vespa: guida illustrata all’identificazione/illustrated guide to the identification

A unique book, an indispensable aid for all those Vespisti wishing to explore in the most minute detail the evolution of Piaggio’s iconic Italian scooter.

The author, after having carefully studied each and every model, has gathered over the years a wealth of technical information. He took thousands of photographs illustrating every aspect of all the various versions produced by the firm from Pontedera from 1946 to 1983.

This illustrated guide boasts previously unpublished material. It reviews and documents every minimal variation introduced to the models created for the Italian market. Thanks to the photos and the relative captions we can find out when a particular modification was introduced during the production run of each individual model.

The book is further enhanced by reproductions of dozens of contemporary advertisements and records all the production numbers and the colour codes used year by year.

Alessandro Pozzi, class of 1962, has lived and worked in Koper in Slovenia for many years and since 1984 has been involved in the graphic design and publishing sector. He fell in love with a blue small hatch Vespa 50 in the 1970s that had been a gift from his parents. The frequent breakdowns and maintenance which were then too expensive for his pocket, soon obliged him to learn the art of making do in the family garage. Many years later, after having produced books on subjects ranging from fashion to sport and through to youth cults, he created his first magazine dealing with the motorcycling sector, La mia moto, in which he also wrote about Piaggio scooters.