What's a Calessino ???

Piaggio Ape (pronounced 'ah-peh' - Italian for bee ) - a three-wheeler produced in 1948 by Vespa designer Corradino D'Ascanio. It was a light commercial vehicle intended to power Italy's economic reconstruction and has been in continuous production since in Italy and India. With scooter style handlebars and a door on each side - it was suited to light deliveries, with good torque for hills but a low top speed. Outside of town, Apes are customarily driven close to the curb to allow traffic and joggers to pass! Piaggio produced the Ape Calessino ('little cart') 422cc Diesel (at around € 10,000 retail) and then the Electric Lithium (€ 23,000 - batteries included) as limited edition modern versions of the model popular in the 50s and 60s with Italian stars and lovers of the 'Dolce Vita'. It always stands out from the crowd - as you can see below - or via our Calessino Spotters Register.


Tuesday 12 January 2016

Calessino No. 214 moves to a new home in Arcos ...

Calessino No. 214 of 999 has moved on from Tarifa to Arcos de la Frontera, near Jerez ... 

After five and a half years of us happily chugging around Tarifa, Southern Spain, our icon of the Dolce Vita has moved on to Arcos.  Good luck to Javier and hope to see you both again soon!!!

More Calessino info is available on our Calessino Parade ScoopIt pages (topical items such as Calessino tour operators, photos of recently spotted Calessinos and other related news) or on our comprehensive Calessino Parade Spotters Register (the relentless quest to locate all 1,699 limited edition Piaggio Ape Calessinos).  

If you have any photos or information about a Calessino - please do let us know via our TarifaStudios Facebook page.



Thursday 29 October 2015

Calessino No. 214 is still rolling along

Calessino No. 214 of 999 is still happily chugging around Tarifa, Southern Spain ... 

More info is available on our Calessino Parade ScoopIt pages (topical items such as Calessino tour operators, photos of recently spotted Calessinos and other related news) or on our more comprehensive Calessino Parade Spotters Register (the relentless quest to locate all 1,699 limited edition Piaggio Ape Calessinos).  

If you have any photos or information about a Calessino - please do let us know via our TarifaStudios Facebook page.






Saturday 20 September 2014

Fours years on and our Calessino No. 214 gets her first ITV (MOT) plus the relentless search for the other limited edition Calessinos continues ...

Just a few snaps to keep this blog going ...

More info on our Calessino Parade ScoopIt pages (topical items such as Calessino tour operators, photos of recently spotted Calessinos and other related news) or our more comprehensive Calessino Parade Spotters Register (the relentless quest to locate all 1,699 limited edition Piaggio Ape Calessinos). 

If you have any photos or information about a Calessino - please do let us know via our TarifaStudios Facebook page.










Thursday 27 March 2014

Another year flies by ... and the relentless quest for limited edition Calessinos continues!

Just a quick post to keep this occasional blog alive ...

 
Here are a couple of snaps of our wonderful Piaggio Ape Calessino (No. 214 of 999 Edition A) looking at home in Tarifa harbour and on a thought provoking visit to the local cemetery on the outskirts of Tarifa.


Our regular Calessino news is now posted on Calessino Parade ScoopIt. Here you will find topical items such as Calessino tour operators, photos of recently spotted Calessinos and other related news - like the launch and take up of the new smaller / greener Calessino 200. 

Our more comprehensive Calessino Parade Spotters Register is still progressing along the relentless quest to locate all 1,699 limited edition Piaggio Ape Calessinos (as produced in 2007 - Edition A and 2009 onwards - Edition B and C). 

If you have any photos or information about a Calessino - please do let us know via our TarifaStudios Facebook page.


Saturday 22 June 2013

Calessino 200 ... ... ...

The official Piaggio video for the new Ape Calessino - in the UK from July 2013 (available for purchase via: www.tukxi.com).

Great to see the Calessino style evolving - and it still has that original fun factor!!!

 
You can see the 'original' limited edition Ape Calessino (2009) in action in this fun Iconic Rickshaws for Relief video.
 


