You'll go Ape Over This!

I used to get annoyed by these little Piaggio three wheelers when I was stuck behind them! What was I supposed to do? Laugh? Cry? 

I guess that I've matured because when I saw this little thing the other day I fell in love with it! 

Not only can you park them for free in many cities, including Lugano where I saw this one, but what more do you need for getting around in the city? It is a common sight in Italy as its compact size enables it to get to and park almost anywhere!

The Ape Celessino has about the same footprint as a motorcycle but it seats three. Cute, isn't it?

 History of And Facts About The Piaggio Ape

• The name refers to the fact that it is for work because ape means bee in Italian
• It was produced after the second world war in 1947 to provide Italy with cheap transport to rebuild the nation!
• The first Apes had 50, 150 or later 175 cc engines
• It is basically a Vespa (scooter) with two wheels added to the rear and a flat bed structure added onto the axle
• It has been in continuous production since it first burst onto the scene!
• In 2013 Piaggio announced that it would only be produced in India in the future
• Depending on the model, this little truck can carry between 175-805 kg
• It has high torque for climbing hills but a low top speed which is fine for an urban setting!

The Ape Calessino

The model that captured my fancy is the Calessino. It has a retro look and a autorickshaw type body that can carry the driver and two passengers! The styling of this model is similar to those of the 50's and 60's and it was meant to bring back memories of  Italy's amazing economic growth of that era! The so called Miracolo Economico!

The electrical company uses this for getting around in the city! Free parking and really, what more do you need!

It's basically  a scooter with a cab built around it! Hey, whatever works as these things have been in use since 1947!

For comparison here's another Ape model which was parked in the same area. Not as beautiful but it works!

So there you have it, another gift from Italy to the world. This cool thing of the day has been in production for over 70 years and it's still going strong! It can be scene all over Europe and of course India!

What Are Your Impressions? 

• Do you find the Ape cute, useful or just annoying?
• Do they use them in your area?
• Have you ever seen one?

I hope that you enjoyed this article about "The Cool Thing of The Day!"

Until next time,

@kus-knee (The Old Dog)