Most of us like a treat on boring long journeys and, as is often repeated, we need to take a break from the road from time to time. Here in the UK we are well aware of the detrimental effects of eating fast food but it’s not easy to break bad habits, especially as driving can be stressful and we are often in a hurry. Over the pond however they take a different view of eating on the move; it’s altogether a more relaxed affair. In the USA not only to they sell high quality fast food, but they do it from classic Italian commercial vehicles.
 

Only In America

We are always in a hurry. That’s the problem. It is after all a fast-moving world and sometimes it is tough to keep up and still eat well. Eating while driving is dangerous and illegal so we need to stop. In this country perhaps the fast food snack vans are rarely appetising and are called things like ‘The Salmonella Truck Stop’ or just plain ‘burger van’. As the USA has proved, there is a better way.

Let’s Go Ape

When we think of classic Italian motors, we think of Ferrari or Lamborghini, the luxury end of the motor market. But there exists another vehicle just as iconic in its way and just as symbolic of the Italian way of life as the aforementioned supercars. It is called the Piaggio Ape: Forget the Transit van, the Ape is the classic affordable light commercial vehicle that has been in production ongoing for over 70 years. Older versions are collectible today and the vehicle is in ever-increasing demand not least from catering enthusiasts looking to convert the scooter-based tuk-tuk-type motor into mobile coffee stalls and fast food stands.

Like us, our American cousins are enjoying a boom in festival culture and the fast food upcycling trend has seen literally thousands of these unassuming little vans being repurposed by food vendors. This is in turn is driving a burgeoning second-hand market in Europe. They can’t sell and ship them quickly enough.

The Ape Itself

After the Second World War a struggling but enterprising Italian, Corradino d’Ascanio, came up with the idea of building a cheap but robust motor scooter to provide Italians with an accessible means of transport and that’s when the first Vespa rolled off the line. A couple of years later this legendary scooter was followed by the Piaggio Ape, which was essentially a Vespa with two rear wheels instead of one, enabling the construction of a flat-bed structure above the rear axle to carry goods and passengers. A star was born.

The Ape was originally built for entirely practical purposes, the carrying of farm produce for example, and is still used as such today. With doors both sides and a tiny, high-torque engine that can handle the hills the Ape has also proved ideal for use as a delivery vehicle, and now, a fast food outlet serving the city workers and roadside snack-lovers of America. Genius.

We don’t sell commercial vehicles here at eCars247; our mindset is firmly with great used passenger cars, ideal for taking the family out to get something to eat. Please remember, we do not sell them without first putting them through a full AA inspection and HPI check, for your security.