By British Frank

The history of the Tuk Tuk also known as the Auto Rickshaw is disputed, some claim the first Tuk Tuk was in 1947 others claim it was 1934.

The claim of first Tuk Tuk being 1947 comes from Italy with the claim the Piaggio Ape was the first Tuk Tuk. There is no doubt that in its modern style Piaggio Ape was the first, however, there were Tuk Tuks 61 years before Piaggio designed the Ape.

Some say the first Tuk Tuks were in 1934 and were Japanese. 3 wheelers were being exported from Japan to Thailand in 1934 but were they Tuk-Tuks? In our view, they were not Tuk Tuks as they were just motorbikes with 3 wheels. The front of them was simply a motorbike with a two-wheeled axle fitted at the rear. So you can hardly call them a Tuk Tuk.

We believe it was the Germans, in 1886 the Germans applied for a patent for a vehicle that had 3 wheels, two at the rear and one at the front. The vehicle also had a single-cylinder rear engine and was steered by a handle.

The claim that the first Tuk Tuk comes from Japan dates back to 1934, however research seems to point to these being more of a motorcycle adapted into three-wheelers by putting a 2 wheeled axle on the rare.

The Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications donated about 20,000 used three-wheelers to Southeast Asia we are unsure of the date of this.

We suspect that Corradino D’Ascanio never dreamed his invention would take off in so many other countries and create what has become a national icon in India, and 72 years later would still be in production.

For many years the Piaggio Ape was built in Italy and India but in 2013 all production of the Piaggio Ape was moved to India.

full.https://tuktukph.top/the-history-of-the ... w-tuk-tuk/

Wow, 'didn't know hardly any of that. Thanks K.Fu.

All jokes and insults aside for a minute - I honestly (and completely objectively of course) reckon that our "traditional" tuk tuks look like they offer a better ride than any of these ^^^ .
I like the high, wide and open style. Good for watching watching watching everything all around.
Good for a man with high claustrophobia levels in his bloodstream too.

The only one of the above i want, is of course the original Benz - but that would be strictly for Sundays.

I've always wanted to drive one across India, or Australia. Enough room to carry engine parts, food, tent etc. Would probably replace the seat with something a little more comfortable for a long trip but....

Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 3:59 pm I've always wanted to drive one across India, or Australia. Enough room to carry engine parts, food, tent etc. Would probably replace the seat with something a little more comfortable for a long trip but....

https://www.rickshawchallenge.com

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 10:16 am Wow, 'didn't know hardly any of that. Thanks K.Fu.

All jokes and insults aside for a minute - I honestly (and completely objectively of course) reckon that our "traditional" tuk tuks look like they offer a better ride than any of these ^^^ .
I like the high, wide and open style. Good for watching watching watching everything all around.
Good for a man with high claustrophobia levels in his bloodstream too.

The only one of the above i want, is of course the original Benz - but that would be strictly for Sundays.

The Traditional Tuk Tuk is the vehicle of choice for floods. Passenger maintains dry feet due to height of the carriage.

They also negotiate potholes, steep climbs on rocky terrain.

The driver is tough, beyond redoubt.

I have known Passaps wimp out on mildy troublesome terrain and circumstances causing Mish to be late for beers and ladies.

All hail the mighty Guild

Kung-fu Hillbilly wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 3:59 pm I've always wanted to drive one across India, or Australia. Enough room to carry engine parts, food, tent etc. Would probably replace the seat with something a little more comfortable for a long trip but....

My ex and I bought an Ape in Italy and spent four months riding it around. Some of the best times of my life.
I'd love to buy one here and head west, visa restrictions say otherwise though

Oh, and if you didn't know "Vespa" is Italian for Wasp, named after the high pitched two stroke sound. And "Ape" is Italian for Bee, sort of a joke.

Thanks KFH for posting this, many good memories

I’ve long been fascinated and amused by tuk tuts. In Bangkok in the 80’s I decided that I really wanted to visit the tuk tuk factory and after a lot of asking around and dead ends, I finally found a tuk tuk driver who knew the location and agreed to take me. A part of me hoped to see some modern factory, maybe with beautiful landscaping and a fountain at the main entrance, but that was not the case. The building I was taken to was nondescript and small, with a dirt floor and dim lighting but there was indeed a makeshift production line inside, and workers assembling tuk tuks. When I showed up workers were pounding and shaping fenders with hammers to make them fit. I shot some photos, which I have back in the U.S.

I was living in L.A. then and used to often visit the Thai temple in North Hollywood on weekends. One Sunday when I showed up there was a bright shiny tuk tuk parked just outside the Wat, set up as an exhibit. It turned out that some Thai entrepreneur hoped to import them to the U.S. and wanted to stir up interest. Needless to say the idea went nowhere, for about ten different reasons. But it was fun to see one in California.

I tried to drive one once, and it wasn't easy! You really need to be careful on the turns.

Chiang Mai has a few electric tuk tubs, which is kind of cool. And near a lumber yard that I often visit there’s a tuk tuk graveyard, that has around 100 of them rusting in a big field. I notice these things LOL.