AllMoto's Motorcycle Investor mag

Motorcycle Investor mag

Wasp World

Piaggio's Vespa celebrates 80 years

April 2026, by Guy 'Guido' Allen

Born out of poverty and necessity, Piaggio's Vespa line started as cheap transport and quickly developed into a cultural phenomenon. On April 23, 2026, it celebrated its 80th anniversary

Here's our quick historic backgrounder...

The Vespa (‘Wasp’) started out as a product from what was, pre-WWII, the giant Piaggio firm that made its name in heavy transport and particularly rail.

It also developed high-end aeronautical expertise and was making aircraft during the war. Above is a P.108 bomber.

WWII turned out to be ugly for Piaggio, which saw much of its capability destroyed.

Post-war it saw a need in Italy and the rest of Europe for cheap transport, and the design task was given to distinguished aeronautical engineer General Corradino D’Ascanio.

The inspiration for the design is likely to have come from the Cushman scooters or minibikes commonly used by the USA military, some of which were dropped out of aircraft during paratroop operations.

D’Ascanio initially worked on a scooter design with Ferdinando Innocenti of Lambretta fame, but the two butted heads and parted company. As a result, D’Ascanio teamed up with Enrico Piaggio, with whom he had developed a working relationship during WWII.

The original 1946 design (above) included a rear-mounted engine located as close as possible to the driven wheel (no rear suspension), a leg shield to protect users from road muck, and a front suspension design that borrowed then-current aircraft thinking.

Less than 2500 of the first version were produced, with sales at first incredibly slow until the company offered payment by installment. Two years later, an updated version (Series II, above) with rear suspension was released, sales soared and what became the Vespa phenomenon was well and truly underway.

Meanwhile D’Ascanio had continued working on helicopter designs for Piaggio. However that side of the business appeared to stall and he moved on to the Agusta group, which was far more active in aviation. He was credited with creating the company's first production rotary wing aircraft.