When Tuk-Tuks hold a rally

By Réhann Coetzee

 

A bunch of Tuk-Tuk-like three-wheelers might not be the first picture in your mind when you hear the word “rally”, but this is an unusual get-together for a very unusual, albeit legendary, vehicle.

Registration is now open for EuroApe 2018, the biggest Ape rally, which will be held in Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy, over the weekend of 21 September.

For 70, the Piaggio (yes, the same people who gave us the Vespa) Ape has been a legend, a vehicle without equal in the world, always ready to amaze. A truly original vehicle, able to stand out thanks to its unique personality. More than two and a half million examples across five continents are testament to the success of the three-wheeler, which has turned versatility into its greatest strength.

Designed during a difficult but exciting period in which small-scale businesses worked to get back on their feet, the Ape has always been ideal for goods transportation, even in the most restricted of urban environments. Today, an infinite range of personalisation options make for an extraordinarily versatile vehicle. Over the years, Ape has also made a name for itself as an alternative vehicle for the mobility of people, even in recent years, as demonstrated by the success of versions such as the Ape Calessino, used as a rather posh form of individual transportation.

The first event was held in 2008 and organisers say the 2018 edition is set to be particularly engaging as it will celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the world's best-loved commercial three-wheeler, as well as the arrival of the new Euro4-spec Ape 50.

EuroApe is a rally that brings together enthusiasts and lovers of the Ape brand on an annual basis, allowing an increasing number of Ape fans the possibility to meet up and share their passion for an extremely fun vehicle that, throughout 70 years of history, has been a symbol of industriousness, friendship and life in the open air, while also becoming a cult object and a bit of a collector’s item.

EuroApe 2018 will include highlights such as the arrival of the convoy of teams taking part in the “Apeggiando per l’italia” tour as well as many scheduled excursions and guided visits that seek to uncover and promote the area and its rich heritage. The party will centre around the Ape Village and the Ape Club Lounge, open from the morning of Saturday 22 September.

No commercial vehicle anywhere in the world can boast a history to rival that of Ape. It is a three-wheeler that has always moved with the times, transporting a working Italy, and that now enjoys significant international distribution, across both European countries and emerging markets, thanks to production in the Piaggio factories in Italia and India.