Piaggio Vespa Scooters: Books - History and Types (1/5)

Vespa - Style and Passion

Introduced by the Italian firm Piaggio in 1946 with the model 98, Vespa enjoyed quick success. The scooters' diminutive size and affordability were perfect for promoting postwar mobility. But as with most novel designs, it would also be highly imitated, destined for icon status.

From Piaggio's origins to the first Vespa prototypes to today's forward-looking Elettrica model, "Vespa: Style and Passion" is the ultimate retrospective of this beloved brand. A rich selection of visuals includes dozens of studio images of the most significant models from throughout Vespa history - including classics like the 125, 150 GS, Super Sprint, Primavera, and Rally - as well as period advertisements, rare archival photographs, and images of Vespas in popular culture and motorsport.
Mod culture, perhaps most responsible for spreading scooter culture, is also given its due with images of customized Vespas.

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Vespa 75 Years - The Complete History (Updated Edition)

April 1946: the first 15 examples of the Vespa leave the Piaggio factory.
This was the beginning of a unique and unrepeatable story, that of a revolutionary two-wheeled vehicle that as well as leaving an indelible trace in the history of transportation, has become an authentic cult object for every generation that followed. Simple elegant forms, practicality and riding comfort were just a few of the qualities that brought the popular scooter success on a global level.

75 years on from the first Vespa, this book - an updated version of the first part only, the historical one, of the successful "Vespa 70 Years", traces decade by decade the technical and stylistic evolution of this timeless icon. All this without losing sight of aspects associated with communications - ever a strong suit of the Pontedera group - and the ever-increasing interest of collectors.

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Vespa - All the models (Updated edition)

The Vespa scooter, first created in Pontedera after World War II, became a symbol of one of the most remarkable industrial success stories.
This book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date catalogue of all Vespa models ever published. It presents every model produced, making it an essential reference for users, collectors, and all Vespa enthusiasts.

This revised edition includes all the models introduced in the past three years, organized into large and small frame categories. Among the new models are the 125 and 300 GTS 75th Anniversary editions, the 125 and 300 GTS trim variants, and the 50, 125, and 150 models, each detailed in their different color schemes. The catalogue also features the 946 and the Vespa Elettrica, the latest major innovation.

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The Life Vespa

Since hitting the road in 1946, eighteen million Vespa motor scooters have buzzed the Earth.
Vespa's success lies in the uniqueness of its design - in the unmistakable sheet metal skin that, over the span of decades, has defined the concept of "motor scooter."

"The Life Vespa" celebrates all aspects of the scooters and the thriving culture that surrounds them. Since Vespa is affordable and in high-style, the life Vespa encompasses all walks of life, from street urchins to celebrities like Audrey Hepburn, John Wayne, and Brad Pitt.

Part of Motorbooks' "Life" series, "The Life Vespa" melds machine and culture to immerse you in la bella vita.

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Vespa - Italian Street Style

Produced in 1946, the first Vespa offered mobility to everyone. Italy was getting over its war wounds and getting about on a scooter. During the "Dolce Vita" years, "Vespa" meant "scooter"; foreign newspaper correspondents described Italy as "Vespa country", and the role Vespa played in Italian society is shown by its appearance in dozens of films.

Then, it became the two-wheeler for the time of the economic boom. And during the 1960s and 1970s, it was the vehicle for the propagation of the revolution of ideas that the kids of those years were establishing. Now the Vespa provides the perfect solution to today's congested cities.

Spanning 336 pages and featuring over 300 original photographs, many rare and unseen, Vespa, delves into the facets of the famous brand from its innovative technical and stylistic design to its freedom-inspired customers.
Divided into 6 chapters, each chapter details not only the evolution of the company and the development of the models but also the impact Vespa has had on the worldwide culture. The book is packed with unusual photographs from the Vespa archives, featuring all the models, famous faces, races and much more.

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Vespa - Illustrated guide to the identification / Guida illustrata all'identificazione

NEW

This unique book is an essential resource for Vespa enthusiasts who want to learn every detail about the evolution of the iconic Piaggio scooter.
Using extensive technical knowledge gathered over the years and thorough research on all models, the author has created thousands of detailed photographs showing every version produced by Piaggio in Pontedera from 1946 to 1983.
This illustrated guide presents entirely new material, documenting every minor change made to the various models designed for the Italian market. Thanks to the photographs and detailed captions, readers can learn exactly when specific modifications were introduced during the production of each model.
The book also features dozens of vintage advertisements and includes comprehensive production data and color codes used year by year.

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