Only the very special things in life earn a legendary status and a loyal following, a privilege that Vespa motorcycles have enjoyed ever since their introduction 67 years ago.
Vespa scooters have developed from a simple and efficient object of transport into a lifestyle symbol. The Vespa became synonymous with freedom, easy to use for work as well as leisure. It has always stood for something unique.
It all started with one vision: designing a simple, robust and affordable vehicle. The vehicle had to be easy to ride for both men and women, be able to carry a passenger, and not get its rider’s clothes dirty.
Enrico Piaggio, in collaboration with Italian aeronautical engineer and designer of pioneering helicopters, Corradino D’Ascanio, introduced the Vespa scooter in April 1946 as an embodiment of that vision.
In 1947, 10,535 Vespas were produced; in 1953 production went to 171,200 units and, seven years later, the two millionth Vespa was rolled out, a figure that became four million in 1970 with the 10 million mark being reached in 1988. Today the total number of Vespas produced since 1946 is over 16 million, with about 130 different Vespa models so far.
The Vespa rapidly became a social phenomenon – sold from the start in Italy, and moved to other major European countries, including Great Britain, Germany, Spain and France by 1948.
In more recent years, Vespa has secured a cult following in one of the smallest countries in the world, Lebanon, and thanks to ANB Motorcycles, Vespa aficionados in the country got a true taste of these timeless Italian scooters.
Our question to you is: Do you Vespa? If not, head over to one of the ANB Motorcycles showroom, and you just might become one of us!