Iconic scooter Vespa consigned to history

London, AUG 26 : The classic Vespa scooter, which came to symbolise Mod rebellion in Britain, has been scrapped after falling foul of European Union emissions rules.

The iconic Vespa scooter has been axed after EU chiefs ruled it was not eco-friendly. he company will stop production of the PX model -- a cult bike for Mods -- as the two-stroke engine does not fall within emissions guidelines.

The bike features a handlebar gear change, but only versions featuring a fully automatic gearbox will be allowed, The Sun reported.

The 125cc model became an icon in the 1979 film Quadrophenia with Phil Daniels' and Sting's 1960s characters riding them.

News of the closure came as hundreds of Mods showed off their scooters at the famous bank holiday weekender in Brighton, East Sussex.

Scootering magazine editor Andy Gillard said: "It's a shame because the Vespa PX is a design classic. My generation has grown up with it."

Vespa sell 15,000 PX bikes a year. They are launching a 300cc model and a sports scooter.

ANI