History of Vespa part I ( 1943 - 1960 )
- MP5 Paperino
Towards the end of the Second World War, Enrico Piaggio was driven to start up production again by the idea of offering the widest possible market low-cost product. And, with this in mind, the factory at Biella produced a motor-scooter (1943-1944). This prototype, designed by the engineer Renzo Spolti and coded MP5 (Moto Piaggio 5), was christened "Paperino", which means Donald Duck by the workers. But Enrico Piaggio didnt like it, and passed the job over to Corradino D’Ascanio to review the project and build something different, more advanced both technically and stylistically. However, before evolving into the Vespa, about one hundred Paperinos were produced, which are today highly prized by collectors. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder Bore: 50 mm Stroke: 50 mm Displacement: 98 cc Gearbox: Continuous speed-variator Transmission: chain or cardan Top speed: 60 km/h Suspension: 2 tubular holders with springs Brakes: drum Tires: 4.00-10
- Vespa MP6 Prototype
At the end of the Second World War, Enrico Piaggio gave Corradino D’Ascanio the job of designing a simple vehicle that was tough, economic, and elegant. It had to be easily rideable by anybody without dirtying their clothes, and have a seat for a passenger. Ascanio, who was not a great lover of motorbikes as such, drew up a completely original vehicle. Digging into his aeronautics background he came up with the idea of a vehicle mounted on a chassis with the gear change on the handlebars. He also put the drive on the rear wheel so creating a highly original wheel-mounted engine grouping. The front suspension arm, looking a bit like aircraft landing gear, made changing the wheel much easier. This prototype, the MP6, was still without a name when in September 1945 it was presented to Enrico Piaggio, who exclaimed, It looks like a wasp! Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine, with the cylinder in iron and the cylinder head in light alloy. Bore: 50 mm Stroke: 50 mm Displacement: 98 cc Top speed: 38 mph Suspension: elastic with a steel spring on the front wheel and rubber pads near the rear wheel and engine Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- Switzerland
Vespa brochure, designed by MArtinelli
- Vespa 98
The Vespa, or light motorized runabout, was presented to the public for the first time in April 1946 at the Rome golf club. The leg shield sported the new Piaggio logo, which replaced the former aeronautical emblem. The fortnightly magazines la Moto and Motociclismo dedicated their covers to the Vespa and the new scooter sparked off curiosity and surprise, but also a certain skepticism among the public. The first fifty vehicles were produced at the Pontedera factory at the same time of the official presentation. For the first few months the Vespa was marketed by the Lancia dealer network, and a total of 2,484 were produced in that first year. And so the adventure of the world’s most famous scooter began. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine. Horizontal cast iron with press-fit cylinder in iron and light alloy head. Bore: 50 mm Stroke: 50 mm Displacement: 98 cc Top speed: 60 km/h Suspension: elastic with spiral steel springs on the front wheel and rubber buffers for the rear wheel Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- Vespa 98 Series 2
The second series of the Vespa 98 (1947), of which 16,500 units were produced, included significant improvements over the preceding model, design-wise as well as in terms of technical and practical aspects. The front mudguard no longer had a hatch opening, and it had been reduced in size to make wheel changing easier in case of a puncture, a frequent occurrence in the post-war period because of bad roads. Magazines of the period noted that potential customers had to wait eight months for their Vespa 98. This led to the creation of a flourishing black market, with Vespas being sold at as much as double their normal retail price. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine. Horizontal cast iron with press-fit cylinder in iron and light alloy head. Bore: 50 mm Stroke: 50 mm Displacement: 98 cc Top speed: 60 km/h Suspension: elastic with spiral steel springs on the front wheel and rubber buffers for the rear wheel Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- Vespa 98cc Race
The first fabulous race Vespa was conceived for participation in various race circuits. With it, in 1947 Piaggio dealers could enter in speed contests. The Vespa in fact took part in several gradlent and track races, with many victories in the scooter category, among which the Naples Grand Prix in 1947 and the chronograph climb at Rocca di Papa (Rome). The Vespa 98 Corsas form derived from the standard production model, but it had a much smaller, bubble-shaped shield and small handlebars. The horn was taken off the steering column cover and seat is placed far back, so that the rider had to stretch to reach the handlebars. The rear brakes were also retracted to suit the riders elongated, aerodynamic position. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder enginewith cast iron horizontal cylinder and aluminum head Bore: 50 mm Stroke: 50 mm Displacement: 98 cc Top speed: 80 km/h Suspension: spiral springs on the front wheel, leaf springs on the rear wheel Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- Vespa 98cc Race (Circuit)
