1974 Piaggio Vettura Concept by Paolo Martin

The Piaggio Vettura Concept, unveiled in 1974, was a bold experiment by the Italian scooter manufacturer best known for the Vespa. Designed by Paolo Martin, the man behind several striking concepts of the era (including the Ferrari Modulo), the Vettura was a tiny, futuristic-looking microcar powered by a 50cc engine.

With its compact footprint and ultra-minimalist styling, the Vettura was clearly aimed at urban mobility in a fuel-conscious and traffic-congested era. Despite its novelty and Piaggio’s manufacturing expertise, the car remained a one-off prototype and never reached production. Still, it serves as an early example of two-wheeled manufacturers exploring the space between scooters and cars—a concept that would gain more traction decades later with micro EVs.