(FoxNews) – The Vespa scooter was designed as an affordable way to put
Italians back on the road after World War II, but this one’s not cheap.

The oldest-known existing Vespa is being auctioned online at Catawiki.com
and as of this writing it’s closing in on $175,000, with bidding set to end on
March 28.

The fully-documented “Serie 0” was actually the third Vespa built, the first two
having been lost to history. It’s been fully restored, with the paint carefully
stripped off to highlight its early construction methods, which include a hand-
hammered and soldered steel unibody. About 60 of these pre-production
models were manufactured before a formal assembly line was established.

Vespa is an Italian brand of scooter manufactured by Piaggio. The name
means “wasp” in Italian. The Vespa has evolved from a single model motor
scooter manufactured in 1946 by Piaggio & Co. S.p.A. of Pontedera, Italy
to a full line of scooters and one of seven companies today owned by
Piaggio.