1966 Piaggio Ape 500 (AD1T) |

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1966 Piaggio Ape 500 (AD1T)

Sold Price

£13,411

Mileage
TransmissionManual
Engine175cc
LocationColchester

SOLD

1966 Piaggio Ape 500 (AD1T)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Dom Ginn

Professional Consigner

Tiny but mighty, the Piaggio Ape is a classic three-wheeled workhorse, combining iconic, quirky charm with compact, practical utility.

The Piaggio Ape 500 is a true icon of Italian ingenuity, representing the charm, practicality, and resourcefulness of post-war design. Developed by Piaggio as a direct offshoot of the legendary Vespa scooter, the Ape – meaning “bee” in Italian – was created to provide small businesses, farmers, and tradesmen with an affordable and reliable transport solution.

Its clever three-wheel layout offered the agility of a scooter combined with the load-carrying ability of a light truck, making it perfect for navigating narrow Italian streets, bustling marketplaces, or rural farm tracks. Powered by a frugal and dependable single-cylinder engine, the 500 (AD1T) was built to be economical, easy to maintain, and robust enough to withstand daily use.

Coming to market from ~2 years with our vendor, a real quirky and collectible classic, the Piaggio has had a good deal of restorative work completed, with works covering off: removal of all paintwork back to bare metal; engine rebuild, replacement bearings; oil seals, gaskets; and a rebuild of the differential and drive chains. Replacement wiring loom, cables, brakes, screen rubbers, suspension, new Italian leather seats, and a respray to an original Piaggio colour were also completed as part of the works.

Efficient, full of character, and built with a sense of purpose, the Ape is a lovely example, especially for those in the market for something a little different, or maybe a great business marketing tool.

This listing was written from information supplied by Dom after meeting Nick the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

Well cherished since I first got the Ape, I've loved my time with the Piaggio - it's just so quirky and I'm so proud of how it looks now after a little restoration.

Nick, the current owner, first came across a Piaggio Ape 500, the original old version, while on holiday with his wife in Italy, "We were staying at a vineyard just outside Florence, and in the tall grass of the vineyard was an old Ape 500. I spoke to the owners, but they knew its value and weren't willing to part with it".

When Nick got back to the UK, he started his search for one of his own. With a bit of research, one was found online which had been imported from southern Italy. As a fan of Italian cars and Vespas, Nick couldn't resist its charm and saw its potential for a restoration project, completing an engine rebuild, respray, bearings, suspension, gasket and electrical work and interior upgrades.

With several new adventures ahead with his family, Nick tells us, "Last October we purchased an old farm house in Puglia, southern Italy, but with the house restoration the new place is costing a lot more than originally planned, so money needs to be found and sadly the sale of my much loved Ape will help".

Should you have any questions about the Piaggio, Nick would be happy to answer these in the comments section below.

Nick

Vehicle Owner

Nick saved £2,340* when they
sold their Piaggio with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Small but full of personality, its iconic three-wheeled design, playful charm, and classic Italian styling make it instantly recognisable and surprisingly practical.

Wheels and Tyres

The solid silver wheels look in great condition - the white tyre walls are in good condition and lovely touch to the Piaggio.

Please take a look at the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior of the Ape and a closer look at the wheels and tyres to make your own assessment of their condition.

Bodywork

The bodywork of the Ape showed in lovely condition overall. Looking over the exterior, the panel lines looking straight and well-aligned. Front and rear doors open and close without issue with the panels gaps all showing without concern.

We've highlighted our observations in more detail through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take the time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer and to assess the condition of the Ape for yourselves.

Paint

Well presented in a smart finish of the original Piaggio colour, the coverage is even across the Ape with no noted imperfections to colour. A respray was completed by the current owner as part of the restoration works and finished to a good standard.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there yourself. Please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car to form your own opinion about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The front screen looks in excellent condition; we didn't notice any cracks or chips in it.

The trim around the Ape is also in lovely condition too, with everything where you would expect it to be.

Badges and emblems are present and look very smart.

We've taken you around the Piaggio in greater detail in our exterior review video, please take the time to look over the video and see how the glass and trim look from different perspectives.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

Compact yet functional, it puts all the essentials within easy reach, offering a charming, no-nonsense driving experience that’s as quirky as the Ape itself.

Seats and Carpets

Simple, but efficient, the seating bench in the Piaggio is comfortable and supportive, having been restored with Italian leather as part of its works with the current owner.

