1959 Other Makes Vespa 400

Other Makes Vespa 400 (1959)
for sale

Price: US $5,000.00

Description:

Here is my little red 1959 Vespa 400 mini-car, ready to find a new home. I would estimate this car to be 95 to 99% complete, ready for restoration. It has sat in the back of my garage since I bought it in 1991, and I can see that I'm never going to get around to restoring it myself--I have too many other projects. The car was running when I parked it, and I pickled the engine in oil so that there would be no rust deterioration while it sat, and every so often I turned it over to keep it free. Last week I cleaned the engine out and started it up, but it only runs for a few seconds at a time because gas is not getting through the carburetor, which may have a stuck float or something. When I squirt a little gas in the spark plug holes, and crank it, the engine starts up and runs for a few moments, but that is all. The carburetor appears difficult to remove, so I didn't bother, and am selling as-is. I am making no guarantees as to the car's running condition. The status of the transmission, clutch, and other components are unknown. The car rolls around freely in neutral, so none of the brakes are stuck. The former owner told me that he was driving it around before he sold it to me, but he delivered it to me in the back of a pickup truck, and I never drove it myself, just put it into storage. I have a clear title for it.
Defects: There should be a shroud around the steering column that is missing. There must also have been a cover or boot of some sort between the seats, for the shift lever to stick through, which is no longer there, so at present it's just an open slot. The tail lights have no lenses. One front turn signal lens is missing. The right-side rearview mirror is missing. The cloth top has rotted away, but the bows are intact. There is one area of the floor that is rusted, beneath the brake and clutch pedals, but that's the way it came to me. This car has always been stored indoors, here in the dry climate of the high desert. All the glass is intact. There are no major dents in the body, just a bit of rippling on the right rear fender, and a some light surface rust here and there which will clean right up. The tires are as rotten as you would expect after all these years, and need replacing. Look at the photos, and if you have any questions, please ask.
Clear title. Buyer must pick up from downtown Albuquerque, NM.

update: 2015-07-18

Features:

Condition: Seller Notes:
Used
“Restorable, 95-99% complete. Defects: There should be a shroud around the steering column that is missing. There must also have been a cover or boot of some sort between the seats, for the shift lever to stick through, which is no longer there, so at present it's just an open slot. The tail lights have no lenses. One front turn signal lens is missing. The right-side rearview mirror is missing. The cloth top has rotted away, but the bows are intact. There is one area of the floor that is rusted, beneath the brake and clutch pedals, but that's the way it came to me. This car has always been stored indoors, here in the dry climate of the high desert. All the glass is intact. There are no major dents in the body, just a bit of rippling on the right rear fender, and a some light surface rust here and there which will clean right off. The tires are as rotten as you would expect after all these years, and need replacing. Look at the photos, and if you have any questions, please ask.”
Year: 1959 Number of Cylinders: 2
Make: Other Makes Transmission: Manual
Model: Vespa 400 Vehicle Title: Clear
Engine: Standard 400 cc two-stroke Fuel Type: Gas/Oil mix (two-stroke engine)
Drive Type: RWD For Sale By: Private Seller
Exterior Color: Red

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