NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Vespa

Vespa is an Italian line of scooters manufactured by Piaggio. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... A subsidiary, in business, is an entity that is controlled by another entity. ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Florence (or Firenze, Florentia and Fiorenza) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, and of the province of Florence. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Italian small city in Pisas district. ... A modern scooter The Piaggio MP3. ... For the band, see Big Brother and the Holding Company. ... Piaggio is a company based in Italy that produces cars, motorcycles, scooters and aeroplanes. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 905 KB) Summary Kyle Thompson, Perth, Western Australia 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 905 KB) Summary Kyle Thompson, Perth, Western Australia 2005. ... Location of Perth within Australia This article is about the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. ...

The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of Pontedera, Italy — to a full line of scooters and one of seven companies today owned by Piaggio — now Europe's largest manufacturer of two-wheeled vehicles and the world's fourth largest motorcycle manufacturer by unit sales.^[1] A modern scooter The Piaggio MP3. ... Piaggio is a company based in Italy that produces cars, motorcycles, scooters and aeroplanes. ... Italian small city in Pisas district. ...

From their inception, Vespa scooters have been known for their painted, pressed steel unibody which combines a complete cowling for the engine (enclosing the engine mechanism and concealing dirt or grease), a flat floorboard (providing foot protection), and a prominent front fairing (providing wind protection) — into a structural unit as well as a singularly endearing and enduring shape.

As the first globally successful scooter, the Vespa has enjoyed tremendous prominence in popular culture — and has become a symbol of stylish personal transportation.

History

Post World War II Italy, in light of its agreement to cessation of war activities with The Allies, had its aircraft industry severely restricted in both capability and capacity. Image File history File linksMetadata Vespamilitare. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Vespamilitare. ... Military spec AMCA Troupes AerÃ³l PortÃ©es Mle. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Piaggio emerged from the conflict with its Pontedera fighter plane plant completely demolished by bombing. Italy's crippled economy and the disastrous state of the roads did not assist in the re-development of the automobile markets. 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.

Concept

The inspiration for the design of the Vespa dates back to Pre-WWII Cushman scooters made in Nebraska, USA. These olive green scooters were in Italy in large numbers, ordered originally by Washington as field transport for the Paratroops and Marines. The US military had used them to get around Nazi defence tactics of destroying roads and bridges in the Dolomites (a section of the Alps) and the Austrian border areas. Cushman is a manufacturer of industrial vehicles, personal vehicles, and other custom vehicles, including parking patrol 3 wheelers. ... For other uses, see Nebraska (disambiguation). ... For the game, see Paratrooper (video game). ... France Marines is the name of a commune in the département of Val dOise, France. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Combatants United Kingdom United States Poland New Zealand Canada Free France India and others Germany Commanders Harold Alexander Mark Clark Oliver Leese Albert Kesselring Heinrich von Vietinghoff Frido von Senger Strength 105,000 80,000 Casualties 54,000 20,000 The Battle of Monte Cassino (also known as the Battle... // The Dolomites (Italian: Dolomiti; German: Dolomiten; Friulian: Dolomitis) are a section of the Alps. ... Alp redirects here. ...

Pre-war Piaggio employee Aeronautical engineer General Corradino D'Ascanio, responsible for the design and construction of the first modern helicopter by Agusta, was given the job of designing a simple, robust and affordable vehicle for Ferdinando Innocenti, whose pre-war time focused metal tubing business Innocenti had suffered the same fate as Piaggio post-war. Innocenti defined a post-war vehicle to D'Ascanio that had to be easy to drive for both men and women, be able to carry a passenger, and not get its driver's clothes dirty. Aerospace engineering is the branch of engineering that concerns the design, construction and science behind aircraft and spacecraft. ... A South African Air Force A109LUH Agusta (now part of AgustaWestland) is an Italian helicopter manufacturer. ... Ferdinando Innocenti is the creator of the Lambretta motorscooter and a native of Pescia. ... The Italian machinery works named Innocenti was originally established by Ferdinando Innocenti in 1920. ...

The design

D'Ascanio, who hated motorbikes, designed a revolutionary vehicle. It was built on a spar-frame with a handlebar gear change, and the engine mounted directly on to the rear wheel. The front protection "shield" kept the rider dry and clean in comparison to the open front end on motorcycles. The pass-through leg area design was geared towards all user groups, including women, as wearing dresses or skirts made riding a motorcycle a challenge. The front fork, like an aircraft's landing gear, allowed for easy wheel changing. The internal mesh transmission eliminated the standard motorcycle chain, a source of oil, dirt, and aesthetic misery. This basic design allowed a series of features to be deployed on the frame, which would later allow quick development of new models.

However, D'Ascanio fell out with Innocenti, who rather than a moulded and beaten spar-frame wanted to produce his Innocenti frame from rolled tubing, thereby allowing him to revive both parts of his pre-War company. D'Ascanio disassociated himself with Innocenti, and took his design to Enrico Piaggio to produce the spar-framed Vespa from 1946.^[2] Innocenti, after overcoming design difficulties and later production difficulties through his choice of a tubular frame, went on to produce the more costly Lambretta line of motorscooters. Lambretta is a classic European motor scooter manufacturer. ...

The product

On 23 April, 1946 at 12 o'clock in the central office for inventions, models and makes of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Florence, Piaggio e C. S.p.A. took out a patent for a "motorcycle of a rational complexity of organs and elements combined with a frame with mudguards and a casing covering the whole mechanical part".^[3] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 867 KB) Summary Kyle Thompson, Pepper Box Hill, Salisbury, Wiltshire, 2005 Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Vespa User talk:Kylet User:True bacon22 Metadata... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 867 KB) Summary Kyle Thompson, Pepper Box Hill, Salisbury, Wiltshire, 2005 Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Vespa User talk:Kylet User:True bacon22 Metadata... Florence (or Firenze, Florentia and Fiorenza) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, and of the province of Florence. ...

The basic patented design allowed a series of features to be deployed on the spar-frame which would later allow quick development of new models. The original Vespa featured a rear pillion seat for a passenger, or optionally a storage compartment. The original front protection "shield" was a flat piece of aero metal; later this developed in to a twin skin to allow additional storage behind the front shield, similar to the glove compartment in a car. The fuel cap was located underneath the (hinged) seat, which saved the cost of an additional lock on the fuel cap or need for additional metal work on the smooth skin. A pillion is a pad or cushion (seating) behind the seat of the driver (rider) of a motorcycle, moped, or horse for a second person who is said to ride pillion (and is also often called a pillion). Bitch seat is somewhat vulgar American motorcycle slang for this seat. ...

