[4] The ACMA directors ensured a good attendance from members of the press by also inviting three celebrity racing drivers[5] to the Vespa 400 launch.

On the early cars the main door windows did not open which attracted criticism, but increased the usable width for the driver and passenger.

Instrumentation was very basic with only a speedometer and warning lights for low fuel, main beam, dynamo charging and indicators.

The cabriolet fabric roof could be rolled back from the windscreen header rail to the top of the rear engine cover leaving conventional metal sides above the doors.

[6] Commentators suggested that the chic image created at the time of the launch was not always matched by the car itself, with its awkward gear change, poor sound-proofing and, especially before a modification to the carburetor specification, high fuel consumption.