CrAPE

[MattJY]

So after my last snotter (R14) purchase, I’m in the market for something else and I think it’s going to be an Ape, or CrAPE

Not planning on converting it into one of those poncy catering wagons but I’d gladly lug my own beer around in.

Stupid idea or do it?

[stripped fred]

What is it? A van?

[bunglebus]

Piaggio Ape. Scooter with a box on the back big enough for ALL the pizzas

[stripped fred]

Oh, definitely do it then!

[Dabooka]

I can't see how you'd lose money either unless your really overpay for an utter dog. GTFB.

You can always flip it on to someone with a unique idea, such as a poncy catering wagon or somesuch.

[MattJY]

I’ll probably get one from Italy, not bothered about the LHD

[Zelandeth]

Micro camper conversion time?

[LightBulbFun]

dont think we have had one on the forum before? so would be fun to see

 

as a side here is one I papped back in 2018 before I really knew what they where and was surprised to find they still made em LOL

(selling coffee of course!)

[warch]

28 minutes ago, MattJY said:

I’ll probably get one from Italy, not bothered about the LHD

I didn't actually realise they weren't central drive like a motorcycle or a McLaren F1 (for hilarious comparison purposes). I love seeing them on Ibiza and other holiday islands, they're such a neat little design, and perfectly suited to tiny narrow streets and people who don't lug tonnes of stuff about to do their daily job. 

They are amazingly slow, especially on hills, but pointing that out is utterly missing the point. 

[wuvvum]

26 minutes ago, warch said:

I didn't actually realise they weren't central drive like a motorcycle or a McLaren F1

Most of them are.  They did the 125cc and 220cc versions with a steering wheel though, and those were LHD.

[Pieman]

 

[Cavcraft]

There's a bloke in South Wales somewhere who imports them, he does get the odd (relatively) cheap one. 

[New POD]

I'm.thinkingbsome sort of Hayabusa engine ? 

 

I used to visit an automation supplier* in Leicester on an industrial estate near the M69/M1 junction. 

A woman used to sell sandwiches and coffee and hot pies out of the back of one if them.  It seemed ideal for that (although an electric conversion would be even better suited) 

Almost like it was designed for the task. 

*Bosch Automation. 

[bunglebus]

6 minutes ago, New POD said:

I'm thinking some sort of Hayabusa engine ? 

Yes I know it's a Tuk Tuk not an Ape.

(I thought for years it was pronounced "ape" like the primate, but it's ah-pey which means ant) 

[warch]

I found this. Google translate suggests it’s a training scheme for prospective Naplese delivery drivers.

[Fabergé Greggs]

1 hour ago, bunglebus said:

(I thought for years it was pronounced "ape" like the primate, but it's ah-pey which means ant) 

Correct pronunciation! Ape means Bee though, and Vespa means Wasp. Referencing that sweet 2 stroke drone and their tireless work ethic. 
 

GIB!! 

[bunglebus]

Sardinia was full of them when I went years ago

Bet this one's fun in a stiff breeze

They also did this four wheeled beastie which I haven't seen imported

 

[Skizzer]

4 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

There's a bloke in South Wales somewhere who imports them, he does get the odd (relatively) cheap one. 

Rhys Morgans, he’s a friend of a friend (that’s South Wales for you).

Details here: https://www.morgansclassics.com

[Skizzer]

Also - does this mean you’re selling the Renault 14?

[UltraWomble]

One of my "lottery win" vehicles would be a 200cc Ape Camper ( happy camper)

Apparently in Italy, Dibble uses them as a paddy wagon...

[eddyramrod]

Except that Polizei is German, and that one wears German plates... [/pedant]

[Aston Martin]

Apes get imported via Hull. 

The haulage firm I work for, used to unbox them and push them from one warehouse to another. (Although we haven't done that in a while) anyway, I was once there and we got an Ape Calessino in. 🤔

 

"Dearly beloved, would you like to die today?"

[ETCHY]

Ape's are great.

When we were in Italy (Lake Garda) a few years back the little buggers were everywhere.

I really admire the use of them abroad they're cheap little vehicle's for doing local work,usually battered to hell, they take up no space & just do the job. Cool idea IMO. 

We in UK could learn a lot from that approach.

[barefoot]

There's a bloke in the next village owns one of these & a Bently W12 coupe thing. He always visits the co-op in the Ape, there are two ludicrously long & steep hills involved in a journey of about a mile & a half. Oh, he's a retired brain surgeon.

[00833827]

I wanted one of these for years - any time I would be in Italy on the holidays I would lust after them. 

[bezzabsa]

stuff the busa motor, get a Gamma 500 lump in there, square 4 500cc 2 stroke 

 

[Talbot]

13 hours ago, MattJY said:

I’ll probably get one from Italy, not bothered about the LHD

Presumably makes all the difference of about 400mm in the driving position.  You could probably position yourself on the road so that even as a LHD vehicle, you're sitting where a RHD "normal" vehicle driver would be.

[808 Estate]

Remember, therses no such thing as overloaded.

 

Although if you wanted load capacity, Maybe condider the articulated version.

[martc]

I am was (have you seen the news lately?) a regular visitor to Italy and I can confirm that there are still hundreds of Ape's buzzing about doing there business; although cheap Chinese pick-ups and Piaggio built Daihatsu's are muscling in on the hive.

9 hours ago, Aston Martin said:

Apes get imported via Hull. 

The haulage firm I work for, used to unbox them and push them from one warehouse to another. (Although we haven't done that in a while) anyway, I was once there and we got an Ape Calessino in. 🤔

"Dearly beloved, would you like to die today?"

 

Talking of Hull, the home of caravan and vehicle body building, The Big Coffee Company on Gothenburg Way are converting Ape's to electric power, to sell, would you believe, coffee in ULEZ/trendy areas. But they do all sorts of other conversions. Have you seen the Smart cars that sell coffee from the back? Yes, that's them.

https://thebigcoffee.com/vehicles/

[hairnet]

4 wheeled one WANT