OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

the late forties also offered opportunities to a large number of determined and
idealistic individuals, both rich and poor, who could throw their hat in the ring and
make a contribution to the recovery effort. Some were industrialists, like Ferdinando
Innocenti, who faced the enormous task of repurposing his extensive factories from
bullet production to the manufacturing of small vehicles. others were penniless
idealists that simply wanted to help, like Paul Kleinschnittger, who scrounged and
bartered for army cooking pots that he could cut into sections to make fenders for
his little cars.
Most of all, there was a willing and motivated workforce ready to follow these
talented people. Never before was there such a sense of unity, a willingness to set
aside personal gain and political differences to reach a common goal. People were
happy to be working once again, with a sense of purpose, even though the day might
start with filling craters or stretching tarpaulins over gaping holes. they took pride
in their work, as evidenced by a jagged piece of cardboard found hidden inside the
headliner of one of the cars: it was signed by everyone who was involved in the
building of it, even though no one would likely ever see their names.
the result of this confluence of
talented designers and determined
workforce was the microcar. this
is loosely defined today as a very
small one- or two-person car with
a one- or two-cylinder motor of 700
cubic centimeters of displacement or
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