Vespa Scooter

Getting Close To Vespa Sccoter

The Vespa scooter, made famous by the classic movie, "A Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, has been an enduring symbol of European mechanics and beauty. And the Italian scooter has realized a recent surge in popularity again, especially among young drivers.

Vespa scooter is manufactured by Piaggio in Pontedera, Italy. The scooter itself has spanned more than 60 years with more than 130 different models produced. The initial scooter started out addressing the need for easy mobility within Italy that was affordable, especially after the destruction of World War II. Corradino D'Ascanio, a former Italian aviation general, designed the first model. Using aviation fabrication methods, Piaggio in 1946 introduced a scooter that used pressed steel for the body frame and came in painted versions for consumer tastes.

The Product

The original Vespa scooter had two seats, one for the passenger and driver respectively. As an option, the rear seat could be replaced with a rack or luggage box instead. More storage came soon after behind the legshield via a glovebox with a closable door. The engine had a strong 98cc capacity designed as a two-stroke model. This approach allowed for gas and oil to be mixed directly, reducing any complexity in the engine power conversion from the piston to transmission. Heat reduction was provided by a flywheel attached to the crankshaft and enclosed with a cover and cavity directing airflow to the hot cylinder. This same design still is used today in modern Vespas.

Scooters for the World
Early on, the initial Vespa models clearly emphasized their aviation-influenced design and monocoque construction (an approach that uses the body as the frame rather than in internal framework with body skin). Sales popularity was fueled by youth and fashion, with Vespa motoring clubs establishing themselves across Europe. To capture the momentum and increase sales, Vesparoadened its line to attract more and more customers.

The models began to split into two categories. "Small frame" Vespas provided a spiffy platform for smaller riders and beginner riders, offering power choices ranging from 50cc capable of 35 mph to a 125cc version that could cruise at 50 mph. The "large frame" options bore bigger engines and frames, and picked up where the smaller ones left off, ranging from 125cc engines to 200cc capacity for highway use up to 70 mph.

By the end of the 1970s, the large frame P-series Vespas were well entrenched both in Europe and in the U.S. The P-series models carried the company into the 1980s, were it began to run into strong opposition from environmental regulations due to the Vespa's two-stroke engine.

Will the Vespa Survive?

Some American markets eventually found themselves closed out due to air regulations. New Vespas after 1979 became illegal to sell in these California and some other states and cities. Additionally, European regulation under the European Union (EU) increased efforts destroy and crush gross polluters. Finally, Asian competition was producing plastic body scooters cheaper and in higher numbers. It was a one-two-three punch for the Vespa. The PX, the last of the P-series models began to wane, and the business horizon was not looking good. By the 50th anniversary of the Vespa, more than a dozen million units had been sold as Vespas, making it a worldwide mechanical influence as a simple scooter. But the company itself, Piaggio, was reeling, facing a potential bankruptcy.

The Modern Vespa

There was no question that Piaggio's Vespa success depended on both European and U.S. market support. And to continue, Vespa needed to design and sell a cleaner machine. Vespa launched a modern version of its scooter in the mid-2000s with a four-stroke engine designed specifically for cleaner emissions. The model line ranged from a simple 50cc to a 250cc scooter choice, all of which add a modern look to an old classic design.

The new Vespa has again enjoyed renewed popularity among American and European youth. As such, both hard-core aficionados and brand new riders who had never seen a Vespa before are buying the scooters again.