At the end of 2024 Piaggio will stop producing its Ape in the historical factory in Pontedera, close to Pisa, where this vehicle was designed and production launched in 1948. Ape will still be made, but not in Europe, where it has become too complicated to adapt this iconic model to new regulations on safety and environment.

When Wolfgang Scheibe heard about this, he was struck. He thought about is 15+ years on board of his Ape 703, up and down the Tuscan Metalliferous Hills, in addition to being the main subject for his hand-made prints, and part of his Jug Band Colline Metallifere logo. So he wanted to commemorate this event in his own way:

…anyway: the production in Italy for the historical Ape will be closed and replaced by more innovative models, but Tattistampa’s traditional hand-made print will remain. And you will still see Wolfgang cruising around the Southern Tuscan hills with his Ape.

For more information:

• micalosapevo@pibinko.org
• https://www.tattistampa.com
• https://www.pibinko.org/en/?s=ape+tattistampa
• https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/piaggio-ferma-produzione-dell-ape-pontedera-storico-triciclo-verra-realizzato-india-AGIPxJUB?refresh_ce=1 (in Italian)

We are receiving this from Dario Canal as an excerpt from the soundtrack of the “La piccola Russia” documentary, which he produced with Gabriele Bernabò:

For more information about “La piccola Russia” (in Italian): https://www.maremmaoggi.net/la-piccola-russia-gavorrano-operaia-trionfa-torino/