RARE BEAUTY! 1960 Vespa 400! Only 1,600 imported to the US! RESTORED!

1960 VESPA 400

THIS AUCTION IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF HERSHEL JOHNSON WHO WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND PUTTING THIS CLASSIC BEAUTY BACK ON THE ROAD. A STORY ABOUT MR. JOHNSON'S EFFORTS WAS FEATURED IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER. A PICTURE FROM THAT STORY HAS BEEN INCLUDED.

WHEN WE THINK OF VESPA. WE THINK OF SCOOTERS; BUT THIS ITALIAN MANUFACTURER DID BUILD CARS. THE 1960 VESPA 400 IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE. THIS LITTLE CAR ORIGINALLY SOLD FOR $1. 80. 00. AND ONLY 1. 00 OF THEM WERE IMPORTED TO THE UNITED STATES. THIS VESPA 400 WAS LOVINGLY RESTORED OVER AN EIGHT-YEAR PERIOD (2000 TO 2008). USING PARTS FROM ANOTHER 1960 VESPA 400 WHICH IS PART OF THIS AUCTION. I DID NOT INCLUDE A PICTURE OF THE SECOND VESPA. BUT IT IS JUST THE BODY WITHOUT THE DOORS. THIS CAR STILL NEEDS A SET OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED. AND ONE OF THE CHROME BUTTON HUBCAPS IS MISSING. FOLLOWING ARE THE VITAL DETAILS:

ENGINE: THE ORIGINAL REAR-MOUNTED ENGINE HAS BEEN DISCARDED AND REPLACED WITH AN 18 HP HORIZONTAL BRIGGS & STRATTON VANGUARD V-TWIN OHV ENGINE. THIS ENGINE GETS ABOUT 55 MILES PER GALLON. THE ODOMETER SHOWS 15. 31 MILES THAT WERE ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. THE NEW ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 100 MILES. THE SPEEDOMETER TOPS OUT AT 70 MPH. BUT THE TOP SPEED IS MORE IN THE 50 TO 55 MPH RANGE. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS A THREE SPEED. THE FIVE-GALLON GAS TANK IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

BODY: THE GARNET RED BODY IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH JUST A FEW BLEMISHES. YOU CAN SEE THE MAJOR DEFECTS IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED IN THIS AUCTION. THE SUICIDE DOORS CAME FROM THE SECOND VESPA. THE ROOF FEATURES A FOLDING TOP. ALSO. THERE IS A HANDMADE CAR COVER.

TIRES: THE TIRES ARE 480-10 B. F. GOODRICH 2” WHITEWALL TUBE TYPES. THE CAR FEATURES FOUR-WHEEL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION.

INTERIOR: THE INTERIOR HAS BEEN FULLY RESTORED. THE TWO-TONE GRAY FRONT AND BACK SEATS AND THE DOOR PANELS HAVE BEEN REUPHOLSTERED.   POWER WINDOWS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SLIDING WINDOWS. THE SPARE TIRE IS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. AND SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN ADDED.

DIMENSIONS:

LENGTH: 112. 5 INCHES

WIDTH: 50 INCHES

HEIGHT: 49. 2 INCHES

WHEELBASE: 66. 75 INCHES

WEIGHT: UNDER 850 LBS.

A $500. 00 DEPOSIT VIA PAYPAL IS REQUIRED WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER THE AUCTION ENDS. THE REMAINING AMOUNT REQUIRED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS AFTER AUCTION ENDS WITH A CASHIER'S CHECK. MONEY ORDER. OR CASH IN PERSON.

BUYER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CAR'S PICKUP OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHIPPING.

I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THIS CAR. I AM SELLING IT FOR A FRIEND. ALSO. I AM NOT A VESPA EXPERT; SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I LEFT OUT ANY INFORMATION. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. I WILL ANSWER THEM AS QUICKLY AS I CAN. THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR BIDDING FOR THIS RARE BEAUTY!

Also published at eBay.com

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