Vespa: a lively evolution that has continued for 75 years [VIDEO]

In a video proposed by Vespa Official YouTube quickly traces the historical evolution of the Vespa. Listed are some models from a story that has continued for 75 years.

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The first Wasp it was equipped with a 2 cc 98-stroke single-cylinder engine and was offered in two versions: 55.000 lire were needed for a standard example, while 61.000 lire was needed for a "luxury" type equipped with options such as the odometer, the side stand and tires with white sidewalls.
Towards the end of '47 production increased and the following year the Vespa 125. The so-called Vespa "miracle" became reality with exponential growth, certified by the 19.822 vehicles produced in 1948. In 50, the production of the first German licensee also took shape, reaching 60.000 vehicles and then reaching 171.200 units three years later. Fame increased, also supported by initiatives such as the foundation and diffusion of Vespa Clubs.

The link with the international panorama became more concrete already in 1950, four years after its debut, with production in Germany by the Hoffmann-Werke company of Lintorf and the arrival of new licensees from Great Britain (Douglas of Bristol) and France (ACMA Paris). Just as production began in 53 in Spain with Moto Vespa SA of Madrid, founded in 1952 and becoming Piaggio España. Other examples are also cited in Jette, near Brussels, then in Bombay and in Brazil. Vespa also arrived in the United States with production in 13 countries and marketing in 114 countries around the world.
Among the productions remembered, some versions of which are also shown in the film, it is important to mention the historic production of the three-wheeled Ape motor van in 1948, another interesting story linked to Piaggio production. Equally fascinated are specimens such as: the Vespa-Sidecar or the “Vespa-Alpha” of '67 which, developed with Alpha-Wallis for agent Dick Smart, protagonist of spy films, was designed in a cinematographic way for road travel, flying, sailing and even diving.

Numerous examples of innovation

Refined style, technical and technological innovation are connotative aspects of the Vespa, factors found in the various examples throughout its history. In the 60s, for example, there was the advent of Vespa 50, “Vespino” it was another success within the Piaggio proposal, just as the Vespa PX dating back to the late 70s was equally interesting, the single most successful model considering the three million units sold. Among others, we also remember the Vespa PK 125 Automatica from 1984, the first equipped with an automatic transmission.
In the second half of the 90s, reaching its fiftieth anniversary, the range was introduced Vespa ET4 (the first model with a 4-stroke engine) ed ET2, so in 2003 the Granturismo 125 L e 200 L, followed by other news including the Vespa GTS 250 ie, which fifty years after Vespa GS Gran Sport it has become another historic production chapter given the adoption of a powerful 250 cc 4-valve liquid-cooled engine with electronic injection.
Then in 2006, in the year of the sixtieth anniversary, three other interesting models were proposed: Vespa GTV, Vespa LXV and the celebratory one Vespa GT 60°.
A reference to the past, precisely to the lines of the 70s, was then proposed in 2007 with the Vespa S, while in May 2008 the Vespa GTS 300 Super, the 145th model produced, also proving to be the best performing and the one with the largest displacement made up to then.

Coming to the most recent models, the sought-after Vespa 2011 was introduced in 946, an example of captivating design and the name a clear reference to the year Vespa was born. In 2013 the Vespa Primavera with displacements 50, 125 e 150, re-proposing the idea of ​​the “Vespino” in a contemporary key. There is no shortage of another interesting example of technological innovation like the Electric Vespa of 2018, currently in the versions with maximum speed limited to 45 km/h and 70 km/h and to commemorate the 75 years a special series has been proposed Wasp 75th linked to the GTS and Primavera models and limited to 2021 with a distinctive look.

Video: Vespa Official
Photo: Vespa