The creative genius of Piaggio’s engineers, which had led to the appearance of the first Vespa on Italian roads in 1946, was confirmed a few months later by the emergence of a real jewel from the experimental division of the Pontedera workshops. The Vespa 98 Corsa was built with the specific objective of showing the world that a small scooter could be extremely competitive on the circuit. In 1946 Vespa 98 Corsa (Circuit) was hence built for speed in its category and represented a concentration of innovative ideas to be tried out on standard production. It mounted the steering column and suspension on the right, a solution that would be applied to the Vespa 125 from 1948 on. The body was handbuilt on a steel frame. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine with cast iron horizontal cylinder and aluminum head Bore: 50 mm Stroke: 50 mm Displacement: 98 cc Top speed: 100 km/h Suspension: spiral springs and shock absorber on the front wheel, leaf springs on the rear wheel Brakes: drums Tires: Pirelli of the corsa type, 3.50-8
- Vespa 125
In 1948, Piaggio launched its new Vespa. From 1946 to 1947, 1,183 Vespas had been produced with 125 cc engine rise and the frame of the 98 model, which had been sold abroad. At the end of 1947, Enrico Piaggio decided to completely stop production of the Vespa 98 a new 125 cc model in Italy too. With respect to the original model of 1946, the engine size had been increased to 125 cc, and shock-absorber mounted on the rear wheel offered a more comfortable ride. The front wheel suspension had been modified too, with the arm being mounted to the right of the wheel, where it would remain for years to come. The 1949 version is slightly modified with improvement in its cooling system and gear control. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine with cast iron cylinder and the cylinder head in light alloy Bore: 50 mm Stroke: 50 mm Displacement: 125 cc Top speed: 70 km/h Suspension: helicoidal spring on the front wheel, elastic with helicoidal spring hydraulic shock-absorber on the rear wheel Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- France
Vespa est le scooter le plus diffusedans le monde (Vespa is the most widely distributed scooter in the world) brochure.
- Italy
Vespa is the most largely distributed motor scooter in the world brochure.
- Italy - Vespa 125cc brochure
Why the Vespa 125cc is the best selling in the world brochure.
- United Kingdom - Vespa 125cc brochure 1
Why the Vespa 125cc is the best selling in the world brochure.
- Vespa 125 Corsa 'telaio in lega'
In 1949 the Vespa 125 Corsa was manufactured, the frame was of aluminum alloy used in aircraft construction and assembled using alloy rivets, an avant-garde technological feature for the time. The larger fuel tank stretched towards the steering column, and was intended to offer increased range and optimize riding at high speed. The Vespa 125 Corsa took part in several city races, notching up man prestigious victories: in1950 Giuseppe Cau and Dino Mazzoncini gain the first and second place at the Bolgona Grand Prix; in the same year Cau wins on the Perugia with the Vespa 98 Corsa n.38. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder Bore: 53 mm Stroke: 56 mm Displacement: 125 cc Top speed: 130 km/h Suspension: helicoidal spring and calipers shock-absorber on the front wheel, rubber pad and leaf spring shock-absorber on the rear wheel Brakes: drums Tires: corsa type, 3.00-10.
- Vespa 125 Circuit
Towards the end of the 1940s most motorcycle constructors considered that the best way to publicize their products was to participate in the various motorcycles races that were generally held on town roads. The scope was to bring people closer to motorcycling and create potential customers. Piaggio did not want to be left behind and equipped a series of circuit scooters, like this 1949 example, to race in the categories reserved for them, making its mark right from the start and leaving behind all the other scooters. The Vespa 125 Circuit and previous circuit models were totally hand built by the specialists of the company’s experimental division and were used in races until the end of the 1950s by the official riders Dino Mazzoncini and Giuseppe Cau, who in 1950 wins the chronometer race Catani-Etna, gaining the first place in his category (125cc). Engine: Two-stroke Bore: 56.5 mm Stroke: 50 mm Displacement: 125 cc Top speed: 100 km/h Suspension: front with coil spring, rear with rubber stopper Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8 .
