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2011 Shannons Sydney Autumn Classic Auction
Lot
1

1955 Vespa 125 3 Speed Motor Scooter

$2,500

Sold

Description

This lot is no longer available

The name Vespa, when translated, means wasp and this label was applied by Enrico Piaggio to his scooters when they first appeared in 1942, both for their appearance and the buzzing noise of the two-stroke engine. Production of the Vespa was soon in full swing, capitalising on the post-war economic boom in Italy and sales had surpassed one million units by 1956. The 125 first appeared in 1948, with bigger brakes, more comfortable suspension and of course, the larger and more powerful engine. The handlebars themselves were now mounted in an anti-vibration support and the gearbox operated by flexible cables instead of a rod linkage. Two models of the 125 were sold in 1953, the basic 125U, or utilitarian version, which lacked any chrome embellishments, and the more refined Model 53. With the recent resurgence of interest in the classic Vespas, as people look to scooters once more as an ideal mode of transport in crowded cities, nicely restored examples have proven a solid investment as well as a great way to get around.