Just after its birth Wasp or Vespa (in Italian) became the most popular vehicle. The scooter was produced by the Italian concern of Piaggio.
On the photo: the Vespa scooter in all its glory.
In 1946, the company started an industrial-production of the Vespa. The new vehicle immediately aroused interest of a hard to please European audience. Experts note that the Piaggio company is a founder of the European design school of scooters. In fact, the Vespa is the first scooter that gained such a remarkable success.
On the photo: the Vespa scooter parked in one of the Italian streets.
Most people still believe that the Vespa is the most outstanding achievement of the Italians.
On the photo: fans of the number one Italian scooter.
The Vespa appeared in several successful films. Roman Holiday is one of the most popular films where Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn explored the Eternal City on a stylish Vespa scooter.
On the photo: an episode from Roman Holiday
The project of the scooter was made by aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio. That was an absolutely new idea. At that time, the scooter had nothing in common with all existing motorcycles. That is why the Vespa gained such a success.
Engineers excluded all unnecessary functions and left only the most useful. The scooter construction is based on aviation principles. The first characteristic feature of the Vespa became a frameless design.
The main advantage of the first model of the Vespa was a rather low price.
On the photo: Italian young people are testing a new Vespa designed for its 50th birthday.
It is interesting that in 1957, the USSR manufactured Vyatka VP-150, a copy of the Vespa scooter.
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