Who started Vespa?
Piaggio & Co. S.p.A.
The name means wasp in Italian. The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of Pontedera, Italy to a full line of scooters and one of seven companies today owned by Piaggio.
Who designed the Vespa scooter?
Enrico Piaggio
More than 16 million Vespa motor scooters have been made to date in thirteen countries and sold around the world. When he first saw the prototype, commissioned from Corradino D’Ascanio, a distinguished aero-engineer, industrialist Enrico Piaggio said, “It looks like a wasp!” Or vespa in Italian.
Why is Vespa called Vespa?
The first vehicle was created from spare aircraft parts that were actual pieces of landing gearsfrom Mussolini’s airplanes. It was designed by Corradino D’Ascanio. Because of the unique design, especially the front handle bars, and its sound, it was named Vespa, the Italian word for wasp.
When did the Vespa come out in Italy?
April 15, 1946
The first glimpse of the Vespa the public saw was on the cover of the popular Italian magazine La Moto on April 15, 1946 and, following this, it was launched at the 1946 Milan design fair, a year ahead of its competitors, Lambretta.
Are Vespas still made in Italy?
Vespas have been manufactured uninterrupted since 1946 at the Piaggio plant in Pontedera, near Pisa, in Tuscany, Italy. Ltd plant in Foshan City China, which plays a part in their production operations, but the majority of their production for scooters still takes place at their Pontedera, Italy headquarters.
Who is the manufacturer of the Vespa scooter?
Vespa (Italian pronunciation: ) is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian. The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of Pontedera, Italy to a full line of scooters and one of seven companies today owned by Piaggio.
When did Piaggio invent the Vespa motorcycle?
On 23 April 1946, at 12 o’clock in the central office for inventions, models and makes of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Florence, Piaggio e C. S.p.A. took out a patent for a “motorcycle of a rational complexity of organs and elements combined with a frame with mudguards and a casing covering the whole mechanical part”.
When did the Vespa ape Van come out?
In 1948, soon after the birth of the Vespa, production of the three-wheeler Ape van (the Italian for “bee”) derived from the scooter began, and the vehicle was an immediate success for its many possible uses. Numerous imaginative versions of the Vespa appeared, some from Piaggio itself, but mainly from enthusiasts – for example, the Vespa Sidecar]
What does the name Vespa stand for in Italian?
For other uses, see Vespa (disambiguation). Vespa ( Italian pronunciation: [ˈvɛspa]) is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name means wasp in Italian.
How much does a Vespa cost?
A new Vespa Primavera costs $4999.00 USD + tax + registration + dealer preparation fees + freight.
How many CC is a Vespa?
In light of vastly-increasing US sales, Vespa developed the GT, offered as a 200 cc four-stroke and a 125 cc variant in Europe. In 2004, Vespa reintroduced a modernized PX 150 to the United States.
What is a Vespa made of?
A Vespa is a fairly simple vehicle. The body of the scooter also acts as the frame, and is made out of pressed steel. Known as a monocoque frame, this gives a scooter a good ratio of strength and rigidity compared to its weight. This differs from motorcycles, which are built on a welded frame made of beams or tubes of metal.