Vespa® Mopeds for Sale in Jacksonville, FL

Vespa

No scooter holds as much pop culture attention as the Vespa. Something about its pressed steel unibody and prominent fairing makes it easily recognizable. Stars like Audrey Hepburn and John Wayne helped make the Vespa popular in the states, while Mod subculture adopted the Vespa in Europe. While the Vespa heyday is mostly gone, they remain a stylish classic that appeals to riders who want to have a bit of fun on their commute.
 

History

Like many other European manufacturers, Vespa parent company Piaggio emerged from World War II with a problem: without wartime products, and with their plane plant demolished by bombing, they needed a new product to stay in business. It didn’t help that the Italian economy was in shambles and the roads were a disaster. However, the confluence of troubles was the perfect situation for Enrico Piaggio, son of Piaggio founder Rinaldo Piaggio, to take the company out of aeronautics and into affordable transportation.
 

Design

Piaggio engineers designed a prototype with its engine mounted beside the rear wheel, which was driven directly from the transmission and eliminated the drive chain and the oil and dirt associated with it. The prototype had a unit spar frame with stress-bearing steel outer panels. These changes allowed the prototype to have a step-through design to include a single-sided front suspension, interchangeable front and rear wheels mounted on stub axles, and a spare wheel. 

Upon seeing the prototype for the first time, Enrico Piaggio exclaimed  that "It resembles a wasp!" Piaggio effectively named his new scooter on the spot. Vespa is both Latin and Italian for wasp—derived from the vehicle's body shape: the thicker rear part connected to the front part by a narrow waist, and the steering rod resembled antennae.

Modern Iconic Status

Recent years have seen an upswing in urban riders purchasing new or restored Vespas. This has been in part due to lack of urban parking space and the Vespa’s low running cost. The cultural use of the scooter as a recreational vehicle with a sub-cultural following in the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe and Japan has also contributed to the rise in Vespa ownership. In contrast, the Vespa is considered a utilitarian vehicle for hauling products and sometimes up to 5 family members in much of Asia and Mexico. This resurgence in interest in vintage motor scooters has also spawned a scooter restoration industry, with many restored Vespas being exported from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia to the rest of the world.

The Vespa scooter is a great choice for those looking for a vintage vibe for their commute or a fun ride around urban streets. For the best deals on new and used Vespa scooters, head into Cycles of Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida, near St. Augustine and Orlando. Come in today!