The Vespa's history is a fascinating and varied one. The scooter has stamped it's mark on an entire epoch. For almost 60 years, the Vespa has fascinated millions, giving the world a unique image of Italian design and remaining the means of transport most synonymous with freedom. Produced in 1946, the first Vespa offered mobility to everyone. Italy was getting over its war wounds and getting about on a scooter. During the "Dolce Vita" years, "Vespa" meant "scooter"; foreign newspaper correspondents described Italy as "Vespa country", and the role Vespa played in Italian society is shown by its appearance in dozens of films. Then, it became the two-wheeler for the time of the economic boom. And during the 1960s and 1970s, it was the vehicle for the propagation of the revolution of ideas that the kids of those years were establishing. Now the Vespa provides the perfect solution to today's congested cities. Spanning 336 pages and featuring over 300 original photographs, many rare and unseen, Vespa, delves into the facets of the famous brand from its innovative technical and stylistic design to its freedom-inspired customers. Divided into 6 chapters, each chapter details not only the evolution of the company and the development of the models but also the impact Vespa has had on the worldwide culture. The book is packed with unusual photographs from the Vespa archives, featuring all the models, famous faces, races and much more.