Italy was reborn in the years of post-war reconstruction. The economic boom benefited all sectors, with an unprecedented expansion of production and technological development. The increase in employment and incomes stimulated a new propensity to consume. Lifestyles and habits of Italians changed, and the need for mobility was one of the first to be met by the growing affluence.
In the immediate post-war period, micro-engines that could be mounted on any bicycle were perfect for emergency motorisation. The Ducati Cucciolo becomes a social phenomenon, bringing together a country that needed to move and meet.
With the mass motorisation of the 1950s light motorcycles and scooters carried Italians to the factory or shops. But the success of motorcycle street races inspired a desire for speed, more than just a cheap, reliable means of transportation.