Vespa Gigante replica

These days there was something very special to see on the well-known Internet marketplace Catawiki: The replica of a Vespa in 2:1 scale, as it was designed and manufactured in 1951 by Corradino d‘Ascanio, commissioned by Enrico Piaggio, for advertising purposes. The new model dates from 2011 and was now for sale. So if you were looking for a sculpture that would look good in front of the house next to the garden gnomes, you could now strike. Unfortunately, we do not know who bought this gigantic Vespa for how much money, but we hope this model is in good hands.

1951 - THE VESPA MYTH BECOMES BIG

Enrico Piaggio wanted to make the Vespa part of the „myth“ and commissioned Corradino d‘Ascanio. D‘Ascanio plays with the difference between „vision“ and „perception“. He invents a Vespa that deceives the observer. In fact, the human brain did not perceive a giant Vespa with a normal person on it, but a normal Vespa with a miniature person on it.

The „Vespone“ was unveiled in 1951 at the Fiera del Ciclo e Motociclo in Milan in the presence of the President of the Republic, then toured Italy for two years for promotional purposes and was extremely successful. D‘Ascanio had thus succeeded in increasing the „myth“ of the Vespa. 60 years later, this myth was revived in eight months and with 2,000 hours of work. On a scale of 2:1, which corresponds to a volume and weight eight times greater.

Two stabilising wheels were installed for safety reasons. The seller emphatically points out that the Vespa sculpture has no engine and can not be driven. Well, you can not have everything. But the myth Vespa is kept alive by this replica in any case.

SPACIAL FEATURES

• Bodywork: handmade by panelbeater

• Engine: aluminium crankcase castings, handcrafted steel parts (cylinder, fan/flywheel).

• Other handmade steel parts: seats, starter lever, brake pedal, handlebars and lever supports, carburettor, fuel cap, air lever

• Cast aluminium parts: air grip, handlebar controls, rubber footpeg bar mountings

More pictures and a SIP TV video you can find here: sip.shop/gigante