Piaggio Vespa 98
A practical little scooter wrapped its engine and rider in a clean, easy-to-use steel body after wartime Italy.
1947 Vespa 98 representative for 1946 profile · Jay Cross · Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Piaggio presented the Vespa 98 to the public in Rome in April 1946 and built the first fifty alongside the launch. Corradino d'Ascanio's design used an enclosed pressed-steel body, a step-through shape and small wheels. This page follows the Italian 98 cc model; the museum separately records a 125 cc export version, so its larger engine and 70 km/h figure are not mixed in here.
Look a little closer.
The first-year price started at 55,000 lire, while Piaggio also offered a more expensive luxury version.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A first-year identity with a clear boundary
Piaggio says 2,484 Vespas were built in the first year. The museum also notes 125 cc export machines, so Joyride labels this page as the Italian 98 cc version and keeps the 60 km/h figure with it.
Source: Piaggio Museum · Vespa 98 ↗Why the body mattered
The self-supporting steel shell was both frame and bodywork. The broad leg shield and enclosed machinery made everyday riding feel less messy and more approachable than many exposed motorcycles of the time.
Source: Piaggio Museum · Vespa 98 detailed record ↗Where these facts come from
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.