The scooter had rigid rear suspension and small 8-inch (200 mm) wheels that allowed a compact design and plenty of room for the rider's legs. The Vespa's enclosed, horizontally-mounted two-stroke 98 cc engine acted directly on the rear drive wheel through a three-speed transmission. The twistgrip-controlled gear change involved a system of rods. The early engine had no cooling, but fan blades were soon attached to the flywheel (otherwise known as the magneto, which houses the points and generates electricity for the bike and for the engine's spark) to push air over the cylinder's cooling fins. The modern Vespa engine is still cooled this way. The mixture of two-stroke oil in the fuel produced high amounts of smoke, and the engine made a high buzzing sound like a wasp. The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by completing the same four processes (intake, compression, power, exhaust) in only two strokes of the piston rather than four. ... For other uses, see Wasp (disambiguation). ...

The name Vespa

The first prototype was given the initials MP5 and baptized "Paperino," the Italian name for Donald Duck, a nick-name given to it by the workers because of the strange shape it had. Enrico Piaggio did not like the design and asked D'Ascanio to redesign it - which he did with a more aeronautical-derived aerodynamic look.^[3] Italian is a Romance language spoken by about 70 million people, most of whom live in Italy. ... Donald Duck is an animated cartoon and comic-book character from Walt Disney Productions. ... A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Nick is short for Nicholas). ...

When the second prototype called MP6, was shown to Enrico Piaggio and he heard the buzzing sound of the engine he exclaimed: "Sembra una vespa!" ("It reminds me of a wasp!") The name stuck.^[4]

Vespa is both Latin and Italian for wasp—derived from both the high-pitched noise of the two-stroke engine, and adopted as a name for the vehicle in reference to its body shape: the thicker rear part connected to the front part by a narrow waist, and the steering rod resembled antennae. For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Wasp (disambiguation). ... Insects display a wide variety of antennal shapes. ...

Ape (pronounced Ah-pay), is Italian for bee. This was the three-wheeled variant used for commercial purposes, including the popular auto rickshaw. For other uses, see Western honey bee and Bee (disambiguation). ... Passengers and drivers meet at this auto rickshaw stand in Chennai. ...

Launch

Piaggio filed a patent for the Vespa scooter design in April 1946. The application documents referred to a "model of a practical nature" for a "motorcycle with rationally placed parts and elements with a frame combining with mudguards and engine-cowling covering all working parts", of which "the whole constitutes a rational, comfortable motorcycle offering protection from mud and dust without jeopardizing requirements of appearance and elegance". The patent was approved the following December.

The first 13 examples appeared in spring 1946, and reveal their aeronautical background. In the first examples, one can recognize the typical aircraft technology. Attention to aerodynamics is evident in all the design, in particular on the tail. It was also one of the first vehicles to use monocoque construction (where the body is an integral part of the chassis).

The company was aiming to manufacture the new Vespa in large numbers, and their longstanding industrial experience led to an efficient Ford-style volume production line. The scooter was presented to the press at Rome Golf Club, where journalists were apparently mystified by the strange, pastel coloured, toy-like object on display. But the road tests were encouraging, and even with no rear suspension the machine was more manoeuvrable and comfortable to ride than a traditional motorcycle. â€œFordâ€ redirects here. ...

Following its public debut at the 1946 Milan Fair, the first fifty sold slowly—then with the introduction of payment by installments, sales took off.

Sales and development

Piaggio sold some 2,500 Vespas in 1947, over 10,000 in 1948, 20,000 in 1949, and over 60,000 in 1950^[5]. Image File history File linksMetadata Vespasidecar. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Vespasidecar. ...

The biggest sales promo ever was Hollywood. In 1952, Audrey Hepburn side-saddled Gregory Peck's Vespa in the film Roman Holiday for a ride through Rome, resulting in over 100,000 sales. In 1956, John Wayne dismounted his horse in favor of the two-wheeler to originally get between takes on sets^[6]. By the end of the fifties, Lucia Bosé and her husband, the matador Luis Miguel Dominguín^[7], as well as Marlon Brando, Dean Martin, and the entertainer Abbe Lane had become 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^[8]^[9]. Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929) â€“ January 20, 1993) was an English Academy Award-, Tony Award-, Grammy Award-, and Emmy Award-winning film and stage actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian. ... Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 â€“ June 12, 2003) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor. ... Roman Holiday is a 1953 romantic comedy. ... For other persons named John Wayne, see John Wayne (disambiguation). ... Lucia BosÃ© - Miss Italia 1947 Lucia BosÃ© (28 January 1931) is a successful Italian actress, who was at the height of her fame during the period of Italian Neorealism, the 1940s and 1950s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Marlon Brando, Jr. ... Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti, June 7, 1917 â€“ December 25, 1995) was an Italian-American singer, film actor, television personality, and comedian. ... The cover of Lanes 1958 album Be Mine Tonight. ... William Wyler (July 1, 1902 â€“ July 27, 1981) was a prolific, Oscar-winning motion picture director. ... Ben-Hur is a 1959 epic film directed by William Wyler, and is the third film version of Lew Wallaces novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880). ... Charlton Heston (born October 4, 1924) is an US-american film actor, known for playing larger-than-life heroic roles such as Moses in The Ten Commandments, Colonel George Taylor in Planet of the Apes, and Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur. ...

Vespa clubs popped up throughout Europe, and by 1952, worldwide Vespa Club membership had surpassed 50,000. By the mid-1950s, Vespas were being manufactured under licence in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and Spain; in the 1960s, production was started in India, Brazil and Indonesia. By 1956, one million had been sold, then two million by 1960. By the 1960s, the Vespa—originally conceived as a utility vehicle—had come to symbolize freedom and imagination, and resulted in further sales boosts: four million by 1970, and ten million by the late 1980s. Between 1957 and 1961 a reverse-engineered and partially redesigned version of the Vespa was made in USSR under the name Vjatka-VP150^[10]

Improvements were made to the original design and new models were introduced. The 1948 Vespa 125 had rear suspension and a bigger engine. The headlamp was moved up to the handlebars in 1953, and had more engine power and a restyled rear fairing. A cheaper spartan version was also available. One of the best-loved models was the Vespa 150 GS introduced in 1955 with a 150 cc engine, a long saddle, and the faired handlebar-headlamp unit. Then came the 50 cc of 1963, and in 1968 Vespa 125 Primavera became one of the most durable of all.

