Piaggio Ape

The Australians have their Holden Utes, the Americans have their Ford F 150s and the Italians have this, the Piaggio Ape. Visit the outlying areas of Italy and it sometimes seems the nation s entire rural economy is propped up by these faintly ridiculous, scooter based, three wheeled pick ups.

Piaggio s off the shelf range incorporates pick ups, vans, tipper trucks and even a model equipped with mobile espresso machine. There s a four wheeled version too, called the Ape Poker.