News from Italy
Travel in Time with the Italian Beauty Vespa
Its age is close to the 8Os, but it has kept everything from its youth, cuteness and energy. Nevertheless, it still decorates the dreams of many of us as of the first day. Here is the timeless story of Vespa, the lively and timeless Italian beauty…
Starting as a two-wheeled vehicle, the Vespa has become a worldwide icon of Italy, a tangible proof of global success. This marvel of design not only left its mark on the post-war era and heralded the rebirth of war-torn Europe. Since 1946, when he stood up, it continued to drag the masses after Vespa and fascinate those who see it…
This cute, bumblebee-like scooter takes its name from Vespa, which means ‘wasp’ in Italian. Like its namesake, it likes social life. Fearless. Does not like violent, sudden movements. Father II. The versatile Cushman Scooter was made in the USA before WWII. It was so skilful that the American army went against the Nazi troops with this vehicle. The ease of use on rough roads was noticed in Italy, and they bought these vehicles for the benefit of soldiers. The war was over, but Europe’s economy and infrastructure collapsed. Driving on roads shattered by aerial bombardments had now become nearly impossible…
The solution came from the Italian company Piaggio, which was active in the aviation industry then. With a creative intuition, Enrico Piaggio, the boss’s son, was determined to create a low-cost, practical, mass-produced product. The ‘Vespa’ would be produced inspired by the Cushman Scooters made in America. It had to be a simple, robust, economical as well as comfortable, and elegant vehicle. The project was awarded to Corradino D’Ascanio, who was responsible for producing the first modern helicopter in Piaggio.
Corradino D’Ascanio made a series of revolutionary changes to the prototype built in 1943, called the “Paperino-Donald Duck”. With the wheel running directly from the transmission, he eliminated the drive chain, placed the gearshift lever on the handlebars, designed a monocoque body and added a cowling to protect the rider. In April 1946, the MP6 prototype took shape.
Vespa’s seat was wide and his waist was thin. Seeing the prototype for the first time, Enrico Piaggio said: “Sembra una vespa!” (looks like a wasp). And the name of the motorcycle was “wasp”, that is, Vespa!
The first 15 Vespas to come off the production line on April 23, 1946; At first glance, it amazed those who saw it with its elegant and original design. The public debut of the new vehicle was held at the Golf Club in Rome in the presence of US general Stone. The Italians, on the other hand, saw and touched Vespa for the first time in 1946 at the Milan Fair.
Vespa la stella
Mentre la Vespa si trasforma in un fenomeno sociale, l’Italia comincia a definirsi il “Paese Vespa”. Il fatto che uno dei personaggi principali del film Vacanze Romane del 1953 sia ‘Vespa’ ne è un’indicazione. L’era internazionale di Vespa inizia ufficialmente con il film di Audrey Hepburn e Gregory Peck che attraversano Roma in Vespa. Le vendite di Vespa sono in aumento e sta crescendo come una stella. Comincia a trascorrere la maggior parte del suo tempo sui set cinematografici. Da Quadrophenia a American Graffiti, Il talento di Mr. Ripley a 102 Dalmati è apparso in molti film. Molti nomi noti come Audrey Hepburn, Salvador Dali, Charlie Chaplin Marcello Mastroianni, Gary Cooper, Joan Collins, Milla Jovovich, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Anthony Perkins, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Nanni Moretti, Sting, Antonio Banderas, Matt Damon, Gérard Depardieu, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, Eddie Murphy e Owen Wilson diventano il suo compagno… La compagnia continua ancora sia sulla terra che tra le stelle…
Vespa soon hits the streets and hearts. Vespa, an economical, reliable and comfortable vehicle, becomes a part of city life in Italy in a very short time and its reputation gradually spreads all over Europe. In the 50s, Vespa started to be produced in Germany, England, France, Belgium and Spain, besides Italy. Other countries soon join the Vespa caravan.
The Vespa is produced on a large scale starting in 1946. So much so that four more versions are made within two years. Production soon increased: 2,484 scooters in the first year totaled 19,822 in 1948 with the new Vespa 125. In 1950, when it was licensed in Germany for the first time, the number of production reached 60,000 vehicles. Three years later it had grown to 171,200 and the number of Piaggio services worldwide, including the Americas and Asia, had grown to over ten thousand. This fascinating period was only the beginning…
Starling Vespa
As the Vespa turns into a social phenomenon, Italy begins to be defined as the ‘Vespa country’. The fact that one of the main characters in the 1953 movie Roman Holiday is ‘Vespa’ is an indication of this. The international Vespa era officially begins with the movie Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck exploring Rome from one end to the other on a Vespa. Vespa’s sales are increasing and it is rising as a star. From Vespa Quadrophenia, who started to spend most of his time on movie sets, to American Graffiti, The Talented Mr. He has appeared in many movies from Ripley to 102 Dalmatians. Audrey Hepburn, Salvador Dali, Charlie Chaplin, Marcello Mastroianni, Gary Cooper, Joan Collins, Milla Jovovich, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Anthony Perkins, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Nanni Moretti, Sting, Antonio Banderas, Matt Damon, Gérard Depardieu, Nicole Kidman , Jude Law, Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson become the companions of many well-known names around the world… The friendship continues both on earth and among the stars…
Alessandro Romano
