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SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Empolini SpA

Origin: Milan, Italy

Production: N/A

Motor: Minarelli 1-cyl, 2-stroke

Displacement: 49.5 cc

Power: 3.5 hp

Length: 5 ft.

Identification No. N/A

The Piaggio Ape from 1948, basically a Vespa scooter with a rear axle and a load platform, was a huge success, offering small businesses and farmers an economical form of transportation for goods and services. Very soon, imitators utilized the concept for their own makes of mopeds and scooters.

One of these was Empolini in Milan, which had been making commercial three-wheelers since the early fifties. It appears they used Piaggio parts but without necessarily using a license. Different models were built, using 50-cubic centimeter motors in both open and blower-cooled form. Minarelli supplied the motors in 20 mph, 25 mph, and 30 mph versions, with intake and sprocket sizes varying to suit. Front suspension was of the Earles-fork type.

This rare example has been restored by the museum in a period shade of pale green. It has the transversely mounted motor driving the rear axle via a shaft and rubber coupling, and it is located under a vintage Vespa scooter saddle. There are scooter handlebars with period grips and a manually operated wiper. The fuel tank is mounted under the dash. The familiar-style cabs were obtained from companies that supplied many such three-wheelers, and the attractively-shaped box is loaded via two large doors at the rear.