Monkey Piaggio. Great story of a small car

It was a year 1948 and from the rib of Vespa was bornMonkey Piaggio. During the same period, the Constitution of the Italian Republic entered into force and the economy was carefully rebuilt, including industry, trade and crafts.

Gino Bartali won for the second time Tour de France, Turin won the championship, the 33 rpm record was born, transistor, cybernetics. The annual per capita income of Italians was 139.152 lira..

From Vespa to Monkey

On the streets of Italy and Europe, they saw each other more and more often. VespaOf the 2.464 built in 1946, 48 were produced in 19.822. Enrico Piaggio e Corradino D'Ascanio they had the intuition to also build motorcycle van "Designed for the best of success" wrote the magazine Motociclismo.

“A very modern machine, very limited in cost and consumption, within the reach of the most humble companybut conceived without false economy according to very rational criteria from both a functional and a constructive point of view. "

First monkey

The first Ape was designed by aeronautical engineer Corradino D'Ascanio, who also invented the Vespa. The three-wheeled scooter has retained all the basic characteristics of the scooter, including 125 cc engine. It cost 170.000 200 liras and could carry XNUMX kg..

«It was about filling the gap in post-war utilitarian vehicles. D'Ascanio explained. market launch subcompact motorized van, limited consumption and reasonable cost of purchase and maintenance, easy driving, maneuverable in the most intense city traffic and, above all, suitable, fast and ready to transport home goods purchased in stores ".

The first "swarms"

Il small commercial vehicle Piaggio it was immediately appreciated traders “The monkey helps to accelerate the pace of trading and sales. – read the advertisement of that time – develops, so to speak, store traffic in the expansion and creates a very pleasant connection with the customer "... Flocks of monkeys began to roam "black and white" Italy, carrying the company logo on their bodies.

From Ape C and D to Pentarò tiny trucks

In the summer of 1952, the displacement increased from 125 to 150 см and increased the range. In 1954, the floor was made of steel, and as a result, a new model was born:Monkey C, a tiny truck capable of loading up to 350 Kg.

In 1958 wasMonkey D from 170 cmXNUMX, the dimensions increased even more, the cab was equipped with doors and the headlight was installed on the cockpit shield rather than on the fender.

In 1961, a 5-wheel model with a payload of 700 kg was also launched, modeled after the largest articulated trucks, they named it. I will be pentaro.

The monkey grows and becomes a deputy

в 1966 I come Monkey MP, with a more comfortable cab for the driver and passenger, more like the interiors of vans. The two-stroke engine was increased to 190 cc. See and installed at the back, on a "sled" structure.

La broadcast It no longer had a chain drive, but was directed to the rear wheels with axle shafts, swinging levers made of sheet metal, rubber springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. In 1968 g. steering wheelHowever, it is offered as an option in relation to the steering wheel.

Monkey Car Revolution

In 1971, the Monkey car... Extremely modern design for the time and a new engine.

Therefore, the body is new and larger, the interior is larger and more comfortable, the steering wheel is driven, the engine is 220 см.

Giugiaro bee

The Ape Car was a huge success, and the subsequent restyling took place more than 10 years later, in 1982. Ape TM... New design Giorgetto Giugiaro, interior dimensions, dashboard automobile type.

Also new are the swing-arm independent suspensions with light alloy brake drums and wheels from 12 inches... The Ape TM has been one of the most successful vehicles in the Ape lineup for its reliability and performance.

Diesel car

In 1984, new engines also appeared, and the first Ape with a diesel engine was born. Diesel car 422 cc with 5-speed gearbox.

Revolutionary engine since it was world's smallest direct injection diesel engine... Two years later, in 1986: record firing range with Max version which could carry up to 9 centners of cargo.

Monkey Kalessino, homage to myth

The timeless charm of Ape is associated with frames Hollywood stars of the 50swhile on holiday in the Mediterranean, they were photographed driving a three-wheeled vehicle.

Thus, the Monkey entered the social life of such iconic places as Versilia, Capri, Ischia and Portofino as the main character. This is why Piaggio released a limited and unique edition in 2007: Monkey Kalessino, with wood accents, chrome plating and an elegant vintage blue livery.