1960 Vespa 400

Designed by Piaggio Company in Italy, best known for their Vespa scooters, the 400 was manufactured in Fauchambault, France by Ateliers DeConstruction De Motorcycles Et Automobiles. Approximately 1600 cars were imported to the US. This Vespa was imported through the Port of Houston and sold by a Colorado scooter dealer. The price was $1,080. Speeding rating: 55 mph.

The engine is a 2-cylinder 2-cycle Air-cooled 25 cubic-inch 393 cc, with 18 horsepower. The two-stroke engine differs from a four-stroke engine by completing the same four processes (intake, compression, combustion, exhaust) in only two strokes of a piston verse four. The beginning of the compression stroke and the end of the combustion stroke perform the intake and exhaust functions.

Sold for $23,100 at 2012 Barrett-Jackson at Scottsdale, Arizona.
This Vespa 400 Semi-Convertible features a 392cc two-cylinder, two-stroke engine with a three-speed manual transmission. It is finished in yellow paint with a black interior. There are sliding windows, suicide doors and a retractable roof. Period advertisements stated the car had a top speed of 55 MPH and could achieve 55 MPG.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2012

The Italian based company Vespa is legendary for their motorscooters. However, the French-built microcar produced from 1957 though 1961, is far less known. Produced by Piaggio, their history dates back to 1884 where they initially produced locomotives and railway carriages. During the First World War they aided in the war effort by producing aircrafts. They produced fighter planes during World War II. When WWII came to a close, the company was nearly devastated. Their Pontedera plant had been destroyed by bombing; Italy's roads were disastrous due to the bombing and war, and the economy was suffering.

Enrico Piaggio, the son of Piaggio's founder Rinaldo Piaggio, was determined to revitalize the Piaggio business and to address Italy's need for affordable and modern transportation that could traverse the war-torn roadways. Just like Dr. Ferdinand Porsche of the time, he began designing and building a car for the masses. The result was a very small, two-seater dubbed the Vespa 400. It was labeled as a convertible though it really only had a plastic folding sunroof. It was powered by a rear-mounted, two-cylinder, air-cooled engine that displaced 24.5 cubic-inches and produced 20 horsepower. It was mated to a three-speed manual gearbox and fitted with hydraulic drum brakes in both the front and rear. It had a steel unibody construction and a fuel tank that could store five gallons. With around 60 mpg, this was more than adequate. Top speed was just under 60 mph.

The car was introduced in 1957 and was sold in several countries including the US. It was built in France though had been designed by the same individuals that produced the scooter. Production in France was a logistical decision, as the company did not want to compete with the popular Italian based Fiat 500.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2008