Vespas came in two sizes, referred to as "largeframe" and "smallframe". The smallframe scooters came in 50cc, 90cc, 100 cc, and 125 cc versions, all using an engine derived from the 50 cc model of 1963, and the largeframe scooters in 125cc,150cc,160cc,180cc and 200 cc displacements using engines derived from the redesigned 125 cc engine from the late 50's. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1952x2608, 2436 KB) Description: *Piaggio Vespa PX 125 Source: Walter Vermeir --Walter 00:57, 17 January 2006 (UTC) Photo taken at the European Motor Show Brussels 2006, Belgium, 2006 http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1952x2608, 2436 KB) Description: *Piaggio Vespa PX 125 Source: Walter Vermeir --Walter 00:57, 17 January 2006 (UTC) Photo taken at the European Motor Show Brussels 2006, Belgium, 2006 http://www. ...

The largeframe Vespa evolved into the PX range (still in production in 125 and 150 cc versions - update Piaggio just stopped production July 2007) in the late 70's, while the smallframe evolved into the PK range in the early 80's although some vintage-styled smallframes were produced for the Japanese market as late as the mid 90's.

The 1990s and beyond

By the early 1990s, Vespa was in crisis. Its models were selling slowly; two-strokes were being withdrawn around the world due to environmental concerns; new Asian manufacturers were stealing market share with cheaper/lighter bikes; and cars were very cheap. As a result, sales had fallen and production in Europe had been pulled back to Italy. Vespa needed a miracle—and a new model, beyond the PX.

The ET model range stuck true to the wasp/aero design principles. It was lighter, more aerodynamic, had an automatic gearbox and could take a series of engines from a 50 cc in either two-stroke or four-stroke, up to a 150 cc four stroke^[11]. Plus, it was launched when traffic congestion in major European cities was on the increase, so the smaller wheel size didn't matter. It was a complete success, and allowed Vespa to re-enter the North American market in 2001 with a new, more modern style. The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by completing the same four processes (intake, compression, power, exhaust) in only two strokes of the piston rather than four. ... Today Internal combustion engines in cars, trucks, motorcycles, construction machinery and many others, most commonly use a four-stroke cycle. ...

When Vespa celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1996, more than 15 million of the scooters had been sold worldwide, making it the most successful scooter of all time. Other companies vied with Piaggio for market share, but none came close to emulating the success—or romance—of Vespa. The nostalgic image of Vespa, however, could not hide the fact that Vespa was making a loss.

Under new ownership

In 2003, the company found itself close to bankruptcy. Continual management changes and millions spent on many different plans and products had saddled Piaggio with crushing debts and left it vulnerable to competition from cheaper Asian rivals.

In 1959, Piaggio came under the control of the Agnelli family, the owners of car maker Fiat SpA. Vespa thrived until 1992 when Giovanni Alberto Agnelli became CEO, but Agnelli was already suffering from cancer, and died in 1997. In 1999, Morgan Grenfell Private Equity acquired Piaggio, but a quickly hoped-for sale was dashed by a failed joint venture in China. For other uses, see Fiat (disambiguation). ... J. S. Morgan & Co. ...

Then came Roberto Colaninno: A lot of people told me I was crazy. Piaggio wasn't dying. It just needed to be treated better. Piaggio's finances were in a bad shape, but its brand was still well-known and its products were featuring in more Hollywood films thanks to the Vespa ET4. In October 2003, Colaninno made an initial investment of 100 million euros through his holding company Immsi SpA in exchange for just under a third of Piaggio and the mandate to run it. Chief executive Rocco Sabelli, redesigned the factory to Japanese principles, and redesigned the factory so that every Piaggio scooter could be made on any assembly line.

Colaninno laid down some rules, and made quick changes: he didn't fire a single worker—a move which helped seduce the company's skeptical unions; all bonuses for blue-collar workers and management were based on the same criteria: profit margins and customer satisfaction. Air conditioning was installed in the factory, and he gave the company's engineers, who had been idled by the company's financial crisis, deadlines for projects. They rolled out two world firsts in 2004: a gas-electric hybrid scooter and a scooter with two wheels in front and one in back which grips the road better.

One of Piaggio's problems Mr. Colaninno couldn't fix from the inside was its scale. Even though Piaggio was the European market leader, it was dwarfed by rivals Honda and Yamaha. A year after rescuing Piaggio, Colaninno decided to salvage another Italian brand: scooter and motorcycle maker Aprilia. On July 11, 2006, shares of Piaggio & Co., became available to the general public through listing on the Milan [Italy] Stock Exchange or Borsa Italiana. Piaggio share prices, converted to US Dollars, may be found under the trading symbol: PIAGF. This article is about the Japanese motor corporation. ... Yamaha Motor Company Limited ) (TYO: 7272), a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company (whose HQ is at 2500 Shingai, Iwata, Shizuoka), is part of the Yamaha Corporation. ... An Aprilia RS125, model of 1998. ... The Borsa Italiana S.p. ...

Re-entry to North America

Piaggio first came back into the market in 2001 w/ the ET2 (two stroke 50cc) and ET4 (four stroke 150cc). In 2004, the PX (model year 2005) was re-introduced to North America to meet classic market demand. Growth in the US market and worldwide environmental concerns meant the need for larger and cleaner engines, so Vespa developed the LEADER (Low Emissions ADvanced Engine Range) series of four stroke engines. The larger Granturismo frame, with larger 12-inch (300 mm) wheels, was introduced to handle the additional power. The bike in 2006 spawned a GTS250ie version, with an upgraded suspension and the new QUASAR (QUarter-liter Smooth Augmented Range) 250cc fuel injected engine, capable of 80+ MPH. In 2005, the ET was withdrawn from Europe and North America and replaced by a new small-frame scooter, the LX range. These were available in the USA in 50 cc and 150 cc versions, while Europeans could choose a 125 cc. Image File history File links 1998_Vespa_ET4_125_-_Silver_RHS_Front. ... Image File history File links 1998_Vespa_ET4_125_-_Silver_RHS_Front. ...

Design Icon

With its elegant lines and classic aesthetics, the Vespa is recognized as the epitome of Italian design. In recent years, many urban commuters have purchased new or restored Vespas. A shortage of available parking for automobiles in large urban areas and the Vespa's low running costs are two reasons for the increase in Vespa (and other scooter) popularity. The cultural use of the scooter as a recreational vehicle with a sub-cultural following in the USA/Canada and parts of Europe & 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

Vespa enthusiasts can visit the comprehensive Piaggio Museum & Gift Shop adjacent to the plant in central Pontedera, near Pisa, Tuscany. The permanent exhibition includes those items which toured prestigious venues such as the Guggenheim in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Also on display is, perhaps, the most famous Vespa of them all - the one personally customised by Salvador Dalí in 1962. Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto DalÃ i DomÃ¨nech, 1st Marquis of PÃºbol (May 11, 1904 â€“ January 23, 1989), was a Spanish surrealist painter of Catalan descent born in Figueres, Catalonia (Spain). ...

