Vespa 180 Rally
In the mid-1900s Enrico Piaggio, together with the designer Corradino D'Ascanio, decided to design a motorcycle made to avoid all the defects of a two-wheeled vehicle. The new vehicle must have low running costs, innovative design, and a strong personality. The idea of abandoning the tubular structure came to D'Ascanio, who designed a structure with a central tunnel to allow passengers to climb the vehicle easily, without having to "climb over".These revolutionary ideas gave shape to the Vespa as we know it today.The Vespa was named, according to the tale, after an exclamation made by Enrico Piaggio who said, "It looks like a Vespa!" (bee in Italian), comparing the noise of the engine and the shape of the bike to that of the insect.From the Genoese factory there were numerous models, all exceptional as the Vespa 180 Rally.
The 180 Rally, which took over after the SS model, made some improvements to the engine and bodywork.From an aesthetic point of view the first obvious modification is the large round headlight placed above the shield. The saddle was also new, longer, and ergonomic, designed not to tire the passenger and the driver.On the back of the saddle is screen printed the name Piaggio, under which the elegant detail of the name in italics, about halfway between the saddle and the headlight.The front shield is protected by a stainless-steel edge like the one of the Super Sport, above the shield the new hexagonal Piaggio emblem positioned at the top of the steering cover that gives the Rally a touch of modernity. The side bonnets have a more modern line, devoid of moldings, and completed by the black seals at the junction with the shell. The brake and clutch levers are provided at the ends of a non-slip safety ball.The first models have a chromed taillight, while later it becomes squarer matching with the bodywork. New is also the design of the exhaust system, with a unique shape in the history of the Vespa, re- designed to optimize the exhaust gas and aimed at high-performance engines. Suspension and brakes are up to scratch and the saddle is very wide and comfortable.Daily, this Vespa with a sports engine, turns into a docile vehicle with whom to go to the office, to shop or just cruising around.
With its captivating name, the Vespa Rally immediately established itself in the market, becoming soon the scooter that everyone wanted and loved.The Vespa 180 Rally is certainly one of the most sporty and simple to drive Vespas: the road holding never goes into crisis even on unsuitable terrain for scooters.The engine is very powerful and even with the passenger it does not struggle to reach the maximum declared speed of over 100 kph. The 180 Rally, despite its reputation as a performance Vespa was also widely used as a tourism scooter.It was produced between '68 and '73 in over 26,000 units.
