Smaller is better in the case of this 1959 Vespa 400 microcar. First introduced in 1957 at the rise of scooter production, the 400 was the first car the company had produced in its then short 10-year history. It featured a two-cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled engine that produced a blistering 13 horsepower, and a top speed of 51.8 mph (83.4 kmh).
With just over 20,000 cars produced in its first two years of production, sales would begin to topple soon after that. The Vespa 400 officially ceased to exist after the 1961 model year, but even with a relatively short production run, fans of the tiny two-door kept the dream alive for decades to come. This completely original piece, for example, is for sale on eBay in California.
This particular example was discovered in a garage in France, where it was then imported to the U.S. It wears its original French Blue paint job, and only features some minor surface blemishes aside from natural patina; no rust or dents to be aware of.
Inside is much of the same story. All the components are in working condition, while the white patterned cloth seats only show some minor aging — not bad when you remember this is 56-year-old car. The only new addition being the roll back convertible top.
But arguably the most desirable trait of all is the extremely low mileage. Just 8,000 kilometers (4,970 miles) read on the odometer since new. The engine runs and drives like it would straight from the factory, with the original brakes, transmission, clutch, and suspension all in working condition. The seller says that all the maintenance on the car is up to date.
It would make a handsome addition to any microcar collection. If you’re interested, the current bid sits at $5,600, but with a ‘Buy It Now’ price of $39,975, don’t expect it to go for cheap.
Source: eBay
Gallery: 1959 Vespa 400 eBay
