Vespa GTV Officina 8 300

Vespa GTV Officina 8 300 – From Prototype to Icon

Every Vespa ever made traces its DNA back to a single room. The “Officina Sperimentale” — officially designated Officina 8 — was the top-secret experimental workshop where a select group of engineers, tinsmiths, fitters, and mechanics spent their days tinkering and tweaking the very first Vespa prototypes. From that small workshop to the Apennine Mountains where vehicles were pushed through their paces in all weather conditions, to the test track where world records fell, Officina 8 was where the legend was born. Now, this special edition GTV commemorates that origin story — an industrial take on classic Vespa design, going back to those very first prototypes with their all-steel body and unique front guard-mounted headlight.

Performance with Purpose

The Officina 8 runs the same liquid-cooled 278cc HPE single-cylinder engine as the GTV 300 — 4-valve, SOHC, with electronic port fuel injection, producing 17.5 kW (23.8 HP) at 8,250 rpm and 26 Nm of torque at 5,250 rpm. It remains the highest performing engine ever fitted to a Vespa, paired with a CVT automatic transmission and dry centrifugal clutch for seamless power delivery. Twin 220mm stainless steel disc brakes front and rear with ABS and ASR traction control deliver class-leading stopping power and stability. The double hydraulic rear shock absorber with 4-position preload adjustment, combined with the single arm fork front suspension with coil spring and shock absorber, ensures a composed, comfortable ride across all surfaces. An 8.5-litre fuel tank gives genuine touring range.

Rider-Focused Tech

The Officina 8 features a round LCD instrument panel that maintains the elegant circular form the GTV is known for, displaying essential trip information at a glance. Connectivity provision is built in, with the Vespa MIA smartphone system available as an accessory — linking your phone via Bluetooth for call, message, and music notifications on the dash. Keyless ignition lets you start the engine with the fob in your pocket, while full LED lighting — including the characteristic low-mounted “faro basso” headlamp — ensures visibility day and night. A USB port is located inside the glovebox as standard, and the Bike Finder function helps locate your Vespa at a distance.

Design: Aggression Meets Elegance

This is where the Officina 8 becomes something truly special. The warm industrial blue matt finish is both exciting and reassuring — a colour that speaks directly to the workshop heritage of those first Vespa prototypes. Gold accents run throughout: the Vespa script, the die-cast aluminium alloy wheels on both front (120/70-12) and rear (130/70-12), and the detail touches that catch light in a way no standard colour scheme can replicate. The signature “faro basso” low headlamp sits on the front mudguard, the exposed metal tubular handlebar completes the vintage silhouette, and a saddle cover comes as standard equipment. A dedicated Officina 8 logo label on the left side of the rearshield marks this as something distinct from any other Vespa in the range. Built on the same sheet steel monocoque body at 1,975 mm long with a 1,375 mm wheelbase, this is the GTV platform at its most collectable.

Is It for You?

The Vespa GTV Officina 8 300 is for riders who want more than performance — they want provenance. It delivers the same 17.5 kW HPE engine, dual-disc ABS braking with ASR traction control, and grand touring capability as the standard GTV, but wrapped in a colour and detail package that commemorates the very origins of the Vespa legend. If you appreciate the story behind the machine as much as the ride itself, the Officina 8 is the most meaningful Vespa you can own. Note: the GTV 300 sits above LAMS approval, so it’s for fully licensed riders.