1991 APE MP501 Blue (BM 356)
One of the best vintage APEs we have had. It is a 9.5 out of 10 overall and a great value. It was in excellent condition before the restoration was started, with very low mileage overall. It has a 190cc motor and requires manually mixed oil and gas.
Both the engine and the carburetor have been rebuilt. We replaced the spark plug, all the old gas lines, both the gas filter and the air filter. Cleaned the gas tank as a precautionary measure and fine tuned the motor and carburetor. It runs perfect.
The paint job was very professional and complete. Included sandblasting to expose any rust issues. These were very minor and they were corrected with "rust stop" before primer and new paint. Interior is in good condition and all systems in good working order.
PIAGGIO APE BACKGROUND :
Piaggio developed the APE ( pronounced "ah-pay" - Italian for "Honey Bee" ) in 1947 as a light duty, urban delivery vehicle and it became an instant success. The APE has been in continuous production since its inception and has been produced in a variety of different body styles in Italy and India. It has a proven reputation as a tough, practical and very economical transport for many commercial uses. The design is based on a very rugged chassis adaptable to multiple body styles/configurations and powered by a reliable and simple single cylinder engine with high specific torque and very low gearing that allows the APE to haul significant payloads at relaxed, but perfectly urban, velocities.
The APE enjoyed continued design evolution and by1965 was quite well developed and very dependable. In many ways it is similar to the latest version actually still in production in India - but way cuter!
The three-wheeled chassis allows the APE to be registered as a motorcycle which is an additional economy. Steering is via scooter style handlebars, and the cabin is roomy for a single driver, but can also accommodate a passenger (with a snug fit). There are doors on each side door, perfect for making deliveries to each side of the road. Parking ease and maneuverability are outstanding.
Performance is well suited to the job of light delivery, with good torque for hills but a modest top speed ( 35 mph ), which is adequate in the urban settings, gated communities or special circumstances for which it was designed. Handling is unique, but serviceable when the limitations of the tricycle layout are observed.
The APE is a very serious workhorse, which belies its cuteness with the ability to provide very useful service in many situations and applications. In Italy, India and other third-world locales thousands of APEs are in daily service and often the favored vehicle for light duty delivery.
1991 APE MP501 Blue (BM 356)
Offered at $19,750