Description

When the Vespa debuted in 1946, it was received with an air of skepticism. It was not a motorcycle but rather a vehicle born from the union between a car and an airplane. But it soon became a success. It was the first two-wheeled version of the compact and responded perfectly to the post-war need for mobility. It has also become famous for its unique design that many have tried to imitate; it truly is an icon. The Vespa is not just any scooter, it is THE scooter, known and loved all over the world. It is a rare example of a motor vehicle that has survived trends and crises while at the same time staying faithful to its original concept; a concept based on a sheet metal body that still distinguishes it from other scooters whose bodies are made of plastic. It is so much more than a mode of transportation; it is a time machine that lets us re-live some of the world s most exclusive moments of the last 72 years. From history to sports and from cinema to travel, this book s anecdotes and images, some of which have never been published before, narrate the never-ending evolution of a piece of Italy that has conquered all five continents and sold over 18 million vehicles.