The radical minimalism of these machines, built mostly in Europe in the 1950s and early '60s, reflected the region's postwar scarcity. (One resourceful builder beat old cooking pots into fender panels.) They typically measure 10 feet long or less, with less than 700-cc engine displacement and one or two seats arranged side by side or in tandem, scooter style.

WSJ: Dan Neil on an Auction of Microcars Owned by Bruce Weiner