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| driving wasp |
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| if you think the vespa is just an ordinary motor scooter, you’re not doing justice to the myth surrounding this vehicle. driving a vespa is more about a certain way of thinking, feeling and living. and it has been for 60 years. today, the elegant style of the italian scooter is more popular than ever. |
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“whenever i look at her, she makes me smile.” if you think this sentence is a declaration of love, you’re quite right. however, it’s not dedicated to a charming woman but to an “indescribable feeling” for a carefully restored motor scooter: the vespa. it is being cared for, caressed and often given a name. there are few other vehicles that evoke such intimate relationships as this extraordinary scooter. for many decades, the vespa has been standing for the social developments of many different eras. the name “vespa” was inspired by the slim waist of the vehicle and derives from the latin word for wasp. its design is strongly influenced by the aesthetics of italian elegance and the ease of “dolce vita”. after all, italy is the popular motor scooter’s home country.
exactly 60 years ago, enrico piaggio commissioned flight engineer corradino d’ascanio with the development of the first vespa. in the beginning, it was supposed to be a simple and economical vehicle that could be used by anybody. however, during the 1950ies the vespa became a symbol of the economic miracle and later was turned into the stylish “trademark” and status symbol of the young generation of the 60ies and 70ies. particularly among the youth movement of the “mods” - short for modernists - the design of the elegant scooter became a symbol of their chosen lifestyle characterised by humour and slight arrogance. the “driving wasp” had its moment of cineastic fame when hundreds of lavishly “decorated” vespas (and lambrettas) cruised around the streets of london and brighton accompanied by background music by “the who” in the cult movie “quadrophenia”. today, the term “mod style” is still used for the lavishly redesigned motor scooters with their additional mirrors and chrome accessories. these driving works of art can still be seen today at frequent vespa meetings or “runs”. during the last couple of years, the new, modified piaggio vespa turned out to be a great success and has become a popular city vehicle. however, you will only find the true, authentic cult character in the older, rarer models that are still a symbol of timelessly beautiful style. |
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| helmut wolf |
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