1947 - Vespa 98 Corsa Circuito 1947

Vespa 98 Corsa Circuito

The Vespa 98 Corsa was supposed to prove to the whole world what achievements the little scooter could soar to in the competition. The great, steadily growing success of Vespa, which was clearly evident in the Italian cities, prompted Enrico Piaggio to put a very sporty scooter on the wheels with which one could win a race. In the first competition, Joseph Cau triumphed with the Vespa 98 Circuito in the hill climb in Monte Mario in 1947.

This scooter was not only very fast, it also showed a lot of innovations. The handcrafted chassis included a steel frame. The drum brakes were improved and provided with air slots at the rear for better cooling. The three-speed gearbox was shifted by hand, the engine cooling worked with a fan. The original was painted red, which is what it's nicknamed "Little fireball" earned.

Technical data:

- Engine: single cylinder two-stroke. Horizontal, cast iron cylinder with an aluminum head
- Bore: 50 mm
- Stroke: 50 mm
- Displacement: 98 cc
- Top speed: 100 km / h
- Suspension: front coil spring and shock absorber