Piaggio Vespa Scooters: Illustrated History Books & Guides (2/2)

Vespa Scooters - Classic 2-stroke models (1960-2008) - Essential Buyer's Guide

The two stroke Vespa is rightly regarded as an iconic scooter. It's initial purpose was to provide low cost transportation to the masses in the 1950s, but it evolved through the vibrant '60s to became a symbol of the burgeoning youth culture, and on into the '90s when it became firmly entrenched as an Italian icon. The history of this phenomenon has been well documented, as has the subculture that surrounds it, but there has been no previous attempt to provide a guide to buying one of these classic scooters.

This book will help ensure that you avoid the main pitfalls and end up with your very own slice of La Dolce Vita on the driveway.This Essential Buyer's Guide is packed with good advice from running costs, paperwork, vital statistics, valuation and the Vespa community, right through to whether your scooter will fit in with your lifestyle. This is the complete guide to choosing, assessing and buying the Vespa of your dreams.

Product details

Author:	Mark Paxton
Details:	64 pages, 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.31 in (19.5 x 14 x 0.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Veloce Publishing Ltd (GB, 2016)
Series:	The Essential Buyer's Guide
ISBN:	9781845848835

Vespa 70 ans (Top Model)

Enrico Piaggio wanted it to be practical, simple, solid and accessible to everyone. This is how the aeronautical engineer Corradino d'Ascanio designed the Vespa in 1946.

Born in the post-war period, almost as an emergency, it has made a triumphant march throughout the world. More than 18 million scooters and 70 years later, the Vespa is not just a simple scooter but the symbol of Italian style and the entire southern art of living.

Günther Uhlig, one of the finest experts in the field, followed in the footsteps of the Vespa and tells in this book its unparalleled success, from the first prototype to the most recent model. This book is a feast for the eyes, with more than 500 magnificent photos that transport us to the heart of the Mediterranean art of living.

Product details

Author:	Günther Uhlig
Details:	252 pages, 10.4 x 9.1 in (26.5 x 23 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	500 b&w and color photos
Language:	French
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2016)
Series:	Top Model
ISBN:	9791028301224

Vespa - L'histoire d'une légende

Born in Italy in 1946, but adopted by the whole world, the Vespa has transcended fashions and seduced all generations. It has found itself at the heart of our lives in advertising, fashion and cinema.
From the first model to the electric Vespa, more than 70 years of technical advances and aesthetic adjustments are revealed through the inventory of the most important models of the brand and its entire universe.

Pages of the book "Vespa - L'histoire d'une légende"

Product details

Author:	Stefano Cordara, Valerio Boni
Details:	208 pages, 11.6 x 9 x 0.94 in (29.5 x 24 x 2.4 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many b&w and color photos
Language:	French
Publisher:	Editions E/P/A (F, 2019)
ISBN:	9782376710608

Vespa - Une révolution culturelle sur deux-roues

NEW

Created after the difficult 1940s, the Vespa became a symbol of Italy's recovery and its tradition of art and engineering.
A true innovation in two-wheeled transport, it became the most popular scooter in France, where it was built by ACMA in Fourchambault. More than just a vehicle, the Vespa represents freedom, friendship, and a joyful era. Today, it is part of cultural history.

This illustrated book tells the story of the Vespa from its beginnings to the present day, with 260 images showing its presence in cities and on roads over the decades. Past and present, the Vespa remains timeless.

Product details

Author:	Patrick Negro
Details:	96 pages, 9.1 x 7.1 x 0.35 in (23 x 18 x 0.9 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and color photos
Language:	French
Publisher:	Sophia Éditions (F, 2025)
ISBN:	9782385141073

Piaggio Scooter: Alle Zwei- und Viertaktmodelle mit Automatik (1991-2016) - Praxisratgeber Klassikerkauf

Buying guide for Vespa two- and four-stroke automatic models from 1991-2016.

