Vespa was created by Piaggio, a company founded in Genoa in 1884 that had built ships, trains and aircraft. After the Second World War, aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio designed a clean, practical step-through scooter that entered production at Pontedera in 1946. Its pressed-steel unibody, covered engine and protective front shield set the pattern, and the 'wasp', Vespa in Italian, quickly became a worldwide success.

Landmark models include the original 98, the GS of the 1950s, the Primavera of 1968 and the long-running PX, while the modern GTS carries the same formula into the present. Vespas have been built under licence on several continents, from Douglas in Britain to Bajaj in India, and total production now exceeds nineteen million units.

A Vespa workshop manual is the key to correct servicing, whether you ride a classic two-stroke or a modern fuel-injected model. Coverage includes engine and gearbox work on the characteristic engine-gearbox unit, carburettor or injection settings, suspension and brake service, and full wiring diagrams, with torque specifications and the manufacturer's service intervals.

Commuters who do their own maintenance, restoration specialists and workshops that service Italian scooters all rely on factory-level documentation. With a proper manual, even major work on these robustly engineered machines becomes a manageable and satisfying job. Detailed illustrations and exploded diagrams make each task easy to follow, even for less experienced mechanics.