It's All About Vespa: Vintage Ads and Celebrities' Glamour on These Classic Scooters

 

The Vespa scooter, an icon of an era marked by style, functionality and post-war revival, brings with it a legacy that extends far beyond mere mobility.

Conceived in 1946, the Vespa was born out of a desperate need for affordable, efficient transportation in post-war Italy.

Inspired by the aeronautical designs of Corradino d'Ascanio, Piaggio aimed to create a comfortable and functional two-wheeler for the masses.

The first Vespa, the Vespa 98, rolled off the assembly line and immediately attracted attention with its unconventional but attractive design.

From their introduction, Vespa scooters have been known for their painted, pressed steel unibody, which combines, in an integrated structural unit, a full cowling for the engine (enclosing the engine mechanism and hiding dirt or grease), a flat floorboard (the footrest Providing security). ), and a prominent front fairing (providing wind protection).

In 1944, Piaggio engineers Renzo Spolti and Vittorio Cassini designed a motorcycle with bodywork that completely enclosed the drivetrain and a tall splash guard at the front.

In addition to the bodywork, the design included handlebar-mounted controls, forced air cooling, small diameter wheels, and a long central section that had to be stretched.

Officially known as the MP5 ("Moto Piaggio No. 5"), the prototype was nicknamed "Paperino" (meaning "Donald Duck" in Italian).

Piaggio was unhappy with the MP5, particularly the high center section. He contracted aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio to redesign the scooter.

D'Ascanio, from whom Ferdinando Innocenti had previously sought advice on the design and construction of the scooter, immediately made it known that he hated motorcycles, believing them to be heavy, dirty and unreliable.

D'Ascanio's MP6 prototype had its engine mounted next to the rear wheel. The wheel was driven directly from the transmission, eliminating the drive chain and its associated oil and dirt.

The prototype had a unit spar frame with tension-bearing steel exterior panels. These changes allowed the MP6 to have a step-through design instead of a tall midsection like the MP5 Paperino.

The MP6 design also featured a single-sided front suspension, interchangeable front and rear wheels mounted on a stub axle, and a spare wheel.

Other features of the MP6 were similar to the Paperino, including handlebar-mounted controls and enclosed bodywork with a tall front splash guard.

Upon seeing the MP6 for the first time, Enrico Piaggio exclaimed: "Sembra una Vespa!" ("It looks like a wasp!") Piaggio effectively named its new scooter after that spot.

Piaggio filed a patent for the Vespa scooter design in April 1946.

The application documents refer to a "model of a practical nature", consisting of "a motorcycle with a frame with logically placed parts and elements covering all working parts along with mudguards and engine-cowing". , the whole of which "constitutes a rational, comfortable motorcycle providing protection from mud and dust without jeopardizing the requirements of appearance and beauty".