The tuk tuks of Waxahachie

What’s a tuk tuk, you ask? Waxahachie-based Texas Tuk Tuks is happy to share the answer while also visiting with you about their thriving small business that revolves around the importing of Italian-made, three-wheel trucks.

Owner Daniel Smith started his business several decades ago, first importing Vespa scooters made by the Italian-based Piaggio, which was founded in the early 1950s. He later expanded into handling the Ape work trucks the company manufactured through the 1990s.

Smith’s ancestry extends to Italy, where, over the years, he and his family have made numerous trips. It was on a childhood visit that he first fell in love with the scooters, acquiring his first one for $40 at a garage sale after returning home to the States. That first scooter not only spurred his interest but also taught him the necessary mechanical skills to keep it running.

While an art major in college, he met and married “the love of my life, Leah Lawless,” another art major. She acquired her first scooter, and what was a family hobby soon turned into a business as Smith began the serious pursuit of Vespa scooters.

“For the next 20-plus years, I would buy, sell, trade, collect, and work on vintage Vespa scooters,” he shares on the Texas Tuk Tuks website.

It was inevitable then that Smith would expand their business to include the company’s truck line.

“The knowledge and love for Vespa naturally led me to Piaggio Ape/auto rickshaw trucks as they are built by the same company who invented and built Vespa scooters,” he writes on the website. “I actually acquired my first Ape taxi by trading a Vespa scooter for it.”

Vespa is the Italian word for wasp, while Ape is the Italian word for bee.

“So, these little work trucks are called Ape, pronounced ah-pay,” Smith shared with In The Know Ellis. “I tell people the trucks are like the Ford F-150 of Italy: small but mighty. I have seen them hauling everything from concrete and ceramic tile to watermelons, grapes, and olives.”

Combining the cute and unique with strength means they’re ideal for small businesses such as food trucks, Smith said, noting that they’re also “attention-getters for any business trying to stand out.”

He’ll import from four to seven units at a time from Italy to Texas, typically bringing in about two containers each year.

“Sometimes we get specific requests, and we search to find the right vehicle for our customers,” he said. “Otherwise, besides that, we know what people like and what sells in the USA.”

Yes, he acknowledges, the vehicles may be older, but they remain exceptionally serviceable.

“These Italian-made work trucks from the 1950-90s are well built, simple, and robust,” Smith said. “They are quite easy to work on and have extremely low maintenance. It’s all old-school mechanics, and they do not have modern electronics or technology to worry about.”

There are many reasons people should consider one of the trucks, especially for use in promoting and servicing for their own businesses, from their unique European styling to being a “real eye-catcher and attention-grabber,” he says, noting their ease of use and versatility, while being “fun, cute, and different.”

Over the years, Smith has sold Texas Tuk Tuks’ imported Apes across the United States: “from New York to California, from Florida to Arizona, and everywhere in between.”

The uses they’ve gone on to have been as varied as their destinations: “from zoos to wineries and vineyards, from flower sellers to book sellers, to Italian gelato and pizza restaurants” as well as coffee carts, mobile bars, and “just decoration,” he says.

“Many promotional companies are discovering the impressive lure that the mighty Ape brings to their customers as well,” he said.

Smith welcomes the opportunity to visit with people about the Piaggio Apes and his and others’ experiences, including how to avoid issues. In particular, he cautions people to “avoid the temptation to buy a cheaper knock off version online; you won’t be happy.”

He continues to offer mechanic’s services to help ensure people keep their vehicles going.

“Even though these are sturdy and robust, almost any old vintage vehicle will have its quirks,” he said. “But I am here to help. Do your research, but keep realistic expectations.”

For Texas Tuk Tuks, there’s only continued growth ahead.

“We would like to keep a steady stream of vehicles coming from Italy and expanding to euro cars like Fiat, Mini Coopers, and Citroën,” Smith said. “We also have the rental side where we rent our tuk tuk to Indian weddings. Our goal is to do a wedding every weekend during wedding season and expand our mobile bar rental truck as well.”

He describes the Piagio Ape tuk tuk rickshaw they rent out for weddings and events as a “glorified, extra fancy golf cart.” For the mobile bar, they use a “super cool retro” 1965 Lambretta truck they imported from Italy and restored before converting it.

“She’s called ‘Tipsy Daisy,’” Smith said, noting that the mobile bar has four taps that can “serve anything cold, beer, wine, Prosecco, sangria, tea, Coke, lemonade.”

The mobile bar is available for immediate rental – and it’s also up for purchase if someone’s looking to start their own unique business.

“It is turnkey ready (and has) everything needed to start and run the rental mobile bar,” Smith said.

There’s quite the community that’s developed between “tuk tuk” owners here in the States, with Smith running a Facebook group called “USA 3 wheel rickshaw tuk tuk Bajaj vespa ape, lammbretta Lambro, owners.” There are other Facebook pages dedicated to the Piaggio Ape as well.

“Both my wife and myself enjoy using our creativity to help others in their business,” Smith shares on the website. “It has been a joy to import an Ape and give it a second life of service in another country. We are essentially extending the usefulness of these awesome work trucks.”

Visit the Texas Tuk Tuks website here. Contact Smith via email at vespaman76@gmail.com or by phone at 214-532-5795.