Vespa Scooters

VESPA SCOOTERS

Writing about Vespa’s history of selling motorscooters in North America is a daunting task, especially when there are so many experts out there could do a radically better job than I. Accordingly, I’m going to skip the task of collecting detailed information on every model (since so much already exists online) and simply give an overview (below) to the Vespa scooters sold here from 1951 to 1983. After 1983, Vespa left North America and didn’t return to the USA until 2001 (they wouldn’t return to Canada until 2004). I have added a brief overview to these models on this page and more detailed information can be found by clicking the links in the menu at right.

The first Vespa’s to be sold in North America were sold in 1951 by Sears under their ‘Allstate’ brand. Around this time, Sears was selling quite a few vehicles under their Allstate brand including Cushman scooters. The first model of Vespa was the 125cc 3 speed model 788.100 Cruisaire (based on the Primavera 125). These scooters were stripped down versions of their European counterparts. They lacked front suspension, speedometers, passenger seats and color choice. You could only get this scooter in military green. This scooter was sold with only minor changes from 1951 - 1966. Sears also offered a faster 4-speed ‘Allstate’ in 1964 based on the Sprint 150. For 1965 and 1966, Sears dropped the Allstate name and simply sold these scooters as ‘Sears’. Today these scooters are referred to as the ‘blue badge’ models because of the blue Sears badge on the legshield and are quite collectable.

In 1955, Vespa opened a chain of Vespa dealership across the USA. Over the first decade, Vespa’s lineup evolved from the Gran Sport 150 (GS150) to the GS160 and SS180. While these scooters were great, the market conditions were poor for scooters with cheap gas fueling the muscle car years. Around 1972, this all changed with the gas shortage. Consumers started snapping up Primivera 125’s and the 150 Super. By the mid-70’s Vespa had added the ’50cc’, three speed 50cc Special, three speed Vespa 90, Sprint 150, Sprint Veloce and the Rally 200 (shown). The Rally 200 was the first Vespa with electric start.

For 1978 a new generation of Vespa arrived, the P series. Vespa sold the powerful P200E (shown) and the P125X. These were the first Vespa’s with modern 12 volt

electrical systems. They were very popular and fast. Unfortunately, by 1983 new emissions regulations forced Vespa to stop importing these large 2-strokes. Accordingly, dealer stock quickly dried up and the vast majority of dealerships closed shop. It’s interesting how the demise of Vespa is perfectly timed with the Japanese scooter craze of the 80’s. It seems that Vespa failed to adapt to the changing market and didn’t develop a 4-stroke scooter in time. Yamaha and Honda were both selling large 4-stroke scooters by the mid 80’s that were quite popular.

2001 - 2002

This was the beginning of the modern era for Vespa in North America. In 2001 Vespa returned with their new ET series scooters (shown). The ET frame was designed to handle both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines, which could range from 50-150cc’s. 2-stroke ET scooters were named ‘ET2’ and the 4-strokes were called ‘ET4’s.

In the USA, Vespa introduced the 50cc ET2 50 and the larger 4-stroke ET4 150. Both of these scooters shared the same steel frame but obviously differed in the engine compartment. The 50cc ET2 was capable of 35mph, while the 150cc ET4 was capable of a claimed 60 mph.

MODELS: ET2 50 (USA only), ET4 150 (USA only)

2003
Vespa added a ‘large frame’ scooter to their North American lineup, the 200cc Granturismo. This scooter is more commonly known as simply the GT 200.

MODELS: ET2 50 (USA only), ET4 150 (USA only), GT 200 (USA only)

2004 - 2005
The PX 150 was officially launched in North America for 2004. Quite a few PX 150’s were sorta-legally imported in the mid-80’s but this was the first time they were official imports. This model was introduced to satisfy enthusiasts who weren’t happy with the modern looks and CVT transmissions of the ET series. 2004 was also the year Vespa returned to the Canadian market.

MODELS: ET2 50, ET4 150, GT 200, PX 150

2006 - 2007
For 2006 Vespa replaced it’s ET series scooters with a new all 4-stroke LX series (shown). The LX 50 was capable of 35-40 mph, while the larger LX 150 was capable of a claimed 59 mph.

The largest Vespa yet, the Granturismo Sport 250 (GTS 250), was launched in fall 2005 as a 2006 model in Canada and the USA. This scooter replaced the GT 200. Vespa also celebrated their 60th anniversary by launching up scale versions of the LX (dubbed the LXV 150) and the GTS 250 (dubbed the GTV 250).

MODELS: LX 50, LX 150, LXV 150, GTS 250, GTV 250, PX 150

2008

Based on the LX 150, Vespa launched the Vespa S with a different headlight, mirrors, seat, dash and trim (shown with optional graphics). Compared to the LX (shown in black), notice the chrome piece on the front, the chrome on the fender, the mirrors, headlight and seat.

The 2-stroke PX 150 was dropped for 2008, a victim of ever tightening emissions regulations.

MODELS: LX 50, LX 150, LXV 150, S 150, GTS 250, GTV 250

2009
Vespa added a 50cc version of the S. This scooter is mechanically identical to the LX 50, but it gets the same styling as the 150cc Vespa S. Vespa also revised their 50cc Hi-PER4 engine (found in the LX 50 and 50cc Vespa S) to have a new 4-valve head. Vespa hasn’t reported higher horsepower or milage figures but you would expect to gain a little in both of these categories with a more efficient 4-valve motor.

The other significant change to Vespa’s 2009 lineup is a 34cc boost to the GTS. With the bump to 278cc came an appropriate name change from the GTS 250 to the GTS 300 Super.

MODELS: LX 50, LX 150, LXV 150, S 50, S 150, GTS 300 Super, GTV 250