Graffi and Agrawal with Vespa, a lifestyle icon

History and birth

After World War II, in light of its agreement to cease war activities with the Allies, Italy had its aircraft industry severely restricted in both capability and capacity. Piaggio emerged from the conflict with its Pontedera bomber plane plant demolished by bombing. Italy’s crippled economy, and the disastrous state of its roads, were not immediately conducive to the re-development of the automobile market. Enrico Piaggio, the son of Piaggio’s founder Rinaldo Piaggio, decided to leave the aeronautical field in order to address Italy’s urgent need for a modern and affordable mode of transportation for the masses.

At the end of the war, Enrico Piaggio gave Corradino D’Ascanio, an aeronautical engineer, the task of designing a new type of two-wheeled vehicle. D’Ascanio built a completely new two-wheel concept which was totally innovative. Unlike motorcycles, he placed the engine on the rear wheel, a highly original concept. In September 1945, the MP6 prototype remained completely nameless until it was presented to Piaggio. Upon seeing the MP6 for the first time, Enrico Piaggio exclaimed: “Sembra una vespa!” (It looks like a wasp). Piaggio effectively named his new scooter on the spot – Vespa.

Star connection

In 1952, Audrey Hepburn side-saddled Gregory Peck’s Vespa in the feature film Roman Holiday for a ride through Rome – the popularity of the film helped boost sales. In 1956, John Wayne dismounted his horse in favour of the two-wheeler to originally get between takes on sets. Marlon Brando, Dean Martin, and the entertainer Abbe Lane became Vespa owners. William Wyler filmed Ben Hur in Rome in 1959, allowing Charlton Heston to abandon horse and chariot between takes to take a spin on the Vespa. In recent times, Bollywood has taken a leaf out of the international page and used the Vespa in several movies. The Italian style, attractive and colourful Vespa is famous not only with Indian customers but also with Hollywood and Bollywood actors and is often part of their movies.