- Vespa Monthery
In order to promote the sporting image of the Vespa, Piaggio turned its attention to record breaking in the hope of reviving a glorious post-war tradition. On April 7 1950, on France’s Monthery circuit, these riders took turns as the Vespa spent 10 consecutive hours acquiring 17 world records: over 1 hour (average speed 134 km/h); over 100 miles (average 129.7 km/h), 500 miles (average 123.9 km/h), 1,000 km (average 124.3 km/h), and over 10 hours during which the Vespa covered 1,049 km. On a streamlined vehicle similar to this (the Vespa 125 Circuit alloy frame of 1949) rider Dino Mazzoncini also performed brilliantly in track races, most memorably in the head-to-head between Vespa and Lambretta that took place on the Genoa Circuit (Corsa Italia) and ended in a victory for Vespa in the motor class. Engine: Two-stroke Bore: 53 mm Stroke: 56 mm Displacement: 125 cc Top speed: 136.92 km/h average Suspension: front with coil spring, rear with rubber pad Brakes: drums Tires: 3.00-10 (for races)
- Vespa 'Siluro'
In 1951, Vespa set off to challenge the most prestigious speed trial: that of the standing kilometer. On the 9th of February, between the 10th and 11th kilometer on the Rome-Ostia motorway, a Vespa with two horizontally opposed pistons designed by Corradino D’Ascanio and driven by the test-driver Dino Mazzoncini, beat all standing kilometer records with a time of 21.4 seconds and an average speed of 171.1 km/h. The engine’s two drive-shaft were connected by cogs and each cylinder was served by a separated carburetor, outflow controlled by the piston on the magneto side. Liquid cooled with radiator on the left side. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder with opposed pistons Bore: 42 mm Stroke: 45 mm Displacement: 124.5 cc Suspension: helicoidal spring at the front and shock-absorber with calipers; rear with rubber pad and shock-absorber with calipers Brakes: drums Tires: 3.00-10 (for races)
- Vespa 125 - 1951
Very similar to the 1948 model, the 1951 Vespa was more comfortable, especially because of the addition of a hydraulic shock absorber to the front wheel. The major difference was the gear change, with soft control cables replacing the earlier push-rod linkage. From an aesthetical point of view, the rear lamp, round in the earlier models, was now rectangular; the saddle had a new color and design – it was closed in front to hide suspension movement. Very popular in those years, this was the model on which Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck made their romantic escapade in the unforgettable “Roman Holiday” movie. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine Bore: 56.5 mm Stroke: 49.8 mm Displacement: 125 cc Top speed: 70 km/h Suspension: elastic with coil spring and hydraulic shock absorber on both wheels Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- Vesp 125 U
Only 7,000 of this were produd so today it is amont those scooters most sought after by collectors. It was launched in 1953 as an economy model, the U standing for utility, and its price of the public of 110,000 lire was intended to offset competition by Lambretta. For the first time, a Vespa aimed at the Italian market mounted the highlight on the handlebars rather than on the front mudguard. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine with deflector piston Bore: 56.5 mm Stroke: 49.8 mm Displacement: 124.85 cc Top speed: 40.38 km/h Suspension: helicoidal spring on the front wheel, hydraulic shock-absorber with helicoidal springon the rear wheel Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- Vespa 150 GS
- Vespa 150 Sidecar
The Vespa sidecar was advertised in March 1948, following the success of the new 125 cc engine. The Vespa 150 VL 1 was the first to be built in this displacement, and the first were sold at the end of 1954. Studied in minute detail, the Vespa with the sidecar had suspension and had coil springs for stability and comfort on long rides. The sidecar, whose elegant, aerodynamic design was much admired, allowed the passenger to ride with the driver in comfort. The sheet metal sidecar was assembled by hand and link to the Vespa by a single tube, and it became a Piaggio exclusive that also envisaged the substation of the gear change ratio to facilitate riding on sharp gradients. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine Bore: 57 mm Stroke: 57 mm Displacement: 145.45 cc Top speed: 75 km/h Suspension: with helicoidal spring and hydraulic shock absorber on two wheels, with two helicoidal springs on the sidecar Brakes: drum on both wheels Tires: 3.50-8
- Vespa 150
- Vespa 150 T.A.P.
