Fiat 500, Ape, Vespa e Carrello

Some say that Ferrari, Maserati and Alpha Romeo set the world’s gold standard for sports cars and automotive design…but none of these vehicles have done more for growing and improving Italy’s the post-war economy and standard of living then the Fiat 500 (Fiat Cinquecento), the Ape (pronounced Ah-pay), the Vespa scooter, and in recent years, the ubiquitous supermarket wheeled shopping cart (carrello della spesa).

Like Germany’s original Volkswagen (people’s car), the Fiat 500 (and its predecessor the pre-war Topolino) provided Italy’s cittadini (city dwellers) and contadini (rural folks) much needed, inexpensive personal transportation. This meant the ability to obtain employment in the cities or in rural factories where public transportation connections were lacking. These basic, no-frills vehicles were easily serviced, with rear-mounted engines, small tires, ineffective heaters and a canvas sunroof for much need ventilation in hot summer months. We bought a used Fiat 500 for about $400 when we lived in Pozzuoli back in the mid 1970s – it was fun to drive, easy to park and could negotiate the narrow streets and alleys that were never intended for anything larger than a small mule cart. What better way to explore Italy!

The Piaggio Company made (and still makes) the Ape and Vespa motorini (scooters). The Ape is essentially a three-wheeled motorcycle with an enclosed, two seat (side-by-side) passenger compartment and a small flatbed in the rear. It was designed for hauling small loads of agricultural and urban products, equipment and supplies; it was definitely not built for comfort. Their numbers have diminished in recent years as they have been replaced by more powerful (and comfortable) small service trucks.

As for the Vespas (Italian for wasps), they are everywhere and, like their namesake, may never become extinct. When driving in the cities and towns Vespas weave in and out of traffic turning what would be a one- hour, cross town trip by car into a brief fifteen minute commute. They’re parked everywhere, often ignoring parking regulations, blocking pedestrian walkways and always interrupting the midnights’ peace and quiet. Although, this year I’ve noticed a new hybrid vehicle (the all plastic mini-car)…it’s a Vespa on steroids (see our post about Massimo’s Mini Car).

The modern wheeled shopping cart was invented in 1937 by Sylvan Nathan Goldman (1898 -1984), owner of an Oklahoma City chain of supermarkets . He hired women and men that matched the ages of his customers to pose as shoppers in his stores, filling the carts and promoting their use with other customers. Mr. Goldman was awarded patent number 2,196,914 on April 9, 1940 with a seven year waiting list for his invention…Mr. Goldman died a very wealthy man.

With the rise in popularity of Italy’s supermercati, shopping malls and changes in shopping habits, wheeled shopping carts (carrelli) are common but with two significant improvements. Unlike their American counterparts, all four wheels on the Italian carrello rotate 360 degrees giving them the maneuvering ability of a fine Italian sports car…ideal for getting around the nonnas blocking the shelves and narrow aisles. The other improvement eliminates my pet peeve…carts abandoned by lazy, inconsiderate cretins in parking lots that block parking spaces, scratch cars and add cost to everything we buy (sorry for the rant). Here in Italy each carrello is chained and locked to a railing or stack of carts and can only be released with the deposit of a €1 Euro coin. Italians transfer their purchases from the carts into their vehicles, return the carts to their proper place, replace the key in the lock and get their €1 Euro back. Allegedly, there are a few American retail chains using this system but none that I’ve seen on the East Coast.

So there you have my take on the four vehicles that have transformed the everyday lives of Italians. But everywhere we go we still see people, young and old, with shopping bags in tow, (sometimes driving a Fiat 500…or an Ape…or a Vespa) but more often than not walking to and from the small shops and markets…the same way it’s been done for generations.

Vive gli Italiani!