We've captured high-resolution photos and a full interior video tour through the 3-wheeler. This covers off the angles inside the Ape for you to review and appreciate the condition of what's on offer here in our interior review section.

Dash

Having no display as part of its set up, the dash area was clean, well presented and functional.

The driver facing area showed us no concerns here.

Handlebars and Grips

The handlebars and grips look to be in excellent condition, with no wear noticed.

The metal gear shifter and brake handles are also in great condition - almost as new.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The Piaggio packs a nimble 175cc engine, delivering just enough power for city streets and light loads, combining practicality with classic Italian charm.

Engine and Gearbox

Looking over the engine, this looked to be in great condition visually, clean, tidy and well presented.

Starting up, we noted no concerns and the Piaggio performed without issue when running and out on the road.

Understandably, the Ape is more of a bike than it is a car, so speed is lower with a top speed of around ~35 MPH, but well suited to nipping around town.

We took the Piaggio out around some local roads with the current owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. Take a look at the mechanical video to see the start up and more detail in the engine bay.

Suspension and Brakes

A simple setup, but the suspension appears to be in great condition, with no corrosion or other damage noticed on the springs or underside.

The brakes felt to have no pull or vibrations that stood out to us and brought the Ape to a stop without any fuss.

Please take a look over the mechanical videos and photographs to see close-up images from the underside.

The Drive

Driving the Ape is a charming blend of nostalgia and practicality. Its lightweight, 3-wheeled design offers a unique, nimble experience, perfect for weaving through tight streets or countryside lanes.

Despite its compact size, the Ape delivers a surprisingly engaging ride, with a simple, mechanical feel that connects the driver directly to the road - a true classic in every sense.

Electrics and Other

As a relatively straight forward set up for the electrical side of things, the Piaggio is mainly focused on quick journeys in and around town.

Electrics were limited, but for what the Ape had on offer, we had no concerns - Nick told us everything was in working order too.

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History and Paperwork

Restored and renewed with a rebuilt engine and a respray, the Ape is ready to put many more smiles on the next owners face.

As briefly mentioned earlier, after travelling through Italy with his wife and spotting an Ape 500 on their travels, Nick, the current owner started his search for one when they returned after falling in love with the little Piaggio. Nick came across one listed a couple of years ago, after several months searching online and said, "I found a 1966 Piaggio AD1T from southern Italy that was imported with the rare van back (most have the pickup type rear) and the model with the electric start. Considering it was nearly ~60 years old, it was in amazing condition, with all original panels, glass, and the original engine".

The previous owner had intended to restore the Ape but, due to personal circumstances, was unable to complete the project. He did, however, have it re-registered, so it now comes with UK registration documents.

Nick has restored several classic cars in the past and owned a small collection of classic Vespas - he decided the Ape should be his next project, he said, "I found a great company in Germany online that could supply all the OEM spares needed for a complete restoration. I completely stripped the Ape, removing all paintwork back to bare metal, rebuilt the engine - replacing every bearing, oil seal, and gasket, and rebuilt the differential and drive chains". Nick also replaced the wiring loom, cables, brakes, screen rubbers, and suspension. The Ape was re-painted in an original Piaggio colour, and the interior has been upgraded with real Italian leather, a nice touch from the original PVC.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the Piaggio had been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Key Details

ModelApe 500 AD1T
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date31.12.1966
First UK Reg. Date01.04.2019
CC175cc
ColourBlue
Interior ColourBlue / Black
Interior TrimLeather
Chassis #AD1T*59610
Engine #51315
RestoredYes
Engine RebuildYes
MOT ExemptYes
Road Tax ExemptYes
HPi ClearYes - All Clear
Former Keepers1 in UK
# of Keys1
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~2 years, 2 month.
Key FeatureRarity and Condition
Vehicle RegistrationAVG 918D
Fuel TypePetrol
Body TypeTrike / 3-wheel
Auction ID3148

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Ask Questions

Seller : NickAD1T Sale Date 18.09.2025

Post a comment or ask the owner a question about the car.

2 Comments

bumjubbler

7 months ago

Hi. Is the vendor Nick or Adam?

ColinB

Admin

bumjubbler

7 months ago

Hi,

The vendor is Nick, not sure where Adam came from, it’s fixed now, thanks for pointing this out.

Thanks,
Colin.

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Vehicle Location

Colchester

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