In the 1950s the Frfense minismissioned ACMA, Piaggio’s French licensee, to produce a vehicle for military use. The result was the very special Vespa 150 T.A.P (Truppe Aereo Portate – air troops carrier), of which about 6,000 units were produced from 1956 to 1959 at ACMA’s factory. Used by the Foreign Legion and French paratroopers, the Vespa TAP could be parachuted, and had a 75mm cannon (without recoil), six rounds of ammunition and two fuel jerrycans, and a small trolley. It was produced in two camouflage colors, green and sable. Engine: two-stroke single cylinder engine Bore: 58.5 mm Stroke: 54 mm Displacement: 145 cc Top speed: 66 km/h Suspension: helicoidal spring and hydraulic shock absorber on both wheels Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- Vespa 400
At k of the success of the Vespa, Piaggio decides to make an entrance into the world of the four-wheeler, still in the optic of producing an economic vehicle for a wide market. Once again Corradino D’Ascanio set out designing the little Vespa 400, a two-stroke car built in two versions. After its debut in 1957, 30,000 models were produced by ACMA, Piaggio’s French licensee, and in 1959, it even ran in the Monte Carlo rally. Engine: a rear-mounted, air cooled, two-cylinder, two-stroke engine driving the rear wheels Bore: 63 mm Stroke: 63 mm Displacement: 395 cc Top speed: 56 mph Suspension: independent four wheels Brakes: hydraulic on all four wheels Tires: 4.00-10
- Vespa 125 - 1958
Produced in torent color and beige, the 1958 Vespa 125 marked an epoch. It was the first Vespa on which two steel half-shells were joined to make the body. This type of frame had major advantages in terms of industrial production and would be used on all Vespa models thereafter. Another new feature of the 1958 Vespa 125 was represented by the commands hidden within the handlebar, which was also composed of two half-shells of pressed steel; a certainly more stylish feature that had been used until then only on the 150 cc models whose handlebars were, however, die-cast. The engine too had a new design – it was smaller, with the transverse strut incorporated into the crankcase. This was the last Vespa to use the 5% mixture. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine Bore: 54 mm Stroke: 54 mm Displacement: 124 cc Top speed: 75 km/h Suspension: helicoidal spring and hydraulic shock absorber on both wheels Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
- Vespa 150 GS - 1959
This was the last Vespa in the legendary GS series, firuced in 19 the successive engine and styling improvements made to the VS versions and numbered 2 to 5. The VS5 front shield had a stainless steel rim and a die-cast handlebar that concealed the control cables, exactly as on the VS2. It had a characteristic fan-shaped speedometer and the rear lamp had a stop light, which had become compulsory, with chrome trim. The front mudguard crest also had a new design. There were significant improvements to the braking system and the engine in general. It had a new carburetor and cylinder head with a hike in horsepower to make running smoother and more flexible. This model was manufactured from 1959 to 1962. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine Bore: 57 mm Stroke: 57 mm Displacement: 144.5 cc Top speed: 94 km/h Suspension: coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-10
- Vespa 150
Thhe evolution of the Vespa 150 (VBA), presented in 1958, with very few changes. The colomilar to thous one (metal sky blue). The side sacks are enriched by two aluminum decorations, and the rear light is larger and completely chrome-plated. This model enjoyed great success, thanks to its elegance and functional qualities ever since its first appearance at the Olympic Games in 1960. Engine: Two-stroke single cylinder engine Bore: 57 mm Stroke: 57 mm Displacement: 145.45 cc Top speed: 87 km/h Suspension: coil spring and hydraulic shock absorber on both wheels Brakes: drums Tires: 3.50-8
Sumber : http://www.vespausa.com
Surakarta,12 Juli 2012
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Label: history, history of vespa, sejarah, vespa
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