Last week I asked what Italian car manufacturer built engines of 4, 6 and 9 cylinders? Clue WW1. It was Diatto, the 9 cylinder was obviously a radial engine used in planes in WW1. From 1905 the company built two and four cylinder cars based on the Clément-Bayard, a leading contemporary French manufacturer. By the 1920s, Diatto was making quality cars of its own design, including race cars with supercharged eight-cylinder engines. Diatto also supplied frames to Bugatti which used them for their own race cars. Some Diatto racers were prepared and raced by Alfieri Maserati who left Diatto in 1926 to establish the Maserati marque with his brothers. Diatto cars were known for their innovative engineering and as early as the 1920s they were equipped with four-wheel brakes and four-speed gearboxes.
Unhappily, Diatto ceased production in 1929.
So to this week. Which Italian had a French car manufacturing business starting in Germany and had something in common with Alsatians? Too easy!
For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected] or [email protected]. Good luck!
