Microcars are a pocket-sized ball of car fun. These little cars were often brimming with creativity and providing an inexpensive way to get around. Today they are a different kind of classic. as Hemmings notes, the Vespa 400 is actually a French car, because although it was developed by the Italian Piaggio, it was built by Ateliers de Constructions de Motos et Accessoires (ACMA) in France. ACMA already had a relationship with Piaggio through the building of license-built Vespas.
Now you would think that since it has the name “Vespa”, it was just a small car with a scooter engine. Instead, it was built from the ground up like a car. Even his 394cc 14 hp two-cylinder engine was unique. Of course, since it’s a microcar, don’t expect blistering speed. There are no 0 to 60 mph times for this because it can’t even reach 60 mph. Instead, 0 to 50 mph takes about 25 seconds and your top speed might be 51 mph on a good day.
Still, it’s cute. And for $14,000 on Facebook Marketplace in Miamisburg, Ohio, it’s not crazy expensive either. Ad courtesy of Obscure Cars for Sale.
