We've seen it before with Trabants and Isettas and it's no different here with the Piaggio Ape: austerity transportation, which is associated with hard times for those for whom it was the only transportation available, is so much more appealing viewed through rose-tinted glasses. Simple, thoughtful designs require only small updates over the years, which is why the 1990 Ape bears a great resemblance to the 1964 original cab-model.

The Ape 50 could take on a ~400lb payload, and to this day can be found moving bread and pizza around narrow European streets. Another common use is in the municipal vehicle setting - transporting garbage, road repair workers, and more. In developing markets, the Ape find even further uses.