by In Trieste
Vespa, the iconic Italian scooter, celebrates 76 years since the first patent was presented by Piaggio on 23 April 1946.
One of the top Made in Italy brands, Vespa’s landmark birthday coincides with the milestone of reaching 19 million scooters produced, with the vehicles sold in 83 countries worldwide.
Vespas have been manufactured, uninterrupted since 1946, at the Piaggio plant in Pontedera, near Pisa, in Tuscany.
The story of the Vespa dates back to the tail end of world war two, after the Piaggio factory that made Pontedera bomber planes was demolished by bombing.
Enrico Piaggio, the son of Piaggio’s founder Rinaldo Piaggio, decided to move away from the aeronautical field to address Italy’s urgent need for a modern and affordable mode of transport for the masses.
The first prototype, known officially as MP5 and unofficially as Paperino, displeased Piaggio who drafted in aeronautical engineer Corradino D’Ascanio to redesign the scooter in what became known as the MP6 model.
Upon seeing the MP6 for the first time, Piaggio is said to have exclaimed: “Sembra una vespa!” (“It’s like a wasp!”), effectively naming his new scooter on the spot.
Over the decades the Vespa has become known as a symbol of ‘La Dolce Vita’ and has been associated with youth and pop culture around the world.
