish the race.
1984 – Vespa PK 125 Automatica is the first Vespa with an automatic transmission.
1988 – Vespa sales surpass 10 million.
1992 – Giorgio Bettinelli, writer and journalist, leaves Rome on a Vespa and reaches Saigon in March 1993. He would go on to accomplish several other feats: in 1994-95, also on a Vespa, he covered the 36,000 km from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. In 1995-96 he travelled from Melbourne to Cape Town – over 52,000 km in 12 months. In 1997 he started out from Chile, reaching Tasmania after three years and eight months, having travelled 144,000 km on his Vespa and crossed 90 countries across the Americas, Siberia, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. All in all, Bettinelli has travelled 250,000 km on a Vespa.
1996 – The new Vespa generation is born with the ET4 125 cc model. For the first time, Vespa adopts a 4T engine and automatic transmission.
1996 – The number of Vespas sold surpasses 15 million.
1997 – Vespa ET2 (50 cc) is launched.
1998 – Restyling and front disc brake for Vespa PX, the most sold scooter model in the world (over two million units from the time it was launched).
2000 – Vespa returns to the American market.
2003 – The return of the Vespone, Vespa GT 125 and Vespa GT 200 are born.
2005 – Vespa LX marks the return to Vespa’s most classic lines.
2006 – Vespa celebrates 60 years with the spectacular Vespa 60° special series that brings back the colours and style of the early Vespas.
2008 – Vespa 300 GTS Super is the highest performance and sportiest model in history.
2011 – Vespa 946 is a highly exclusive model dedicated to aesthetic and technological perfection, the name of which recalls the year that the scooter symbolic of Italian elegance was born – 1946.
2013 – The legendary Vespa Primavera returns, produced in the 50, 125 and 150 engine sizes, it renews the legendary Vespino.
2018 – Vespa Elettrica is born.
2021 – Vespa reaches 19 million units produced and celebrates 75 years with the Vespa 75th special series GTS and Primavera.
I’m sure the Italian scooter pioneers would never have envisaged their humble Vespa still being around in 75 years time when they filed the first patent on April 23rd 1946…
A motorcycle featuring a rational elemental and organic complex combined with frame and fenders and an engine hood covering all mechanical parts”
Hardly a sexy description for the Vespa 98 above! They may have been onto something though. 75 years later and Vespa is known around the world and sold in 83 countries on every continent. Making it one of the best known ‘Made in Italy’ products. Surprisingly, production is still on the up, in 2005 they were producing 50,000 units per year. That doubled by 2007 and from 2018 it doubled again to a staggering 200,000 units per year.
The iconic Italian motor scooter has surpassed all expectations, outlived its rivals and become one of the best known, two-wheeled brands in the world. The brand has celebrated by rolling the 19 millionth Vespa scooter (a 75th anniversary GTS) off the Pontedera production line. Below we have some archive video footage from Piaggio and a brief rundown of the brand’s rich history.
We all know that riding a Vespa (other brands may also be available) is more than just a fashion statement. It’s something that gets in your blood and once you’re hooked, you’re in it for life.
VIDEO | Vespa 75 year archives
On 23 April 1946, Piaggio (founded in 1884) files the patent for their first model. The Vespa is born. The motorised scooter with a 98 cc, 2T single-cylinder engine is built in the Pontedera plant, in Tuscany.
1948 – The Vespa 125 cc model is introduced.
1949 – The Unione Italiana Vespa Riders, incorporating 30 clubs, is formed and holds its first convention.
1950 – Vespa begins production in German under a licence agreement with Hoffman-Werke.
1951 – Vespa begins production in the United Kingdom under license to Douglas of Bristol and in France with ACMA of Paris.
1952 – The Vespa Club Europea is born in Milan to bring the clubs in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium together. Worldwide Vespa Club membership surpasses 50,000. There are more than 10,000 Vespa service stations around the world.
1953 – Vespa 125 is immortalised in the film Roman Holiday by William Wyler with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.
1955 – Vespa GS is the most elegant scooter ever built and marks a turning point for Vespa which, for the first time, exceeds the 100 km/h mark, adopts a 4-speed gearbox for the first time and mounts 10 inch wheel rims.
1964 – The Vespino is born – Vespa in the 50 cc engine capacity.
1965 – Vespa sales surpass 3.5 million.
1968 – The “Chi Vespa mangia le mele” campaign (Those who Vespa eat the apples) revolutionises the advertising world.
1968 – Vespa Primavera is one of the longest-lasting Vespa models and the vehicle of new generations all over Europe.
1976 – Vespa Primavera 125 – ET3 is the first Vespa scooter with electronic ignition.
1978 – Vespa PX is born in the three-cylinder “classic” 125, 150 and 200 cc versions. It would be the most sold model in Vespa history with more than 30 million units.
1980 – Four Vespa PX units participate in the Paris-Dakar, the most epic and gruelling race in the world. Incredibly, ridden by Marc Simonot, one of them would go on to finish the race.
1984 – Vespa PK 125 Automatica is the first Vespa with an automatic transmission.
1988 – Vespa sales surpass 10 million.
1992 – Giorgio Bettinelli, writer and journalist, leaves Rome on a Vespa and reaches Saigon in March 1993. He would go on to accomplish several other feats: in 1994-95, also on a Vespa, he covered the 36,000 km from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. In 1995-96 he travelled from Melbourne to Cape Town – over 52,000 km in 12 months. In 1997 he started out from Chile, reaching Tasmania after three years and eight months, having travelled 144,000 km on his Vespa and crossed 90 countries across the Americas, Siberia, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. All in all, Bettinelli has travelled 250,000 km on a Vespa.
1996 – The new Vespa generation is born with the ET4 125 cc model. For the first time, Vespa adopts a 4T engine and automatic transmission.
1996 – The number of Vespas sold surpasses 15 million.
1997 – Vespa ET2 (50 cc) is launched.
1998 – Restyling and front disc brake for Vespa PX, the most sold scooter model in the world (over two million units from the time it was launched).
2000 – Vespa returns to the American market.
2003 – The return of the Vespone, Vespa GT 125 and Vespa GT 200 are born.
2005 – Vespa LX marks the return to Vespa’s most classic lines.
2006 – Vespa celebrates 60 years with the spectacular Vespa 60° special series that brings back the colours and style of the early Vespas.
2008 – Vespa 300 GTS Super is the highest performance and sportiest model in history.
2011 – Vespa 946 is a highly exclusive model dedicated to aesthetic and technological perfection, the name of which recalls the year that the scooter symbolic of Italian elegance was born – 1946.
2013 – The legendary Vespa Primavera returns, produced in the 50, 125 and 150 engine sizes, it renews the legendary Vespino.
2018 – Vespa Elettrica is born.
2021 – Vespa reaches 19 million units produced and celebrates 75 years with the Vespa 75th special series GTS and Primavera.
