ADVISORY/Vespa Celebrates More Than Half a Century of Italian Design with Historic Memorabilia Showcase at Boffi Showroom; Upcoming Event.

News Editors/Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Thursday (May 1)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHO:        Vespa(R), the world-famous Italian motorscooter, will
            celebrate its 57-year history by displaying artifacts at
            the Boffi Los Angeles showroom with life-sized models of
            Boffi's kitchen designs serving as a backdrop. Scooters
            from every decade, Vespa posters, graphics, a collection
            of Vespa magazines from 1948 and a film showing the
            history of Vespa in cinema will be part of the exhibit.

WHAT:       Scooters on display include:

            1948 Bachetta                 1972/78 primavera
            1951 Allstate Concourse       1974 rally 200 MOD
            1955 150cc grand sport        1976 rally 200 concourse
            1962 160cc grand sport        1999 PX 200 European version
            1966 super spring concourse   2000 ET4
            1967 180cc super sport concourse

WHEN:       Thursday, May 1, 2003
            6-10 p.m. -- opening night

            Exhibit on display through Thursday, May 8, 2003
            10 a.m.-6 p.m.
            (closed Sunday and Monday)

WHERE:      Boffi Los Angeles showroom, tel. [phone]
            1344 Fourth St., Santa Monica, CA 90401

INTERVIEW/
PHOTO OPPS: --  Photograph rare Vespa memorabilia in a setting that
                promotes Italian design

            --  Interview Mark Robinson, president of Boffi
                Los Angeles, and Darell Malamut, vice president of
                Vespa California about the correlation between the
                design of Boffi products and Vespa scooters

BACKGROUND: Manufactured by Piaggio in Tuscany, Italy, the Vespa was
            designed in 1946 by Enrico Piaggio as a solution to
            transportation following the destruction of World War II.
            Combining the best elements of aeronautics automobiles
            and motorcycles, it instantly became an icon of design and
            economy. In 2000, after a 15-year hiatus, the fabled
            Italian scooter returned to the U.S. to entice new
            generations with its efficient, entertaining and still
            nostalgic nature.

            Founded near Milan, Italy in 1934 by brothers Dino, Pier
            Ugo and Paolo Boffi, Boffi's innovative approach to
            kitchen design and manufacturing has led to the creation
            of 11 Boffi-owned showrooms in cities worldwide, including
            New York and Los Angeles.

CONTACT:    To RSVP for the event, contact the following:

            Staci Miller
            SJ Communications for Vespa
            P: 818-385-0167
            E: [e-mail]

            Carolyn Kamii
            Boffi Los Angeles
            P: 310-914-5421
            E: [e-mail]