Global Markets

Europe

Vespa's largest market by all measures globally is still Italy, but as a result of the Mod youth revolution of the 1960s, the United Kingdom is still Vespa's second largest global market - and at one point in the 1960s, its largest. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The appeal of the Vespa to the style conscious Mods was the weather protection - as opposed to their counterparts the Rockers, who rode classic British oily twins like Triumph Bonneville and BSAs, and needed to dress up in leather against both the elements and their oily bikes. The definitive Wild One. ... Triumph Bonneville can refer to two different British motorcycles. ... The Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) was a British manufacturer of vehicles, firearms, and military equipment, and still exists as an airgun sport manufacturer and distributor. ...

Mods would modify their Vespas, adding lights, mascots, accessories, various racks and crash bars (profusions of mirrors were NOT a 60's fashion it became one after the release of the quadrophenia album and film which featured scooters customised this way in the 70's). The whole phenomenon was dramatised with varying degrees of accuracy in Quadrophenia,the film based on The Who album of the same name. Quadrophenia is a 1979 British film based on the 1973 rock opera album Quadrophenia by The Who. ... The Who are an English rock band that formed in 1964. ...

The dominance of the Vespa declined through the 1970s, as small car ownership increased and cheap and reliable commuter bikes like the Honda Super Cub hit sales. Despite the introduction of the more modern 'P' range in the 70's however, the lack of development cost Vespa, and like other markets the sales fell off drastically in the economic boom 1980s. Then Vespa introduced the trendy automatic ET2, London introduced the congestion charge - and partly with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's indirect help from his BBC2 series - sales suddenly leapt.^[12] The Honda Super Cub also known as the Honda Cub, Honda 50, and Honda C50, is a small 49 cc 4-stroke model manufactured by Honda Motor Co. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The white-on-red C marks all entrances to the congestion charge zone. ... This article is about the TV chef. ... BBC Two (or BBC2 as it was formerly styled) was the second UK television station to be aired by the BBC. History The channel was scheduled to begin at 7:20pm on April 20, 1964 and show an evening of light entertainment, starting with the comedy show The Alberts and...

North America

Much as Vespa had used the Cushman Army scooter as inspiration for its original design, Vespa in turn also made scooters for Sears and Cushman post World War II^[13]. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x802, 192 KB) Summary A Vespa scooter dealership in San Francisco, California. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x802, 192 KB) Summary A Vespa scooter dealership in San Francisco, California. ... San Francisco redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Imported by Morton Colby of the LLM Group , the Sears models were 3 and 4 speed 125 cc Vespas rebadged as Sears Allstate Cruiseaires. Innocenti also distributed their Lambretta brand via Montgomery Wards catalogue at this post WWII period. These were the premier brands of scooters, bringing premium pricing to many, including farmers, whose link to the outside world was via purchases made in these catalogues. Cushman sold rebadged Vespa scooters as Cushmans, but many Cushman dealers refused to market a "foreign" machine. However, collectors prize the Cushman Vespa because it is relatively rare. NSU Lambretta The Lambretta was a line of motor scooters manufactured in Milano (Milan), Italy. ...

Bankruptcy of Vespa's American importer due to two expensive product liability lawsuits, increased competition from Japanese manufacturers, and certain states passing so-called "green laws" caused a withdrawal from the US market in late 1981.

During 1981-2001, despite an absence of United States domestic sales, Vespas continued to have a core group of enthusiasts who kept vintage scooters on the road by rebuilding, restoring, and adding performance enhancing engine parts as the stock parts would wear out.

Vespa returned to the US market in 2001 with a new, more modern style ET series, in 50 cc two and four stroke, and 150 cc four stroke. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, U.S. scooter sales increased fivefold over six years, swelling from 12,000 units in 1997 to 69,000 units in 2002. Vespa sales in the U.S. increased 27 percent between 2001 and 2002. The 65 "Vespa Boutiques" scattered throughout the U.S. gave scooterists a place to buy, service, and customize Vespa scooters, and outfit themselves in everything from Vespa watches and helmets to Vespa jackets, T-shirts, and sunglasses. Vespa restarted its American sales effort, opening its first boutique on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks, Calif.

In light of vastly increasing US sales, Vespa developed the GT, offered 200 cc four stroke and a 125 cc variant in Europe. In 2004 Vespa reintroduced a modernized PX 150 to the US. In the fall of 2005, Piaggio offered their largest Vespa scooter model ever, the 250 cc engined GTS250 available in Europe with ABS.

Rest of world

Vespas acquired popularity beyond Europe and North America. In India, Piaggio transferred Vespa technology to Bajaj Auto. Bajaj used to sell in North America in the early 1980s but later withdrew from the market due to litigation threats from Piaggio. Download high resolution version (1024x768, 325 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 325 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Location Coordinates: , Country Settled Ayutthaya Period Founded as capital 21 April 1782 Government - Type Special administrative area - Governor Apirak Kosayothin Area - City 1,568. ... Bajaj Auto is a major Indian automobile manufacturer. ...

Another Vespa clone producer in India was LML Motors. They were a large Piaggio parts provider and licensed to manufacture for the P series of Vespa scooters to the Asian markets. LML had manufactured a range of Vespa P series clones using their Piaggo/Vespa molds and machinery. Production of LML scooters has ceased after worker strikes and discontent at the LML factory progressed to a management lockout on March 7, 2006. LML (formerly Lohia Machines Ltd) is an Indian motorcycle manufacturer. ...

Though dominated by Honda and Japanese makes, Vespas are also widespread throughout Southeast Asia. Motor scooters remain economical forms of transport in the congested cities of Asia and there is a large manufacturing base of parts and accessories. The resurgence in interest in vintage motor scooters has also spawned the scooter restoration industry, with many restored Vespas being exported from Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia to the rest of the world. This has created controversy amongst scooter enthusiasts as the quality of the restorations vary greatly.

Racing

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Vespa and Lambretta scooters were raced competitively against motorcycles, often winning the races. In the mid 1960s, motorcycle engines became larger and faster, and a gap was created — along with varying cc classifications. Since the 1980s, Vespa and Lambretta racing has grown into a serious sport in the United States. There are various classes in the United States, depending on the racing association. They are generally:

Vespa Models

There have been 138 different versions of the Vespa - today there are just four models in production: the classic, manual transmission PX; and the modern CVT transmission LX, GT, and GTS. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ... The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a transmission in which the ratio of the rotational speeds of two shafts, as the input shaft and output shaft of a vehicle or other machine, can be varied continuously within a given range, providing an infinite number of possible ratios. ...

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (576x853, 99 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Vespa Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (576x853, 99 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Vespa Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 602 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (988 Ã— 984 pixel, file size: 200 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author:paul goodwin I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 602 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (988 Ã— 984 pixel, file size: 200 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author:paul goodwin I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ...

