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Is it a motorcycle? A scooter? A really fast bicycle? In fact, it seems to be all the above. Its a Vespa, the iconic Italian motoring machine whose star-studded riders have included Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday and the off-screen jaunts of Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow and Owen Wilson -- to name just a few.
But more than just a motorcycle, the Vespa is, according to Alex Gifford, owner of Vespa of Ridgefield (Branchville Motors), therapy without the therapist.
The longtime Wilton resident was among the first 10 dealers to carry the brand when it was reintroduced to the U.S. in 2001. People really wanted the Vespa. To many people Vespa means scooter. I was glad to finally provide it to my customers, he said.
Legend has it that due to its unique and somewhat odd shape, the earliest prototype, developed after World War II, was nicknamed Paperino, Italian for Donald Duck. After several redesigns, its creator, Enrico Piaggio, finally honed in on Vespas famous shape. He declared the scooters body -- with its narrow waist in front of the wide central section where the rider sits -- looked like a wasp. The name, Vespa, Italian for wasp, was a perfect fit.
Not limited to recreational activities, the Vespa has hit the pavement in high-stakes racing as well. In Europe in the 50s, the Vespa was a regular entrant -- and winner -- in conventional motorcycle races. And in a notably unusual race, an amphibious version of the Vespa was built for an excursion across the English Channel in 1952.
More than 50 years later, the popularity of the venerable Vespa has not waned. They remain stylish and are exceptionally comfortable. And the highly efficient engines are environmentally friendly.
You go off for a ride and the problems of the day disappear, said Alex.
It beats the therapists couch.
For information about Vespas, email Alex Gifford at alex@branchville.com.
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