It was designed by Corradino D'Ascanio. Due to its unique design, especially the front handlebars, and its sound, it received the name Vespa, which in Italian means wasp. The new Vespa scooter took off like wildfire across Europe. Wait a moment and try again. In light of the huge increase in sales in the U.S.
In the USA, Vespa developed the GT, which is offered as a 200-cc and 125cc four-stroke variant in Europe. The Miami Automobile Museum, in North Miami, Florida, claims to have the largest collection of Vespa scooters, with more than 400 items. Despite the introduction of the more modern “P” range in the 1970s, the lack of development cost Vespa and, as in other markets, sales fell dramatically during the economic boom of the 1980s. The design of the wheels was refined to facilitate their change in the event of a puncture, the seat was made comfortable and the entire operation of the scooter was intelligently placed behind elegant panels so that the driver would never run the risk of getting his clothes dirty. Synonymous with freedom and the latest in fashion, this modern motorcycle has become a fundamental part of Italian life and is the highlight of a vintage Vespa tour of Tuscany by Walkabout Florence.
The Vespa thrived until 1992, when Giovanni Alberto Agnelli became CEO, but Agnelli was already suffering from cancer and died in 1997. The design of the production Vespa included a cooling fan similar to the one used in the MP5 Paperino prototype, and the fender grilles were removed. The cultural use of the scooter as a recreational vehicle with subcultural followers in the U.S. The U.S., Canada and parts of Europe and Japan have also contributed to the increase in ownership of Vespa. The dominance of the Vespa declined during the 1970s, as the ownership of small vehicles increased and cheap and reliable everyday bicycles were sold, such as the Honda Super Cub.
At its peak, the Vespa participated in many official road and off-road races and was at the center of several successful challenges. The Vespa returned to the US market in 2001 with a new ET series with a more modern style, in two and four strokes of 50 cc and four stroke and 150 cc in four strokes. As it expanded to these markets, it was common for Vespa to partner with existing manufacturers or to license certain models to them. These were the main brands of scooters, offering higher prices to many people, including farmers, who linked themselves to the outside world through purchases made on them catalogs.
Fourteen years later, in 1960, two million scooters were sold, making this charming machine part of the history of motorized travel. William Wyler filmed Ben Hur in Rome in 1959, which allowed Charlton Heston to abandon his horse and cart between shots and go for a ride on the Vespa. In 2004, the PX (model of the year 200) was reintroduced in North America to meet market demand for the classic Vespa design.