Historic models

Recent models

Current models

Specials

Vespas in popular culture

Famous Vespa riders

This is a list of famous people who have owned or ridden Vespas (not just for career or publicity purposes).

Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss actress and a major sex symbol of the 1960s. ... David James Arquette (born September 8, 1971) is an American actor. ... Mario Batali (b. ... Jean Paul Belmondo Jean-Paul Belmondo (born April 9, 1933) is a French actor. ... Lucia BosÃ© - Miss Italia 1947 Lucia BosÃ© (28 January 1931) is a successful Italian actress, who was at the height of her fame during the period of Italian Neorealism, the 1940s and 1950s. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Marlon Brando, Jr. ... Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is a Tony Award-winning American film and stage actor who is best known for his roles as the title character in Ferris Buellers Day Off and the adult Simba in Disneys The Lion King. ... This article is about the state. ... Sandra Annette Bullock (born July 26, 1964) is a German-American film actress. ... Charles Chaplin redirects here. ... Geraldine Chaplin (born July 31, 1944 in Santa Monica, California) is an Anglo-American actress. ... Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper May 7, 1901 â€“ May 13, 1961) was a two-time Academy Award-winning American film actor of English heritage. ... Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto DalÃ i DomÃ¨nech, 1st Marquis of PÃºbol (May 11, 1904 â€“ January 23, 1989), was a Spanish surrealist painter of Catalan descent born in Figueres, Catalonia (Spain). ... Salvador DalÃ, Galarina, 1944. ... Piaggio is a company based in Italy that produces cars, motorcycles, scooters and aeroplanes. ... Italian small city in Pisas district. ... Robert Mario De Niro, Jr. ... GÃ©rard Xavier Marcel Depardieu, CQ (born 27 December 1948, ) is an Academy Award-nominated French actor. ... Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11, 1974[1]) is a three-time Academy Award-nominated, SAG Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor who garnered world wide fame for his role as Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997). ... Simon Donald is a co-founder and co-editor of the British comic magazine Viz. ... Britt Ekland (born Britt-Marie Eklund on October 6, 1942) is a Swedish actress, long resident in the UK. Ekland became famous as a result of her 1964 whirlwind romance and marriage to British actor and comedian, Peter Sellers, who proposed after seeing her photograph in the paper. ... Harry Enfield (born 30 May 1961 in Sussex, England) is an English comedian. ... Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 â€“ August 12, 1982) was a highly acclaimed Academy Award-winning American film and stage actor, best known for his roles as plain-speaking idealists. ... James R. Gandolfini (born September 18, 1961) is a three-time Emmy award winning American actor known for multifaceted portrayals of conscientious yet often inherently sinister characters. ... Zac Goldsmith on BBC Breakfast in 2002 Frank Zacharias Zac Robin Goldsmith (born January 20, 1975), son of billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, is the editor of The Ecologist magazine and an adviser to the Conservative Party. ... This article is about the actor. ... For his father, also an Olympian, see Gary Hall Sr. ... Charlton Heston (born October 4, 1924) is an US-american film actor, known for playing larger-than-life heroic roles such as Moses in The Ten Commandments, Colonel George Taylor in Planet of the Apes, and Judah Ben-Hur in Ben-Hur. ... Ben-Hur is a 1959 epic film directed by William Wyler, and is the third film version of Lew Wallaces novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880). ... Dennis Lee Hopper (born May 17, 1936) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor and film-maker. ... A pillion is a pad or cushion (seating) behind the seat of the driver (rider) of a motorcycle, moped, or horse for a second person who is said to ride pillion (and is also often called a pillion). Bitch seat is somewhat vulgar American motorcycle slang for this seat. ... For other uses, see Steve McQueen (disambiguation). ... This article is about the state. ... Milla Jovovich (Serbian: ÐœÐ¸Ð»Ð¸Ñ†Ð° ÐˆÐ¾Ð²Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ›/Milica JovoviÄ‡, Ukrainian: ÐœÑ–Ð»Ð»Ð° Ð™Ð¾Ð²Ð¾Ð²Ð¸Ñ‡/MÑ–lla JovoviÄ; born Milica NataÅ¡a JovoviÄ‡ on December 17, 1975) is an American supermodel, actress, musician, singer, and fashion designer. ... Jason Jay Kay (born December 30, 1969, Stretford - Manchester) is a British funk musician. ... Jamiroquai is a Grammy Award-winning English funk / soul / disco band. ... David James Koch, (pronounced Kosh), nicknamed Kochie (pronounced Kosh-ee), (born 7 March 1956), is an Australian television personality, and financial commentator. ... Jane Krakowski (nÃ©e Krajkowski, born October 11, 1968 in Parsippany, New Jersey) is a Tony Award-winning American actress and singer. ... Christopher Ashton Kutcher (pronounced , rhyming with butcher; born February 7, 1978) is an American actor best known for playing Michael Kelso in the television series That 70s Show. ... Procter & Gamble Co. ... Matthew Todd Lauer (December 30, 1957)[2] is an American television personality, best known as a co-host of NBCs The Today Show (since 1994)[2] after being a news anchor in New York [3] and a local talk-show host in Boston, Philadelphia, Providence, and Richmond. ... David Jude Law (born 29 December 1972) is an BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British actor. ... James Douglas Muir Jay Leno (April 28, 1950) is an Emmy Award-winning American stand-up comedian and television host, who succeeded Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show in 1992. ... Ralf Little (born 8 February 1981 in Bury, Greater Manchester) is an English actor, working mainly on television. ... This article is about the Coldplay musician. ... Coldplay are an English alternative rock band formed in London in 1997. ... Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti, June 7, 1917 â€“ December 25, 1995) was an Italian-American singer, film actor, television personality, and comedian. ... Image:Darrenmcmullen. ... 69. ... This article is about the TV chef. ... Gwyneth Kate Paltrow (born September 27, 1972)[1] is an Academy Award-, Golden Globe- and two-time Screen Actors Guild Award-winning American actress. ... Sarah Jessica Parker (born March 25, 1965) is an American actress and producer, with a portfolio of television, film, and theater performances. ... Steve Price is a radio broadcaster currently working for 2UE in Sydney. ... For other people named Anthony Quinn see Anthony Quinn (disambiguation) Anthony Quinn (April 21, 1915 â€“ June 3, 2001) was a two-time Academy Award-winning Mexican/American actor, as well as a painter and writer. ... Francesco Quinn (22 March 1962 - ) is an American actor. ... Lisa Rogers (born 7 September 1971 in Cardiff, Wales) is a British television presenter. ... Philip Andre Mickey Rourke, Jr. ... This article is about the comedian. ... Kevin Spacey (born July 26, 1959) is an Academy Award-winning American actor (film and stage) and director. ... Steven Allan Spielberg KBE (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. ... Victoria Davey Tori Spelling (born May 16, 1973) is an American actress. ... For other persons named John Wayne, see John Wayne (disambiguation). ... Jo Raquel Tejada (born September 5, 1940), best known by her stage name Raquel Welch, is an American actress who reached fame during the 1960s. ... Andrew White is the guitarist in the English band, Kaiser Chiefs. ... This article is about the band. ... Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor and writer. ... Personal Information Birth December 30, 1975 ) Cypress, California Height 6 ft 1 in (1. ... Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon[1] (born March 22, 1976) is an Academy Award-winning American actress. ...

