The year is 1954, the location is the Italian-Swiss border town of Como-Chiasso. Lorenzo Marchesini and his family have entered the final leg of their journey home from the Netherlands reaching Italy after 3 days of traveling through Belgium, Germany and Switzerland in their brand new Volkswagen Beetle.

At the Swiss-Italian border they are greeted by Lorenzo’s Uncle, who at the time was a student. He had traveled 150 miles in a day from Bologna to the Swiss border on the Via Emilia in his prized possession, a fully accessorized (see shade on roof and bumper rosettes) prewar Fiat Topolino. As a mechanical engineering student at Bologna University (the Alma Mater of Mauro Forghieri and the University that awarded Enzo Ferrari his Honoris Causa degree), Lorenzo’s Uncle could not resist the temptation of being the first among his fellow students to see the new Volkswagen. Volkswagens were not yet imported to Italy and as it appeared Italians would swarm around this mysterious vehicle.

In the photo, five-year old Lorenzo sits on the hood of the pre-WWII series Topolino. The Topolino is parked in front of a Fiat dealer---note the Servizio Fiat sign in the background. A man on a motorized bicycle, a Mosquito, can also be seen in the background. Lorenzo is discussing with his Uncle the bearing failure that has sidelined the vehicle near the Swiss border. Note the streaks of grease on the front wheel.

To the right of his Uncle is Lorenzo’s 3-year old sister while his mother somehow manages to smile for the camera, held by her husband. It is 12 Noon, and the Fiat dealer is closed for siesta. The shop reopened after about three hours of waiting, where-after roughly one hour was spent on the repair. Then the much delayed travel to hometown Bologna resumed in convoy, the Volkswagen following the little Fiat under the curious eye of many Italians.