The Bajaj Chetak 1972 was an iconic scooter inspired by the Piaggio Vespa Sprint and became a symbol of affordable urban mobility in India. Its design included a large, cosy seat for two, a level floorboard, a rounded front apron, and a traditional curving monocoque steel body. A 2-stroke, single-cylinder, air-cooled 145 cc engine that produced roughly 6–7 horsepower and was connected to a 4-speed hand-shifted gearbox powered the scooter. For basic comfort, it featured a trailing-link front suspension, drum brakes on both wheels, and a kick-starter mechanism. Before Bajaj Auto completely localised production, manufacturing was done in its Akurdi plant near Pune under a licensing arrangement with Piaggio. While parts like the handlebars, rims, and engine casing were built of aluminium alloy to balance weight, the frame and body panels were constructed of pressed steel for durability. The scooter moved on 8-inch steel wheels with tube-style tyres and had a seat with vinyl upholstery and foam padding. In the 1970s, its tough construction, fuel efficiency (around 35 to 40 km/l), and ease of maintenance made it incredibly popular throughout India.