Vespas in Film and Other Media

The first fictional character highly associated with Vespa to have mass public attention was American newspaper reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), in the Hollywood film Roman Holiday. Arguably, the original attention was for Audrey Hepburn's character who as a passenger rode in Italian side-saddle style. The Vespa featured highly in publicity for the film, and in the original poster, assisting greatly in marketing of the brand globally. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (491x755, 89 KB) // Movie poster for the 1953 film Roman Holiday. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (491x755, 89 KB) // Movie poster for the 1953 film Roman Holiday. ... Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 â€“ June 12, 2003) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor. ... Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929) â€“ January 20, 1993) was an English Academy Award-, Tony Award-, Grammy Award-, and Emmy Award-winning film and stage actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian. ... Roman Holiday is a 1953 romantic comedy. ... Image File history File links Haruko2. ... Image File history File links Haruko2. ... Serialized in Magazine Z Original run October 23, 2000 â€“ August 23, 2001 No. ... Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 â€“ June 12, 2003) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor. ... Roman Holiday is a 1953 romantic comedy. ... Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929) â€“ January 20, 1993) was an English Academy Award-, Tony Award-, Grammy Award-, and Emmy Award-winning film and stage actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian. ...

Films

This is a list of films that feature a Vespa for more than one sequence^[60]^[61]:

Absolute Beginners is a novel by Colin MacInnes written and set in 1958 London England. ... Julien Temple (born November 26, 1953 in London) is an English film, documentary and music video director. ... David Bowie (pronounced ) (born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English musician, actor, producer, arranger, and audio engineer. ... Patricia Jude Frances Kensit (born 4 March 1968 in Hounslow, Middlesex) is an English actress and singer, and is also well-known for her three celebrity marriages. ... For the music soundtrack based on the film, see 41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti. ... George Walton Lucas, Jr. ... Richard Stephen Dreyfuss (born October 29, 1947) is an Academy Award-winning American actor. ... Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954 in Duncan, Oklahoma) is an American actor, and an Academy Award winning film director, and producer, known for his roles on sitcoms, movies and television. ... For the silent film actor, see Harrison Ford (silent film actor). ... American Pie is a 1999 teen comedy film directed by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz and written by Adam Herz. ... Paul Weitz (born 1966 in New York, New York) is a film director and screenwriter. ... Mena Adrienne Suvari (born February 13, 1979) is an American actress, model, fashion designer and spokeswoman. ... An American in Paris is a symphonic composition by American composer George Gershwin which debuted in 1928. ... Vincente Minnelli (February 28, 1903 â€“ July 25, 1986) was a famous Academy Award-winning Hollywood director and accomplished stage director, often considered by critics to be the father of the modern musical. ... Alfie is a 1966 film starring Michael Caine. ... This article is about the English actor. ... David Jude Law (born 29 December 1972) is an BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British actor. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Jay Roach (born 1957 in Albuquerque, New Mexico) is an American film director and producer whose credits include the Austin Powers movies, and the hit comedies Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers starring Robert DeNiro and Ben Stiller. ... For other persons of the same name, see Michael Myers. ... Elizabeth Jane Hurley (born June 10, 1965) is an English model and actress who gained fame as Hugh Grants girlfriend. ... Avanti is a 1972 comedy directed by Billy Wilder, starring Jack Lemmon, Juliet Mills, Clive Revill, Edward Andrews and Gianfranco Barra. ... Billy Wilder (June 22, 1906 â€“ March 27, 2002) was an Austrian-born, Jewish-American journalist, screenwriter, film director, and producer whose career spanned more than 50 years and 60 films. ... John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 â€“ June 27, 2001), better known as Jack Lemmon, was a two-time Academy Award and Cannes Award-winning American actor and comedian. ... Juliet Mills - Juliet Maryon Mills (born November 21, 1941) is a British character actress, most famous for her roles on shows such as Nanny and the Professor and Passions. ... Location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Barcelona (Catalan) Spanish name Barcelona Nickname Ciutat Comtal (City of Counts) Postal code 08001â€“08080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona) Website http://www. ... Whit Stillman (born John Whitney Stillman on January 25, 1952 in New York City) is a writer-director known for his sly depictions of the urban haute bourgeoisie. He has to date filmed three comedies of manners (or comedies of mannerlessness): Metropolitan (1990), Barcelona (1994), and The Last Days of... Chris Eigeman (born March 1, 1965, Denver, Colorado) is an American actor best known for roles in the Whit Stillman films Metropolitan, Barcelona, and The Last Days of Disco. ... Beyond the Sea is the title of a hit song recorded by Bobby Darin in 1960. ... Kevin Spacey (born July 26, 1959) is an Academy Award-winning American actor (film and stage) and director. ... Kate Bosworth (born January 2, 1983) is an American actress. ... An R/C truck pops a wheelie after a jump. ... Bob the Butler is a classic horror about Bob Tree(Tom Green), who decides to get a job as a manservant after going through many other jobs. // Bob, an incompetent man, is searching for an availiable job by alphabetical order. ... For the 2007 film starring Matt Damon, see The Bourne Ultimatum (film). ... Paul Greengrass (b. ... Matthew Paige Matt Damon (born October 8, 1970) is an American screenwriter and actor. ... Julia OHara Stiles (born March 28, 1981) is an American stage and screen actress. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... Breaking and entering is defined as the crime of illegally entering a residence or other enclosed property using any amount of force (even pushing open an unlocked door). ... Anthony Minghella (January 6, 1954â€“March 18, 2008[1]) was an Academy Award-winning English film director, playwright and screenwriter. ... David Jude Law (born 29 December 1972) is an BAFTA Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated British actor. ... Juliette Binoche (French IPA: ) (born March 9, 1964 in Paris) is an Oscar-winning and Golden Globe nominated French film actress. ... Raymond Andrew Winstone, Jr. ... Rafi Gavron is a British actor, best known for his appearance as the Bosnian boy Miro in the Anthony Minghella romantic drama film Breaking and Entering (film), along with Jude Law and Juliette Binoche. ... Caro diario (English: ) is an Italian language, semi-autobiographical film in the style of a documentary which was directed by Nanni Moretti in 1994. ... Giovanni (Nanni) Moretti (born August 19, 1953) is an Italian film director. ... Chak De India (Hindi: à¤šà¤• à¤¦à¥‡ à¤‡à¤‚à¤¡à¤¿à¤¯à¤¾, Urdu: Ú†Ú© Ø¯Û’ Ø§Ù†ÚˆÛŒØ§, English: Go For It, India![1]) is a 2007 Hindi sports film about the Indian womens field hockey team, directed by Shimit Amin and produced by Yash Raj Films. ... Shahrukh Khan (Hindi: à¤¶à¤¾à¤¹à¤°à¥à¤–à¤¼ à¤–à¤¼à¤¾à¤¨, Urdu: Ø´Ø§Û Ø±Ø® Ø®Ø§Ù†), born 2 November 1965, is a highly acclaimed Indian actor who works in Bollywood films, as well as film producer and television host. ... Not to be confused with First Daughter, a film starring Katie Holmes, also released in 2004 and with a very similar plot. ... Matthew Goode (born April 3, 1978) is a British actor. ... For other uses, see Prague (disambiguation). ... Amanda Leigh Mandy Moore (born April 10, 1984) is an American pop singer, songwriter, model, and actress. ... The Conversation is an Academy Award nominated 1974 mystery thriller about audio surveillance, written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Teri Garr, and Cindy Williams; it also features an early performance by Harrison Ford and an uncredited appearance from Robert Duvall. ... Francis Ford Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is a five-time Academy Award winning American film director, producer, and screenwriter. ... Eugene Allen Gene Hackman[1] (born January 30, 1930) is a two-time Academy Award-winning American actor. ... For the silent film actor, see Harrison Ford (silent film actor). ... The Darjeeling Limited is a comedy-drama film of a journey through India by three brothers, played by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman. ... Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American director, writer, and producer of features, short films and commercials. ... Owen Cunningham Wilson (born November 18, 1968) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor and writer. ... Jason Francesco Schwartzman (born June 26, 1980) is an American actor and musician. ... Adrien Brody (born April 14, 1973) is an American actor. ... Empire Records is a 1995 dramedy about a group of record store employees. ... Encino Man is a 1992 comedy film, which was released in Europe as California Man, featuring actors Brendan Fraser, Sean Astin and Pauly Shore. ... Mark Stoney is a British musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. ... Alessandro Blasetti (3 July 1900, Rome, Latium, Italy, 1 February 1987, Rome, Lazio, Italy was an Italian film director who influenced Italian neorealism. ... Domenico Modugno (January 9, 1928 - Lampedusa August 6, 1994) was a twice Grammy Award-winning Italian singer, songwriter, and later in life, a member of the Italian Parliament. ... The mineral pyrite, or iron pyrite, is iron disulfide, FeS2. ... Look up Jessica in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Angie Dickinson (born September 30, 1931) is the former, popular runner-up in the 1953 Miss America beauty pageant, and a legendary American television and film actress who co-starred in Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend and The Art of Love with James Garner. ... Lavventura (The Adventure) is an Italian film written and directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. ... Michelangelo Antonioni (September 29, 1912 - July 30, 2007) was an Italian modernist film director whose films are widely considered as some of the most influential in film aesthetics. ... Gabrielle Ferzetti is an Italian film and stage actor. ... Actress Monica Vitti in Michelangelo Antonionis LAvventura (1960). ... Dolce Vita redirects here. ... Federico Fellini (January 20, 1920 â€“ October 31, 1993) was one of the most influential and widely revered film-makers of the 20th century. ... Marcello Mastroianni in 1958 Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (September 28, 1924 â€“ December 19, 1996) was an Italian film actor. ... Anita Ekberg in the Fontana di Trevi. ... Le Notti di Cabiria or Nights of Cabiria is a 1957 film directed by Federico Fellini. ... Federico Fellini (January 20, 1920 â€“ October 31, 1993) was one of the most influential and widely revered film-makers of the 20th century. ... An Italian actress, Giulietta Masina (1921-1994) was married to Federico Fellini from 1943 until his death, and starred in many of his films. ... Little Man Tate is a 1991 motion picture which tells the story of Fred Tate, a 7-year-old child prodigy who struggles to self-actualize in a social and psychological construct that largely fails to accommodate his intelligence. ... Harry Connick, Jr. ... Lizzie McGuire is a Disney Channel Original Series that aired on the Disney Channel from 2001 - 2004. ... Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress, singer, songwriter, producer, fashion designer, and spokesperson. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... The Lizzie McGuire Movie is a comedy film based on the Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire which was released on May 2, 2003, by Walt Disney Pictures. ... For the similarly-named American actress, see Jean Kelly. ... Il bidone (English:The Swindler) is a 1955 film by Federico Fellini. ... Federico Fellini (January 20, 1920 â€“ October 31, 1993) was one of the most influential and widely revered film-makers of the 20th century. ... Crawford in Black Angel William Broderick Crawford (born December 9, 1911; died April 26, 1986) was an American actor. ... For other uses, see Interpretation (disambiguation). ... Nicole Mary Kidman, Order of Australia (born 20 June 1967 in Honolulu) is an Academy Award-winning Australian/American[1] actress. ... A list of films produced in Argentina in the year 1994 ordered by date of release in the List of Argentine films. ... Betty Kaplan is an American film director. ... JosÃ© Antonio DomÃnguez Banderas (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor and singer who has starred in high-profile Hollywood films including Assassins, Interview with the Vampire, Mariachi sequels, Philadelphia, The Mask of Zorro, and the Shrek sequels. ... Jennifer Lynn Connelly (born December 12, 1970) is an Academy Award-winning American film actress and former child model. ... Over the Hedge is a computer-animated film based on the characters from United Media comic strip of the same name. ... Johannes Heesters (born December 5, 1903) is a Dutch actor, singer, and entertainer who can look back on an 85-year career, almost exclusively in the German-speaking world. ... Quadrophenia is a 1979 British film based on the 1973 rock opera album Quadrophenia by The Who. ... Francis George Roddam (born 29 April 1941 Stockton-on-Tees) is a British Cinema Director and documentary maker. ... The Who are an English rock band that formed in 1964. ... Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951), universally known by his stage name Sting, is an Academy Award-nominated sixteen time Grammy-winning English musician from Wallsend in North Tyneside. ... This article is about the British actor. ... Roman Holiday is a 1953 romantic comedy. ... Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 â€“ June 12, 2003) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor. ... Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929) â€“ January 20, 1993) was an English Academy Award-, Tony Award-, Grammy Award-, and Emmy Award-winning film and stage actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian. ... Rome Adventure, also known as Lovers Must Learn, is a 1962 drama, romance genre film, based on a Irving Finemans novel. ... Delmer Daves (July 24, 1904 â€“ August 17, 1977) was an American screenwriter, director, and producer. ... Troy Donahue Troy Donahue (January 27, 1936 â€“ September 2, 2001) was an American actor, known for being a teen idol. ... Angie Dickinson (born September 30, 1931) is a Golden Globe-winning American television and film actress, perhaps best known for her role as Sergeant Leann Pepper Anderson in the 1970s crime drama Police Woman. ... Pleshette in 1991 Suzanne Pleshette (born January 31, 1937 in New York City) is an American actress, best known as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show in the 70s. ... This article is about the film. ... Rachel Weisz (born March 7, 1971) is an Academy Award-winning English film and television actress. ... The Russian Dolls (French: Les PoupÃ©es russes, Korean: ì‚¬ëž‘ì€ íƒ€ì´ë°) is a 2005 French-British film directed by CÃ©dric Klapisch. ... CÃ©dric Klapisch (born 1961) is a French film director. ... Romain Duris, born May 28, 1974 in Paris, is a French actor. ... The Spy Who Loved Me, released in 1977, is the 10th film in the James Bond series and the third to star Roger Moore as MI6 agent James Bond. ... Saved! is a 2004 teen comedy film involving elements of religious satire written by Brian Dannelly and Michael Urban, and directed by Dannelly. ... Amanda Leigh Mandy Moore (born April 10, 1984) is an American pop singer, songwriter, model, and actress. ... Mary-Louise Parker. ... Saving Silverman is a 2001 black comedy film, directed by Dennis Dugan. ... Bold text Spaceballs is a 1987 science fiction parody film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks. ... The Talented Mr. ... Matthew Paige Matt Damon (born October 8, 1970) is an American screenwriter and actor. ... Gwyneth Kate Paltrow (born September 27, 1972)[1] is an Academy Award-, Golden Globe- and two-time Screen Actors Guild Award-winning American actress. ... The World of Suzie Wong is a 1957 novel written by Richard Mason, which has since been adapted into both a play and a film. ... Richard Quine (November 12, 1920 â€“ June 10, 1989) was an American stage, film, and radio actor and film director. ... William Holden (April 17, 1918 â€“ ca. ... Nancy Kwan on the cover of Life Magazine 1960 Nancy Kwan (born May 19, 1939) (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Cantonese: Kwan Ka Shin) is an American actress, who played a pivotal role in the acceptance of actors of Asian descent in major Hollywood film roles. ...