This compact guide is an indispensable tool before and when buying a used Piaggio scooter. It contains the most important and helpful insider information about what to look out for when buying in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Product details

Author:	Henry Wills
Details:	64 pages, 8.25 x 5.9 in (21 x 15 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Heel-Verlag GmbH (D, 2018)
Series:	Praxisratgeber Klassikerkauf
ISBN:	9783958437098

Vespa - Klassische Zweitaktmodelle (1960-2008) - Praxisratgeber Klassikerkauf

Guide to buying the classic Vespa two-stroke models from 1960-2008.

Pages of the book "Vespa - Klassische Zweitaktmodelle (1960-2008)"

This "Praxisratgeber Klassikerkauf" is presented as usual in a compact form and is an indispensable tool for assessing the condition of a Vespa scooter for sale.
Expert advice and buying tips help every interested party to recognize whether it is an expensive gimmick or a bargain.

Product details

Author:	Mark Paxton
Details:	64 pages, 8.25 x 5.9 in (21 x 15 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	100 color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Heel-Verlag GmbH (D, 2011)
Series:	Praxisratgeber Klassikerkauf
ISBN:	9783868524918

Vespa Granturismo - Die großen Vespas: GT, GTS und GTV

With the Vespa GTS series introduced in 2003, the successful Italian scooter manufacturer Piaggio said goodbye to beloved design principles such as air cooling, foot brakes and manual transmission. Only the external design is reminiscent of its predecessors.
What initially looked like a risk for the traditional manufacturer continued the Vespa's success story. In Germany in particular, the GTS models lead the registration statistics.

Pages of the book "Vespa Granturismo - Die großen Vespas: GT, GTS und GTV"

Günther Uhlig tells the story of the Vespa Granturismo from its beginnings to today. With the help of 200 unique photos, the reader experiences the triumph of the GTS series first hand.

Product details

Author:	Günther Uhlig
Details:	208 pages, 10.6 x 9.25 x 0.67 in (27 x 23.5 x 1.7 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2022)
ISBN:	9783613044968

Vespa mi amore

In the beginning, the Vespa was just a practical, frugal car replacement. But then came the Swinging Fifties and movies in which a Vespa played a major role - and today they are more popular than ever.

Lutz-Ulric Kubisch and Günther Uhlig tell the history and stories of and about the little things with the knobbly wheels: a loving homage to unmatched classics that became trendsetters, copied many times - but never equaled.

Pages of the book "Vespa mi amore"

This completely revised, updated and 32-page-extended Vespa chronicle pays tribute to all Vespas, tells of technology, cult, kitsch - and offers countless great photos.

Product details

Author:	Lutz-Ulrich Kubisch, Günther Uhlig
Details:	264 pages, 10.6 x 8.25 in (27 x 21 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	409 b&w and 257 color photos, 60 drawings
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2014)
ISBN:	9783613037007

Vespa: Das offizielle Buch - Alle Modelle seit 1945

Small, nimble and often painted in candy colors: anyone who sees a Vespa on the streets recognizes it immediately. Since 1945, the cult two-wheeler has been traveling around the world in a triumphant march that continues to this day.
The iconic Vespa design was more of a pragmatic nature: the motorcycle had to be practical, economical and affordable, as well as maneuverable, just the thing on the potholed post-war roads.

Davide Mazzanti has documented the entire history of the Italian cult brand in an incomparable illustrated book. From the first prototype to today, all Vespa scooters and models have been captured in fascinating photos, many of them specially for this book. A must for every Vespa fan!

This manufacturer-authorized brand history of Vespa from 1945 to 2018 brings together all Vespa models, including the Vespa Ape, Vespa Primavera and Vespa GTS 250. Many never-before-seen Vespa pictures and many unique documents from the Piaggio factory archive.

Product details

Author:	Davide Mazzanti
Details:	384 pages, 10.4 x 8.7 in (26.5 x 22 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	1037 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Delius Klasing Verlag GmbH (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783667118585

La Vespa

The Vespa, now an acclaimed symbol of style, seamlessly blends modernity with tradition. From the 1945 MP6 prototype to the silent revolution of the Vespa Elettrica, this book represents the most comprehensive presentation of Vespa's history, delving into its evolutions in a way not done before.

