Vespa History
The History of Vespa
Vespas are convenient, compact and affordable and widely popular in the cities of Europe as well as other regions of the world including the United States, India, and Brazil. But how did this little transportation device become so popular and well-respected?
The History of Vespa dates back to 1945 in an Italy that was facing war and bombing. The economy of Italy during this time was dwindling and families were left jobless and money was going towards the Italian army and warfare. Mussolini was taking over the lives of Italians and the aircraft industry was highly restricted post World War II.
The Piaggio family was one of these war-struck families that had little hope for the future because their airplane company was experiencing devastations of war. In order to save their company from ruins, the two brothers Enrico and Armando Piaggio set out to invent a new type of transportation that would be affordable and efficient using what was left of airplane parts.
These airplane parts led to a unique design of the first Vespa in 1946 that ran on engines that were originally used as starter motors for propeller planes. The Vespa was created to be tough on the bumpy cobblestone roads yet able to travel quickly and with ease. Part of the reason was that Italy did not have an economy to redevelop its roads. The name Vespa actually means wasp in Italian and was inspired from the overall shape of the scooter.
The Piaggio Company aimed at building Vespas in large quantities through an industrialized assembly line fashion to provide a new way to travel for the masses. The first Vespas were showcased publicly at the 1946 Milan Fair where they sold fifty of them. Due to Audrey Hepburn’s Vespa riding scenes with Gregory Peck in “Roman Holiday,” the Piaggio Company saw sales shoot up to 100,000. Even clubs opened up for Vespa riders and fans. The History of Vespa reflects success in creating a demand that the Piaggio brothers did not see would come. Not only were they successful business owners, they also provided jobs for many Italians who were unemployed because of war.
The Vespa has established an alternative transportation mechanism deeply rooted in Italian culture. It evolved into more advanced design allowing both men and women to ride comfortably and being able to add accessories such as a child seat. The Vespa is a fun and reliable ride.
Despite its tremendous success, the Vespa experienced a drawback in sales due to competition during the early 1990s so it redesigned and refined itself into a newer model and sales increased. In 2003, the Vespa company almost came to bankruptcy because of the numerous changes in management. Robert Colaninno invested in the company and sought shares, which led to further success.
The Vespa has long been known to be a practical and utility vehicle that symbolizes the imagination of two individuals concerned for the public. As a result, the Vespa has been seen as a provider of freedom while travelling. It is also unique in design and a symbol of Italian artistic creativity, innovation and romance.
Filed under: Motor Scooters
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