Books

AraÃ±a (Anya Sofia Corazon) is a fictional character from the Marvel Universe. ... This article is about the comic book company. ... Gintama ) is a comedic manga created by Hideaki Sorachi. ... Glamorama is a novel by Bret Easton Ellis. ... Serialized in CUTiEcomic (ch. ... Mastermind Excello is the name of two unrelated fictional superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe, Earl Everett and Amadeus Cho. ... This article is about the comic book company. ... The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication book cover The Short Reign of Pippin IV: A Fabrication is a novel by John Steinbeck published in 1957. ... For the James Bond film, see The Spy Who Loved Me (film). ... The Stand is a post-apocalyptic Horror/Science Fiction novel by Stephen King originally published in 1978. ... This article or section contains a plot summary that is overly long or excessively detailed compared to the rest of the article. ...

TV Shows

This article is about the television series. ... The Tenth Doctor is the name given to the tenth and current incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Idiots Lantern is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Serialized in Magazine Z Original run October 23, 2000 â€“ August 23, 2001 No. ... This is the list of characters for the anime and manga FLCL. The English edition of the anime preserves the Japanese naming order for characters. ... Gintama ) is a comedic manga created by Hideaki Sorachi. ... Gossip Girl is an American television teen drama based on the popular novel series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. ... Daniel Jonah Humphrey, or simply known as Dan Humphrey, is a main character in the best selling Gossip Girl book series. ... Vanessa Marigold Abrams (born March 1985) is a character in the Gossip Girl novels by Cecily von Ziegesar. ... Haibane Renmei lit. ... Home and Away (also commonly known as H&A) is a Logie-winning soap opera that is produced in Sydney by the Seven Network since July 1987. ... This article is about the television series. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Kim Possible#Ron Ronald Ron Stoppable is a fictional character from the Disney animated television series Kim Possible. ... Meteor Garden (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is a Taiwanese drama that began its broadcast 12 April 2001 on China Television. ... The main characters of Onegai Twins Onegai Twins (ãŠããŒã„â˜†ãƒ„ã‚¤ãƒ³ã‚º) is a Japanese anime TV series from the Onegai group, which includes Onegai Teacher. ... Scrubs are the shirts and trousers/dresses worn by surgeons, nurses, and other operating room personnel when scrubbing in for surgery. ... The O.C. ( stands for Orange County) is an American television drama/soap opera program broadcast on the Fox Network. ... Zach Stevens was a character in the second season of The O.C., portrayed by Michael Cassidy (actor). ... Teen Titans was an American animated television series created by Sam Register and Glen Murakami and produced by Warner Bros. ... Beast Boy (real name Garfield Mark Gar Logan) is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe, a shapeshifting superhero who is a former member of the Doom Patrol and member of the Teen Titans. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... The Last of the Red Hat Mamas is the seventh episode of the 17th season of The Simpsons. ... Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Pamela Hayden. ... Lisa Marie Simpson is a character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Yeardley Smith; Lisa is the only character Smith voices on a regular basis. ... Witch Hunter Robin ) is a Japanese anime series created by Sunrise. ...

Contents

History

Concept

The design

The product

The name Vespa

Launch

Sales and development

The 1990s and beyond

Under new ownership

Re-entry to North America

Design Icon

Global Markets

Europe

North America

Rest of world

Racing

Vespa Models

Historic models

Recent models

Current models

Specials

Vespas in popular culture

Famous Vespa riders

Vespas in Film and Other Media

Films

Books

TV Shows

See also

References

Notes

External links

Contents

History GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Concept

The design

The product

The name Vespa

Launch

Sales and development

The 1990s and beyond

Under new ownership

Re-entry to North America

Design Icon

Global Markets

Europe

North America

Rest of world

Racing

Vespa Models

Historic models

Recent models

Current models

Specials

Vespas in popular culture

Famous Vespa riders

Vespas in Film and Other Media

Films

Books

TV Shows

See also

References

Notes

External links

History