Peter Lyon
December 10, 2025
Next year, the Goodwood Revival will embrace the movie La Dolce Vita. So what does that mean?
Each year, the Goodwood Revival begins with a spectacular track opening parade, showcasing some of the most iconic vehicles in motoring history. These distinguished makes and models converge on the historic Motor Circuit, marking the official start of the event in grand style.
In 2025, the Revival brought together the largest and most varied group of Volkswagen Type 2 Split Screens, including fire engines, ambulances, transporters, and even ice cream vans. This year, the spotlight turns to the Vespa, ready to take centre stage in a vibrant celebration of Italian design and culture.
Eighty years ago, a scooter with a distinctive buzz captured imaginations worldwide. When the first MP6 prototype’s 98cc engine was started up in 1946, Italian industrialist Enrico Piaggio remarked that it sounded like a wasp – ‘Vespa’ in Italian. The scooter was subsequently named by its creator, Corradino d’Ascanio, and the Vespa brand was born.
Vespa emerged as a symbol of possibility, creativity and hope in a nation striving to rebuild after the devastation of the Second World War. Corradino d’Ascanio blended ingenuity with mechanical engineering to create a simple yet innovative vehicle that has stood the test of time.
Over the decades, Vespa has evolved beyond transportation into a lifestyle brand. In the early 1950s, the slogan “Vespizzatevi!”– translated as “Vespa ourselves” – was used in global marketing campaigns, to encourage both personal expression and environmentally conscious travel. By the mid-1960s, the Mod movement in the UK, inspired by Italian style and spirit, embraced Vespa, connecting young people through style, community and mobility, cementing Vespa’s place as both a cultural and practical icon.
In 2026, Vespa will mark eight decades of design, culture, and creativity. Goodwood Revival will celebrate this anniversary with a parade of over 300 pre-67 Vespas, Lambrettas, Ducati’s and many more in every colour and design, showcasing the marque’s legacy of style and innovation and its enduring influence.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
No one can argue about the impact that Vespa had on the 2-wheeled community. When anyone speaks of two-wheeled transport for the masses, they will talk about Vespa. This motorcycle was so popular back in the day, that its special appearance in Audrey Hepburn’s “Roman Holiday” helped it to sell over 100,000 units after the movie came out in 1953.
