Between Piaggio and Vespa

By Steve Brig

Vespa Scooters have been manufactured since the end of WWII by the Italian Motorcycle giant Piaggio. The first Vespa scooter was developed as a single model in 1946 by the Piaggio Company of Pontedera, Italy and has broadened over the years into a wide range of scooter models. Vespa Scooter have also retained a lot of the original features from their earliest designs in particular the highly distinctive and instantly recognisable paint work and pressed steel cowling which completely covers the rear mounted engine. They have also retained their flat plate floorboard and large and distinctive front steel fairing although modern vespa scooter models are made from a variety of composite materials the overall aesthetics have remained fairly true to the early designs of the Piaggio motorcycle company.

piaggio vespa scooter

Vespa Scooters soon gained prominence in Italy where they became a cheap and economical form of transport for the post war masses and as with all things Italian a sense of style. Increased interest and growing orders from abroad helped to forge the success of Vespa Scooters and by the turn of the 1950s Vespa were the first and most successful global Scooter manufacturer and seller.

Vespa Scooters along with their Italian Rivals Lambretta Scooters have become Synonymous with the Swinging sixties of Great Britain where they were the chosen form of transport for the style conscious Mod movement. Vespa have retained a similar kudos to the present day as they are still considered among many scooter lovers as the most stylish of scooters.

Piaggio the original maker of Vespa’s was originally a fighter plain manufacturer for the Italian Military. And it was shortly after the War when Enrico Piaggio decided to turn the company he inherited from his father Rinaldo Piaggio into a motorcycle manufacturer. Vespa scooters quickly caught on in war torn and bankrupt Italy with the common man as they offered a cheap and affordable form of transport in a country just beginning to recover from the War.

Piaggios inspiration for the Vespa design was drawn from the US Cushman Scooter which had appeared in Italy towards the end of WWII courtesy of the US Military. The original designer of the Vespa Scooter was Piaggios Engineer Corradino D’Ascanio.

D’Ascanio was never a fan of conventional Motorcycles and decided to create the vespa with Handlebar Gear changes and on a Spar shaped frame with small wheels and an engine mounted at the back of the cycle and a front protector to allow the rider greater comfort. The seating configuration was designed with all users in mind including women where it would still be possible due to the design of the scooter fro a woman to where a dress. It was also desired to include a glove box for storage above the petrol tank and below the seat, further aiding riders in their comfort and allowing the carrying of additional luggage.

The name Vespa was derived from Latin and Modern Italian with the literal translation to English meaning Wasp, the name having been conceived from the particular hi pitched wine of the original vespa two stroke engines. Original Vespa’s were also made with a sidecar attached for carrying of an extra passenger.

Vespa largest sales market is still its native Italy with Britain a close second and a now resurgent US market where it was re introduced after and absence of some years in 2001. Vespa’s are also popular in the Far east and India where the are licensed to and produced by the Bajaj motorcycle company.

If you’re the proud owner of a Vespa Scooter you will want to ensure full protection for your motorcycle and with that in mind it is worth comparing prices for Vespa Scooter Insurance Deals online. There are now a number of online Scooter insurers and a growing number of specialist motorcycle insurance comparison sites, where you should quickly be able to find the best current deals for Vespa Insurance.

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