BIRTHDAYS: VESPA 150 GS AND VESPA 90 SS

VESPA GS (GRAN SPORT): THE WORLD’S BEST-LOOKING SCOOTER

60^th ANNIVERSARY: 1955-2015. The first Vespa with sports features to be mass produced, the 150 GS leveraged the competition experience accumulated by the Piaggio Racing Team. The engine, with a series of technical solutions tested on the Vespa Sei Giorni (the “racing” model that dominated the popular reliability trials of the 1950s), injected fuel directly into the cylinder and delivered 8 HP at 7,500 rpm. The four-speed gearbox, elongated seat and large 10” wheels substantially modified the lines of the Vespa, which proved itself to be a determined two-wheeler capable of “breathtaking” performance.

In other words, this Vespa was a milestone in scooter history: its technical and aesthetic characteristics created such a fascinating vehicle that, from the moment of its debut 60 years ago, it was described as the “best-looking scooter ever produced in the world”. The Vespa GS was launched in 1955 and produced until the early 1960s, in five series.

Compared with the contemporary versions of the GS, the engine was an upgraded unit with the carburettor directly on the cylinder; the scooter body was streamlined for better air penetration. A feature that distinguished the first model (VS1) from those that followed were the cables running outside the handlebar. The Vespa GS (Gran Sport) is still one of the most sought after and highly prized models among collectors around the world.

SPEC SHEET. ENGINE: two-stroke monocylinder. BORE: 57 mm. STROKE: 57 mm. DISPLACEMENT: 145.6cc. TOP SPEED: 101 km/h. SUSPENSION: with coil spring and hydraulic damper on both wheels. BRAKES: drum. TYRES: 3.50-10".

VESPA 90 SS (SUPER SPRINT): THE SPORTY SCOOTER FROM THE BOOMING 1960S

50^TH ANNIVERSARY: 1965-2015. The Vespa 90 SS (Super Sprint) was the supreme sporty Vespa of the 1960s. Small, compact, an impressive performer, aesthetically it was notable for the position of the spare wheel, placed vertically at the centre of the footboard and topped by a container posing as a fuel tank, fitted with a chest pad like a racing motorcycle.

The 90 SS did indeed compete in a number of races in that period, from the Round Italy race to speed trials on the Imola and Vallelunga circuits; it was a particularly strong performer in obstacle courses, thanks to its outstanding manageability. Just over 5,000 90 SS scooters were produced from 1965 to 1971, and the model’s quirky charm means it is still a prized item among collectors today.

SPEC SHEET. ENGINE: two-stroke monocylinder. BORE: 47 mm. STROKE: 51 mm. DISPLACEMENT: 88.5 cc. TOP SPEED: 93 km/h. SUSPENSION: with coil spring and hydraulic damper on both wheels. BRAKES: drum. TYRES: 3.00x10".