Mods arriving on their scooters as part of the Quadrophenia convention held in Brighton Photo: KENT NEWS & PICTURES
Posted on 08/28/2008 5:25:34 PM PDT by dennisw
The last Vespa PX, with its distinctive waspish engine, came off the production line this weekend.
Italian company Piaggio said that tightening emission legislation sounded the death-knell on the 30-year-old, manually-geared bike - and that all models would now be automatic.
The 125cc model became a must-have in the Mod revival of 1970s Britain - following on from the obsession with the Italian scooter in the Mod scene of the 1960s.
Andy Gillard, editor of Scootering magazine, said it was the end of an era.
"It's a shame really because It's the end of a long line of motor scooters. It's the end of the true blood line - the Vespa PX is a design classic."
The first Vespa, made famous by Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn in the film Roman Holiday, was produced in the 1940s. More than 100 models have been enjoyed by some 20 million owners, from Salvador Dalí to Jennifer Lopez. Hundreds were on display this weekend in Brighton for the famous Mods bank holiday weekender.
UK general manager Tony Campbell said: "In an effort to clean up emissions of all motorised vehicles, the EU government has set a number of standards to be met within certain deadlines.
"The new emissions regulations, known as "Euro 3", make the production of a two-stroke engine larger than 50cc not economically feasible.
"The Vespa PX will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the best. A model does not last for 30 years unless it was right in the first place."
Rising petrol and parking prices has led to a resurgence in the number of scooters on the road, and Piaggio say the newer models are still proving very popular with commuters.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
We are the mods!
If I am not mistaken, Piaggio makes the Vespa and they are an Orbital Licensee. Orbital's Air Assisted Direct Injecton meets these requirements on 50cc and is also used on all Mercury Optimax engines.
If they really wanted to, they could purchase engines of Aprilia, which also uses the technology, so it has been done. Clean, 2 stoke and 100mpg to boot....
lol. I think.
man, Greenwich Village is going to be abuzz over this.
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