Additional information
by Giorgio Sarti (Author)
The book about the Ape - Piaggio 'three wheeler' - that was waiting to be written, with a wealth of illustrations and completed with a comprehensive listing of all the models produced through to the present day. In the years immediately after the Second World War Italy was in desperate need of reconstruction, economic resources were scarce and there was above all a lack of a vehicle capable of satisfying the new commercial reality. On the one hand the market was offering large and expensive lorries, on the other cheap, small motorcycles but neither was suitable for small businesses. This changed in 1947 (just a year after the launch of the Vespa) with the presentation of the Ape that from the outset enjoyed enormous success and was offered in an infinite series of variants: flat beds, panel vans, tipper trucks, trailers, autorickshaws and fire trucks. A success story that has continued through to the present day with special versions built for the Pope and the President of the Italian Republic. Until now there had never been a book capable of tackling the Ape phenomenon in its totality. This book presents the history and the engineering of a remarkable vehicle, taking in such aspects and styling and publicity, not to mention the great intercontinental journeys undertaken with this legendary three-wheeler. Lastly, along with the production figures, for the first time we are publishing a complete illustrated catalogue of every model produced to date, each accompanied by a detailed technical file.The trademarks APE and PIAGGIO, Hexagonal cell new logo, e P PIAGGIO shield and figure are exclusive registered property of PIAGGIO & C S.p.A. Any unauthorised use of them contravenes the trademark laws.
Author Biography
Giorgio Sarti was born and lives in Milan. He is a qualified engineer and since 1982 he has been contributing to a series of important motorcycling periodicals as a journalist. He is a great motorcycling enthusiast and is the author of many books on Vespa and of the first historical Encyclopaedia of motorcycles. For Giorgio Nada he has published Vespa 60 years (2006), upated in 2016, Tutti gli scooter del mondo (2009), Vespa The complete history from 1946 (2011), Honda CB 750 Four (2012), Moto Enduro anni 80 L'era d'oro (2018), Ape Piaggio (2019), Vespa All the models (2020, updated in 2023), Moto anni 70 L'era d'oro delle due ruote (2021), Vespa 75 years. The complete history - Updated edition (2022), Kawasaki 500 Mach III (2023) and MV Agusta Motorcycle Art (2024).
