Vespa – Three early models designed and built specifically for the race circuits

Right from the beginning Piaggio built race Vespas designed specifically to be competitive in race circuits.

Piaggio the manufacture of the Vespa motor scooter in the late forties took part in a series of race circuits as a way to advertise and promote the Vespa scooter. The purpose was to bring the Vespa to the general public with the hope of creating new potential customers.

Enrico Piaggio wanted to show the world that the capacity of the small scooter could be competitive in races and in 1947 produced the first race Vespa race model the 98 Corsa Circuito.

The 98 Corsa Circuito. (Circuit) was built the same year as the birth of the Vespa scooter.  The 98 Corsa Circuito originally manufactured in red became known as the little “fireball” and was built for speed.  In its first year racer Giuseppe Cau won the 1947 Monte Hill Climb.

Vespa 98 Corsa Circuito

The 98 Corsa Circuito featured many innovations over the original Vespa 98 model, such as a three-speed gearbox and drum brakes. The hand-built steel frame body featured a smaller bubble-shaped shield and narrower handlebars. The seat is moved further back to allow the rider to lean forward to reach the handlebars which reduced wind drag.

Vespa 125 Corsa, alloy-frame

Two years later in 1949 Vespa introduced the 125 Corsa with alloy frame and followed with the Vespa Circuito 125.  Piaggio originally a plane manufacture developed the 125 Corsa chassis and wheels from the aluminum alloy material used inmtheir aircraft.  The body was assembled using rivets.

The Vespa race circuit motor scooters were totally hand-built at the Piaggio experimental division and were raced up until the end of the 1950s, by racers Dino Mazzoncini and Giuseppe Cau.  Both models were extremely advanced for their time and became “test bench” examples for new ideas that were later used on standard products.

Cau won races at the Catania Etna, coming in first in his class (125cc) and placed 3rd place in the overall standings.

Vespa Circuito 125, 1949