2013/63 Piaggio Ape 50 panel van 3 wheeled tricycle, only 2900 kms, one owner. A panel van model with a 50cc 2 stroke single cylinder engine with a 4 speed manual gearbox. Imported new into the UK in late 2013, this Ape was initially used locally as a light commercial vehicle for an ironing delivery and collection service. To suit this business, it was fitted with custom internal roof-mounted rails. These clever rails allow clothes to be hung neatly inside the load area and slide rearward past the tailgate for effortless loading and unloading. After roughly a year of light use, the business needs changed. Rather than selling it, the owner fell in love with its character and kept it as a fun novelty vehicle within their private car collection. To prepare it for sale, it has just undergone a comprehensive recommissioning and full service.
The Piaggio Ape is a three-wheeled light commercial vehicle manufactured and marketed by Piaggio as an adaption of the company's Vespa Scooter. In continuous production since its 1948 introduction, it is offered in numerous body configurations to serve a wide range of utilitarian functions. The Ape was initially marketed as the VespaCar or TriVespa, but Piaggio subsequently marketed the utility vehicle just as the Ape, the word being derived from the Italian for ‘Bee’; its scooter marketed as the Vespa, meaning ‘Wasp’.
Currently two model ranges are offered; the classic version known as the ‘Ape 50’ and a larger vehicle the larger ‘Ape TM’. On offer here is the classic Ape 50 version with its 50cc engine. Whilst not a motorway contender, it does give the little van plenty of power to haul around whatever you may wish. This little Ape is fully UK registered, something which can be problematic for such vehicles with today’s modern safety standards.
The Ape 50 has a curb weight of around 260kg and a maximum payload carrying capacity of up to 200kgs. with fuel consumption for the Ape 50 model being about 71 miles per gallon so, whilst not fast, it is very cheap to run. Supplied with its UK V5C registration document, this little van would make for a fun little runabout or a great promotional vehicle for your company. Either way you can imagine being a charming Italian, driving around Rome or Lake Como, chatting and stopping for a coffee with everyone you see on your rounds.