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.
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 999) powered 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.
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