In Praise of the Vespa

Is there any better marriage of form and function than the Vespa? Whether you're thinking of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in "Roman Holiday" or 60s British Mods, nothing else seems as quintessentially European or as synonymous with cool as a Vespa. For me, my first exposure to the Vespa was probably in Colin MacInnes' Absolute Beginners (at my brother's encouragement I read the novel as a teen, but yes I'm referring to the 80s Julien Temple movie with David Bowie in it that lead us there. As a footnote: A swinging, Vespa-riding freelance photographer who stores jazz albums in his refrigerator... It really doesn't get any more hip than that, does it?)


Vespa, which is the Latin word for "wasp", was given the name after the buzzing sound the engine makes and because of its bottom-heavy body shape. Inspired by an American scooter, the Vespa was developed by Piaggio & Co of Pontedare, Italy in 1946. The basic design (a "spar- frame" with gear shifts on the handlebars and the engine mounted on the rear wheel) was the brainchild of engineer Corradino D'Ascanio, who wanted to build a better alternative to the motorcycle. His vision was a bike that needed to be easy to handle and appeal to both men and women: a woman wearing a skirt could easily climb on with the open leg space design with footboard, as opposed to a motorcycle which requires one to mount. The design was highly practical and made with the rider's comfort and aesthetic sense in mind. The ample seat can easily accommodate a passenger. The engine is completely encased, keeping all the greasy components out of sight, and the pressed steel body is usually painted brightly giving it an overall clean and polished look. The flat footboard and frontal shielding protect the rider from wind and dirt, so of course riders don't have to be afraid to wear fashionable Italian clothing... no crass leather chaps required!



Even Salvadore Dali loved the Vespa, and customized one in 1962. (Pictured here.)





Piaggio & Co. sought to make a means of transportation that would appeal to the masses and be an affordable alternative to the automobile in the post-WWII economy. Given the current state of the auto industry and the present world economy, doesn't this sound like exactly what we need again?

Someday I will own one.


http://vespacanada.com/index.cfm