Sunday 17 March 2013

Habemus Papam - but where are those Calessinos?

Pope Francis was elected on 13th March 2013 but will he use the two custom finished white Ape Calessinos that Piaggio donated to Pope Benedict back in 2008...

 

Requests to the Vatican have so far fallen on deaf ears and even the odd prayer for divine inspiration has so far failed to provide their Edicione Limitata details.

Perhaps this new 'man of the people' might be spotted driving round Rome in one of the Calessinos, giving a lift to some of the faithful on their way to church!

We wish Pope Francis well and hope one day we might be able to add the papal Calessino info to our: Calessino - Spotters Register

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Calessino Parade - Spotters Register


In the relentless quest to locate all 1,699*** limited edition Piaggio Ape Calessinos, wherever they may be across the world ... the 'Spotters Register' went on line in March 2011.   It is a very simple listing of basic information about each Calessino that was either already publicly available on the web, provided by a spotter or by the owner - like our little blue wonder in Tarifa, Southern Spain (which is Calessino No. 214)......


If you have any info about a specific Calessino (ideally the Edition No. which is on the little black plate next to the driver's seat near the door, Make/Model, Location and photo / web link) or maybe you know of a useful owners club / website - then please get in touch via our TarifaStudios Facebook page.  We can then update the register and let Calessino No. NNN take its rightful place on the 'Spotters Register'


If you have seen a modern Piaggio Ape Calessino (motocarro, triciclo, triporteur, triobalade, cabriolet, auto rickshaw), know more about one of those listed in the register or maybe you even own one - then please help complete the search.    Whatever your connection, if you have some Calessino info, please do get in touch with us via our TarifaStudios Facebook page ....  The register is just for fun to see how far and wide these beautiful 'little carts' have travelled and all the amazing purposes they are used for!



*** Note: Piaggio made these  modern Calessinos from 2007 - 2009 in Blue with White canvass top (Edition A of 999powered by a 422cc diesel engine from Lombardini, India then from 2009 onwards in White with Bordeaux (Edition B of 600) with the same diesel engine.  In 2009, they also launched their White with Blue Electric Lithium version (Edition C of 100). The register traces the crazy three wheelers spotted so far.
   

Friday 18 February 2011

Calling all Calessinos across the world!!!

Can't believe it has been nearly 4 months since I posted on this blog.  Been busy trying other media like Facebook, Twitter and more recently, our new Tumblr site (which is so easy and quick to use).
Anyway, I am still trying to track down the other 998 in this initial limited edition of Piaggio Ape Calessino 3 wheel tuk tuks - where ever they may be.
If you have seen one or might know where one is - then please, please please post something here or contact us via our TarifaStudios Facebook page.
Meanwhile, we are looking forward to firing up our little blue wonder (No 214) when we are next out in Spain.  Enjoy the Calessino photos.


   

Saturday 16 October 2010

'Bufalino' Calessino - the future of solo travel ?


'Maite' is very happy with her smart blue and white outfit but I guess she would love to meet this 'uber' cool Calessino design concept produced by a German design student, now studying at the Royal College of Art in London. 





The 'bufalino' by industrial designer Cornelius Comanns is a small camper which is equipped to meet the basic needs of one person.  The concept behind the project is to offer absolute flexibility during periods of travel.  It encourages users to explore the surrounding off beaten tracks.  Meanwhile the furnished interior amazingly consisting of a bed, two seating units, a cooking zone, a basin, storage space, a water tank and a refrigerator offers the comforts of a home.


Sunday 5 September 2010

Hello World !!! My name is Maite - I am Calessino No 214 of 999

Welcome to the Calessino Parade

My name is Maite (pronounced 'Mighty') - I am Calessino No 214 of the limited edition of 999 produced by Piaggio in Italy. I live in Southern Spain and I am trying to locate the rest of my family.

If you are related to me or know where one of my family is - then please get in touch (via our TarifaStudios Facebook page) or just post your details here (remember to let me know your name, number and location, if you can).