It is well known that Rolls Royce once avoided extreme embarrassment in Germany by a last minute change of name of one of their models from Silver Mist to Silver Shadow.
It must be questioned if inventor of the Vespa scooter Corradino D’Ascanio and Enrico Piaggio who’s company manufactured the scooters were aware of the English meaning of “Ape” when they named their chose the name for their three wheeled pick up in 1947 or if they were just monkeying around.”Ape” pronounced ‘ah-peh’ in Italian translates to bee in English.
Ape’s have been in continuous production since then with a variety of motors this 2004 model has a 49 cc / 3 cui motor which allegedly has good torque though low gearing keeps the top speed down to around 40 mph.
As well as being a tremendous success in Italy variants of the Ape are even more popular in India where the design serves as the most numerous form of motorised Taxi known as tuk-tuks which are manufactured by Piaggio India.I well remember a hair raising ride on a tuk tuk in New Dehli many years ago which convinced me that if I wished to leave India alive I’d probably best taking four wheeled transport for the rest of my stay.
But after I took a ride on a New Dehli bus and I was not so sure that was any safer.
Thanks for joining me on this busy bee edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !
PS Don’t forget …
Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz
December 26th – January 2nd
Win a set of Paul Chenard Greetings Cards
Set 1 Sports & GT Cars
Set 2 Phil Hill World Drivers Championship 50th Anniversary Edition
Set 3 1934 Season
Set 4 Grand Prix Engines of the 1950’s
or
Set 5 Mike Hawthorn’s Race Cars
The Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz will comprise 8 categories.
Overall winner chooses one set of Paul Chenard Greetings Cards from the five sets shown above.
The cards measure 15.24cm x 11.43cm, come in packs of 12 with 3 copies of 4 designs in each set, plus A6 envelopes.
Which set will you choose ?
The free to enter Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz will run from December 26th – January 2nd Entries close January 8th 2012, Winner announced January 16th 2012.
Full details on December 26th at GALPOT.
Looking for Automotive Seasonal Gift Idea’s? Visit Automobiliart Now !
