The Vespa scooter, a lasting symbol of Italy’s carefree caffé culture, evokes images of breezy rides on cobblestone streets through bustling Italian cities. The sun is always shining and the girls are always smiling. You’ve got nothing to do and all day to do it. So, you lift your scooter onto its center stand, grab a sidewalk table, and order an espresso. La dolce vita!

The iconic Vespa is in its 75th year of production, and late models have lost none of the charm, quirkiness, and fun that was part of its original DNA. Oddly enough, this 2-wheeled joyride was birthed out of pure practicality in post-war Europe. At the end of World War II, Italy was in chaos. Its economy was wrecked, as were its roads and infrastructure. Italians needed an inexpensive way to get around. In came airplane manufacturer Piaggio, who saw the factory that made their war planes get bombed to oblivion. Enrico Piaggio, knew there was no future in Italian war planes, and realized the local economy wasn’t ready to support the mass manufacturing of automobiles. So, he got out of the airplane business and into the motorcycle business. Two years later the Vespa (Italian for “wasp”) debuted at the Milan fair. By 1950, nearly 100,000 of the scooters had been sold.

Over the years the Vespa saw changes to its engine, suspension, performance, and even its company ownership. But throughout the various iterations of the scooter, popularity (and sales) continued to soar. Vespa clubs popped up throughout Europe, forming a subculture enjoyed even to this day. The loyalty and enthusiasm for the brand has translated to more than 10 million scooters sold.

The common descriptive for this bike is “peppy.” The Vespa is responsive on the throttle, and has no problem getting up to 60mph. With a dry weight of just 240 lbs., the bike is perfectly powered with the right amount of get-up-and-go. It’s agile in the city and cruises nicely on the open road.

As much fun as it is to ride a Vespa, it remains unexpectedly practical, especially in terms of fuel economy. This two-wheeled wonder delivers a whopping 98 mpg. With that kind of mileage you tend to look for occasions to leave your car in the driveway and take the Vespa, instead. The scooter takes up minimal space, giving you a distinct advantage when parking is tight. When it comes to cargo storage, the Vespa isn’t exactly built for a trip to Costco. It does, however, come with ample space under the seat to hold a few items securely, including your helmet.

The longstanding popularity of the brand has paved the way for a strong parts and accessories market. A quick search online turns up vendors selling everything from storage racks, to bumpers, plus crash bars, windshields, and various other parts that allow you to easily modify or restore your Vespa.

Owning a Vespa makes you part of a culture that fellow owners understand, and outsiders admire. It’s not unlike owning a classic car. But while classic cars sit in your garage under a protective cloth until the next car show, a Vespa’s value is in its fun factor. Your Vespa needs to be ridden. It wants to be ridden. And while you’re out buzzing around, prepare to get lots of looks from drivers and pedestrians who can’t help but notice that you’re having way more fun than they are.