Motorcycle

The Siata – Ducati Connection – “Cucciolo”

 

Siata (Societa Italiana per Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie) founded 1926

 

 

During the war, Aldo Farinelli began working with the small Turinese firm Siata to develop a small engine that could power a bicycle.

 

The design called for a magnetic flywheel that would transfer the power to the bicycle crankshaft.

 

Siata began production of these “Cucciolo” (puppy) engines at their rebuilt factory in 1944. A number of bicycle manufacturers purchased these motors in bulk and began fitting them into their frames. The “Cucciolo” engine is considered the first “new” automotive development in post war Italy.

 

Siata quickly ran into problems meeting demand from their small factory. Many of the bicycle manufacturers where in Bologna, Italy. There was a small Radio (vacuum tubes and tuning dials) factory in Bologna that still had production capability even though it had been repeatedly bombed during the war. Siata enlisted Societa Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati to build the “Cucciolo”.

 

Societa Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati founded 1926

 

 

Ducati moved from purely an engine supplier….to the exclusive manufacture of  “Cucciolo” powered bicycles over the next few years, building nearly 250,000 units.

 

Ducati has become an Iconic Italian motorcycle manufacturer.

 

 

 

 

From humble roots the Ducati / Siata “Cucciolo”.

The Ducati /Siata “Cucciolo” (Puppy)

Siata continued to develop motorcycles after the “Cucciolo”, but their focus on sports cars over shadowed their cycles.

 

Otto Linton took this photo in Torino at the Siata Showroom circa 1952
Otto Linton took this photo in Torino at the Siata Showroom circa 1952

2 thoughts on “The Siata – Ducati Connection – “Cucciolo”

  • Klaus Wopfner

    Hallo,i have the same Siata Torino Emplem ( NOS )with the Car and the Airoplane , to you now is this Emplem from a Car or Bicycle or an airoplane , thank you Klaus

    Reply
    • RD Linton

      Klaus…The airplane was removed from the logo after WWII. Before the war Siata would modify FIATs for racing and that logo(with aircraft) would be placed on the car grille.
      rdl

      Reply

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