Vespa

The Vespa motor scooter, noticed first by Americans in films like Roman Holiday and La Dolce Vita,evokes an image of stylish and carefree Italian youthfulness. Like so much Italian industrial design, its form is sensual and sleek. Its sturdy manufacture, incredible fuel economy, and simple mechanics have permitted every Vespa owner maintain his/her vehicle at very low cost – a reality appreciated as much now as during the immediate post-war years in Italy.Thousands of Vespas more than thirty and even forty years old are still in use around the world and Vespa clubs proliferate in cities everywhere. Today's Vespa lovers faithfully carry on the mantle of Vespa coolness, whether commuting to work and school or just tooling around town.'Vespa', with text by Valerio Boni, celebrates sixty years of the scooter's history. In addition to over 200 images, the book includes text covering both vehicle's technical evolution and its impact on popular culture. Vespa ads through the years, which are also featured, are charming and thoroughly lacking in modern marketing slickness. Along with a general history of the company that makes the Vespa (Piaggio), other Vespa vehicles are included in the book, such as the quaint Vespa car and odd looking Vespa truck. The overall design is handbook'-like, with archival images of Vespas in everyday use, Vespa production,Vespas on display, and current generation Vespas.