MattJY Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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? privatewire, strangeangel, LightBulbFun and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 What is it? A van? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Piaggio Ape. Scooter with a box on the back big enough for ALL the pizzas Kringle, privatewire, Vince70 and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Oh, definitely do it then! LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dabooka Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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. timolloyd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattJY Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 I’ll probably get one from Italy, not bothered about the LHD Ghosty and UltraWomble 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelandeth Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Micro camper conversion time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LightBulbFun Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warch Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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. LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieman Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 eddyramrod, LightBulbFun, Dick Longbridge and 3 others 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 There's a bloke in South Wales somewhere who imports them, he does get the odd (relatively) cheap one. Skizzer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New POD Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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. crad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warch Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 I found this. Google translate suggests it’s a training scheme for prospective Naplese delivery drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Greggs Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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 and Cavcraft 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunglebus Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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 Cavcraft, Kringle, Dick Longbridge and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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 Cavcraft, anonymous user and eddyramrod 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skizzer Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Also - does this mean you’re selling the Renault 14? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltraWomble Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 One of my "lottery win" vehicles would be a 200cc Ape Camper ( happy camper) Apparently in Italy, Dibble uses them as a paddy wagon... warch, chodweaver, puddlethumper and 4 others 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddyramrod Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Except that Polizei is German, and that one wears German plates... [/pedant] UltraWomble 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aston Martin Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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?" privatewire and UltraWomble 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ETCHY Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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. Cavcraft and comfysofa 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barefoot Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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. Kringle and eddyramrod 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
00833827 Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 I wanted one of these for years - any time I would be in Italy on the holidays I would lust after them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bezzabsa Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 stuff the busa motor, get a Gamma 500 lump in there, square 4 500cc 2 stroke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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. barefoot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
808 Estate Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Remember, therses no such thing as overloaded. Although if you wanted load capacity, Maybe condider the articulated version. bunglebus, Aston Martin, stripped fred and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martc Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 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/ Aston Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairnet Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 4 wheeled one WANT LightBulbFun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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