Modern Vespa

This is my 1957 Piaggio Ape C. The Vespa three-wheeler. I like to call it the F-150 of Italy.
This is the second generation of the Ape. The first-gen Apes looked like a VBA scooter with the wheels in the back. The second gen added some creature comforts (such as an optional roof) and changed the look and styling of the front end.

These guys are fairly common in Italy (so I've heard) but are more of a rarity in the States. I received mine from Florida. It looks like Flordia's warm/wet air took its toll over the years. Saying that this Ape has seen better days would be an understatement.
When a horse breaks its leg, you are supposed to put it down. This Ape is a horse with four broken legs. I'm stubbornly bringing her back to life.

Here are the pictures of the day that I received the Ape, around the end of April, 2021.

Followed by a picture of the complete teardown and removal of a majority of the penetrating rust.

The final pictures are my current progress. Taken around June 24th, 2021. I've almost finished welding all the new metal back in. I've been welding using flux core which is really difficult when welding 20 gauge steel. I've only been welding two months so I know my welds aren't the best but they work!

I love it!

You have two more months of welding experience than I so, but based on what I know, so long as the weld is solid, the big difference between a good weld and a bad weld is how much grinding you have to do afterwards.

I can't wait to see this thing all back together. I'd love to have an Ape of my own.

Ho-lee cats and rats and elephants!

My hat's off to you. Keep us posted.

Welds look more than decent. You'll be a pro before long. Awesome project, stay at it and keep updating.

Let the reassembly begin!

Finally Reassembled and roadworthy once more!

Resurrection!
Nice work. What are your plans for the back?

Birdsnest
Maybe something like this? Or perhaps something simpler like a flat bed pickup.

You should really get into graphic design. You've got mad skilz.

Does it run, or are you pushing it around? It would be cool to hear the sound of the engine if possible.

wow looks fun!

Even though I know that they are actually terrible forms of transport (slow, loud, uncomfortable, small), I still want an Ape.

Is it autonomous or did you just forget to reassemble the driver ?

How about the Ape Beer Bar?

(Bride not included)

looks like a ton of work. but awesome end product! Impressive.

Wonder what happened to this one,
[SD, CA] 1988 PIAGGO APE P703 FOR SALE.. California Title

if you are looking for something like this we can do it over a 2023 APE PIAGGIO unit. With your own specification, color, number of dispensers, etc.

Looks like my old thread was just revived.

If anyone wants an Ape, I'm selling this one (and another one). This yellow one is on eBay right now—with a calessino back.
Search "piaggio ape Vespa" on eBay or something along those lines and you should be able to find it!

THIS ONE



My wife would kill me and then I'd have to be buried in it. So ... you know.

That's the one!

So close, yet so far

That one is so short. Is it like a cab for a second trailer part?

The welding is super impressive.

Well...
an end to the Ape saga.

To catch everyone up to speed. First, I found a door!


I used it as a template and made more doors. Fit nicely! (pictured with out the second door on)[img]

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Then, a couple of months ago, I found a handlebar Ape down in San Diego!! Or so I thought. Turned out to be a Vietnamese knockoff. "Scooter 99"
Bummer. Still nice looking but mechanically questionable.

I just sold them both to some guys up in Santa Barbara. They are turning them into coffee carts and they will be on the SB pier and in Solvang town center. Pretty cool!
I discolsed the info about the Scooter 99 knock-off handle bar Ape and they were perfectly fine with it (especially because it was cheaper ) since it was going to mostly be a prop.

Looks like I'll be out of the Ape game for the near future. But they're too fun/wacky to be done with forever
Last pic is me saying goodbye to them both. [img][/img]

Well... I found another Ape. Or it found me. Too good of a deal almost to the point where I "had to" buy it. Or at least that's what I am telling myself!

This is a Piaggio Ape 400R (or 401R?). It was used as a display for World Expo 86.

Obviously a bodged "restoration" where the cab was cut and turned into the calessino/convertible version which was never available for this model. Then they bondo-ed over the front seal and welded patches over the fron turn indicators. All fixable but I'll probably leave it for now.

It was advertised as a tuktuk and after I asked for some better pictures, I confirmed that it was all legit Piaggio! Score. A complete engine with great compression is all there too!

Looks like I am averaging an Ape a year. Not bad I guess! Haha

Very very cool!

Ape is going electric! Check it out on the ol' youtube: FYI Motor went to my friend's Ape so no vintage vespa related parts were harmed in the making of this video

P.S. Here's a pic of what this Ape SHOULD look like before it was bodged...

If you have read any of my posts before, you probably know that I've been on an EV conversion kick. I've made a large frame and smallframe 4000W plug and play kit and I am currently working on a wide frame kit. Although the motors are rated for 4000W, I have my personal rigs (a '73 Primavera and a '71 Rally 180) tuned to 13,500W. Dangerously fast.

I posted this youtube video shown above and the Dual motor EV conversion of this messed up/bodged Ape I aquired.

A mobile bar business in San Fransisco saw it and messaged me on Instagram. They had also aquired a really nice late 50's Ape--without an engine. They asked if I would be interested in converting it to electric for them. I said of course!

It arrived last night. This is one of the cleanest Apes I have seen. Looks like they had purchased it from Bello Moto back in 2020.

Side note - this might be my favorite selection of Piaggio vehicles in my garage ever

That's a beauty of an Ape!

Amazing condition; love the paint color.

I haven'r read-in yet to see your EV motor technology that you're using, but I wondered is the e motor your own design or sourced from a producer somewhere?