A Thing for Cars

During the ’50s, Piaggio manufactured a very popular and famous scooter called Vespa. It was a hit with young people, and was popular for its convenience. In 1957, the company designed a compact car: the Vespa 400.

Vespa 400: A Very Intelligent Concept

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At the 1957 Paris Motor Show, Vespa surprised all the visitors by unveiling a lovely city car manufactured in France by ACMA. The ” 2HP, 2 stroke, 2 cylinders, 2 seats” microcar with such a pleasant silhouette had an excellent presentation and finish. The body shape so much seems of the present time. The performance data were quite honest and  suspension very good. It weighed 365 kg, measured 2.85 m long, 1.27 wide and 1.25 high. The 2-stroke rear engine is an air-cooled 393 cc offering 14 HP at 4350 rpm enabling to reach 90 km/h whilst consumption is 5 liters for a hundred kilometers.  

The two-stroke oil is held in a separate reservoir.  The dashboard is simple but nice and offering the essentials, the fabric roof can be rolled back and the 2 tilting seats allow access to the rear space for children with an optional cushion or for baggage. The spare wheel is placed underneath the driver’s seat.  The seats on the first version were of the tubular type with upholstery on elastic springs. They were soon replaced in 1959 and padded. Sliding window panes were offered at the same time. A convertible was also created by Pichon-Parat in 1959.

The Cabriolet Roof

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32,400 units were produced in France from 1957 to 1962. For the sole year 1958, 12 130 units were sold. Construction though only lasted 4 years until 1961. As new creations appear today more respectful of our environment and city life, it is time that we all ponder over our daily behaviors as far as automobile is concerned.

1959 Luxury Model – image source

The dashboard of the Vespa 400. Basic but functional – image source