Each page captures the essence of this iconic scooter, highlighting its role in urban mobility and its deep connection to culture. Evocative images and detailed narratives provide a profound insight, covering the early stages to contemporary models.
This book stands as a tribute to the Vespa, not just as a mode of transportation but as a timeless symbol of style that has captured hearts worldwide.

Text in Spanish.

Product details

Details:	336 pages, 10.6 x 9.25 x 1.97 in (27 x 23.5 x 5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	many color photos
Language:	Spanish
Publisher:	Susaeta Ediciones (E, 2022)
Series:	Atlas ilustrado
ISBN:	9788467777215

Vespa Tecnica (1) : 1946-1955: Vespa 98, 125 i 150

For each Vespa model produced during the period 1946-1955, the book includes technical specifications, construction details, and photographs of restored models. It provides technical drawings sourced from original user manuals, covering control schematics, electrical diagrams, point registration, and lubrication instructions. Additionally, it lists original paint codes, registration data, engine and chassis numbers, and engine diagrams.

Models:
- Vespa 98 (1946), 98/2 (1946), 98/3 (1947), 98/4 (1947)
- Vespa 125 (1948), 125 (1949), 125 (1950), 125 (1951), 125 (1952), 125U (1953), 125 (1953), 125 (1954), 125 (1955)
- Vespa 150 GS (1955), 150 (1955).

Text in Italian.

Product details

Author:	Roberto Leardi, Luigi Frisinghelli, Giorgio Notari
Details:	11.8 x 9 in (30 x 24 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	many b&w and color photos
Language:	Italian
Publisher:	CLD (I, 2003)
ISBN:	9788873990826

Vespa Tecnica (3): 1965-1976

For each Vespa model produced during the period 1965-1976, the book includes technical and construction details, along with photographs of restored models. It covers technical specifications, technical drawings from original user manuals (control diagrams, electrical schematics, point registration, lubrication), original paint codes, registration data, engine and chassis numbers, and engine diagrams.

Models:
- 50 Elestart (1969)
- 50 L (1966)
- 50 N (1965)
- 50 Special (1969)
- 90 SS (1965)
- 125 (1965)
- 125 GranTurismo (1967)
- 125 GTR (1969)
- 125 Nuova (1965)
- 125 Primavera (1968)
- 125 Super (1965)
- 125 TS (1975)
- 150 Sprint (1965)
- 150 Sprint Veloce (1969)
- 150 Super (1965)
- 180 Rally (1968)
- 180 SuperSport (1965)
- 200 Rally (1972)
- ET3 Primavera (1976).

Text in Italian.

Product details

Author:	Roberto Leardi, Luigi Frisinghelli, Giorgio Notari
Details:	189 pages, 11.8 x 9 in (30 x 24 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	Italian
Publisher:	CLD (I, 2000)
ISBN:	9788873990758

Vespa Tecnica (5): PX (1977-2002)

For each Vespa model produced in the reference period, this volume contains - in addition to the photographs taken on restored models - the technical and construction details, the technical characteristics, the technical drawings taken from the original users and maintenance manuals (control diagram, wiring diagram, registration of points, lubrication), the references of the original paints, the serial data, the position of the engine number and frame number and the exploded views of the engines.

Text in Italian.

Models:
- Vespa P125X-P200E (1977)
- P125X-P150X-P200E (1978)
- P80X-PX80-PX80E Arcobaleno- PX80E Arcobaleno Elestart (1981)
- PX125E-PX150E-PX200E (1981)
- PX125E-PX150E-PX200E Arcobaleno (1983)
- PX125T5 (1985)
- PX200 Arcobaleno Elestart (1994)
- PX Classic (1995)
- M09 (1998)
- M18 (1999)
- Time 2000 (2000)
- PX Restyling (2001).

Product details

Author:	Roberto Leardi, Luigi Frisinghelli, Giorgio Notari
Details:	184 pages, 11.8 x 9 in (30 x 24 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	Italian
Publisher:	CLD (I, 2002)
ISBN:	9788873990932