This summer, Autoworld found another automotive birthday to celebrate, dedicating its main gallery to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Vespa.
The exhibition is arguably about style and feelings, associating Vespa with freedom, joie de vivre, youth, nimbleness, adventure, independence. In fact, independent mobility must have been quite a scarce resource 75 years ago.
Back then, Piaggo was among the very first companies to provide a stylish solution to mobility problems in the post-war rubble in Italy. The company itself was established in the late 19th century and had a long history in military production.
Vespa owes its name to its distinctive shape with a slim waist, curved rear but, most importantly, to its characteristic insect-like sound. Vespa means “wasp” in Italian, and Enrico Piaggio gave that nickname personally when he heard the prototype.
Autoworld’s 75th-anniversary exhibition covers 75 models covering all eras and models. The fleet of vehicles encompass machines dating from 1947 through to 2021.
On display, the very first through to the most recent Vespa models. The list includes the highly popular “faro basso”, the first side-cars, the three-wheeled APE and TriVespa light commercial models.
The 150 GS ‘Vespone” was the most powerful of the Vespa models for 17 years, but the podiums also showcase exotics, like a rally version, a TAP 150cc military version and a “U” model as in “Utility’ down to the current electric Vespa.
The podiums also feature ten particularly old specimens, discovered in barns displayed in the condition they were found.
The exhibition is open until mid-august (for more infos see Autoworld’s website). It is currently paired with an impressive E type exhibition (coming soon to Egzostive).
