Is it a motorbike? Is it a truck? Is it a van? Is it a wheel barrow?
I'm sure one of you will tell us exactly what it is, and my money is on John Comer!
This oddity was pictured in Piacenza, Italy, just a stone's throw from the Astra factory. It was actually in use as a mobile advertisement for the hotel I was staying in. As you've probably guessed, Truck & Driver doesn't have a huge accommodation budget!
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BigLorryBlog editor Brian Weatherley is the UK jury member for the International Truck of the Year award
This page contains a single entry by Will Shiers published on February 26, 2009 4:17 PM.
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This has to be the best named CV in the world; The Ape Cart - I kid you not. How many drivers go into Italian Truckstops saying if you want the Ape moved it's me you want I wonder.
Many years ago I remember being in an Italian town called Castellamare di Stabia near Napoli, where a very large coach could not go round a corner because of a carelessly parked Ape Cart, after much hooting and shouting, four men appeared from a nearby bar, picked up the Ape Cart and carried it away from the corner. Incidentally I believe that the Italian word 'Ape' means 'bee' .
Well done Nick thanks for sorting that one out and taking the pressure off, one the key benefits of playing the Italian home advantage card.
Will - Thanks for the challenge? I have finally discovered that this wee truck is not an Ape - which is a Vespa and now Piaggio brand. This truck is an Empolini Milano more detailed specification can be found at http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/empolini.html
The cab producer now builds truck bodies but you can find the history of this cab at http://www.carrozzeria-bertacchini.it/l'azienda.htm.
Maybe Ape Cart is like transit an is the generic name for this mode of transport in Italy.