Rare Microcar: 1959 Piaggio Vespa 400

When people think of post-war Italian Microcars, the Fiat 500 often comes to mind first. However, Piaggio produced the Vespa 400 from 1957 to 1951, but political pressure meant that, although the company and design were Italian, the Vespa was produced in France and sold in many European markets, but not in Italy. This 1959 example presents superbly and is a turnkey proposition offering a quirky classic motoring experience. My knowledgeable off-sider, Russ Glantz, spotted this Vespa listed here on eBay in Pompano Beach, Florida, for $37,500 OBO.

Established in 1884, Piaggio is an extraordinarily diverse manufacturer. Its product portfolio included Vespa, Moto Guzzi, and Aprilia, all renowned motorcycle brands. It also had extensive experience in railway and aircraft manufacturing, but in the 1950s it diversified further by designing and producing a small, affordable passenger car. Work began in 1952, and the company approached it with meticulous care. It undertook some of the industry’s most rigorous testing to produce a car as close to bulletproof as possible. It unveiled the Vespa 400 in Monaco in September 1957, ending a five-year development cycle. However, problems arose behind the scenes. Fiat placed enormous pressure on Piaggio not to produce or sell the Vespa in Italy, but Piaggio had an alternative. It owned ACMA, located in Fourchambault, France. ACMA was already building Vespa motorcycles, and with surplus manufacturing capacity, it could handle building the company’s new Microcar. Sales began in several European markets in 1957, and the 400 remained available until the end of 1961. Manufactured in 1959, our featured Vespa was restored approximately ten years ago. The panels look excellent, with no obvious dings or dents. The Narvic Blue paint shines richly, and the fabric Cabriolet top is in first-class condition. I can’t spot any rust in the seller’s comprehensive image gallery, and the trim and glass are excellent. The whitewalls are an interesting touch, giving this very humble car a classy, upmarket look.

If the Fiat 500 was renowned for its tiny engine, the Vespa takes the concept a step further. Its rear-mounted, two-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled powerplant produces a dizzying 14hp, fed to the road via a four-speed manual transaxle. That feature is interesting, as most 400s featured a three-speed. The company limited the four-speed to the GT variant, suggesting someone installed this transaxle later. Early production 400s required owners to pre-mix their two-stroke fuel, but this car features the later semi-automatic system, with the fuel tank in the engine bay on the left and the oil reservoir on the right. Given the modest engine power, it is unsurprising that Piaggio quoted a top speed of 55mph, though that figure could be lower in a headwind. The seller provides no information about the car’s mechanical condition or how it runs and drives. That said, I would expect nothing less than perfection from a Vespa 400 in this price bracket.

Although Vespa marketed the 400 as a two-seater, it admitted the rear shelf could accommodate a couple of small children. It had no padding, so owners needed to add cushions for comfort, or use the area only for relatively short journeys. The front seats were a better proposition, with reasonable padding and cloth covers. The door trims are plastic, molded to follow the contours of the outer doorskin. The floors sport a molded rubber mat, and the dash houses a lidless glove compartment, a speedometer and odometer, and rudimentary warning lights and switches. The interior condition is extremely tidy, with no wear or evidence of neglect. The painted dash has minor scratches, but they don’t detract much from its appearance.

During its five-year production run, the ACMA line in Fourchambault produced 30,976 Vespa 400s. The 1959 model year was the second most successful, with the company selling 8,717 cars. Those numbers are small potatoes compared to the Fiat 500, which makes you wonder why Fiat saw the Vespa as such a threat that it forced it out of the domestic market. Rumors circulated that some very shady characters were involved with Fiat at the time and applied pressure, but nobody ever said it out loud. Whatever the reality, total Vespa 400 sales amounted to a mere 1% of overall Fiat 500 production, making these classics relatively rare. That is reflected in the fact that this is only the tenth example we have seen at Barn Finds since 2011, and it is also the most expensive. The price is in line with market expectations, but the seller’s willingness to negotiate might improve the situation. Do you believe this Vespa could find a new home in your garage, or is it too quirky for you?