Piaggio Van Books - History and Models

Ape Piaggio

In the years immediately after the Second World War Italy was in desperate need of reconstruction, economic resources were scarce and there was above all a lack of a vehicle capable of satisfying the new commercial reality.
On the one hand the market was offering large and expensive lorries, on the other cheap, small motorcycles but neither was suitable for small businesses.

This changed in 1947 (just a year after the launch of the Vespa) with the presentation of the Ape that from the outset enjoyed enormous success and was offered in an infinite series of variants: flat beds, panel vans, tipper trucks, trailers, autorickshaws and fire trucks.
A success story that has continued through to the present day with special versions built for the Pope and the President of the Italian Republic.

This book presents the history and the engineering of a remarkable vehicle, taking in such aspects and styling and publicity, not to mention the great intercontinental journeys undertaken with this legendary three-wheeler.
Lastly, along with the production figures, for the first time we are publishing a complete illustrated catalogue of every model produced to date, each accompanied by a detailed technical file.

Piaggio Ape - Die fleissige Schwester der Vespa

Als Schwester der Vespa stellte der italienische Hersteller Piaggio 1947 den Dreirad-Transporter "Biene" (Ape) vor. Entstanden in der entbehrungsreichen Nachkriegszeit, ist die Ape die letzte Überlebende einer mittlerweile ausgestorbenen Fahrzeuggattung. Und das nicht ohne Grund: Kein anderes Dreirad wurde weltweit bisher häufiger gebaut.

Günther Uhlig erzählt in diesem aktualisierten und erweiterten Band die Erfolgsstory der Ape von den Anfängen bis zur Gegenwart und führt mit herrlichen Bildern und viel Hintergrundwissen durch die gesamte Modellgeschichte, den Alltag und die Szene - ein Lesegenuss der besonderen Art.