What On 23 April 1946

Glove box on newer Vespa PXOn 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".[5]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...

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Fuel Consumption

While fuel consumption is not usually an issue that greatly concerns tuners who are generally more interested in greater engine output (whether in terms of torque, acceleration, top speed or other aspects of improved performance) rather than fuel economy, it is an issue which nevertheless merits consideration. In this section, we shall consider not only fuel consumption of different set-ups for the different categories of Vespas (Small frames, PX125 & 150, Large Frames, P-Series 200 & other 200 cc engines), but also whether fuel consumption rates can be reduced and if so, by what means. Obviously the infinitesimal variety of set-ups for tuned engines precludes an exhaustive list of fuel consumption rates, but a register of typical...

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