The oldest genuine Diatto survivor

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A while ago I told you about Adolphe Clément and his automobile adventures. A comment then was that I had forgotten to mention his Italian branch. This story will mend that omission, I hope.

The Diatto firm was founded in 1835 in Turin by Guglielmo Diatto and was specialized around 1900 in the manufacture of trams and rail cars. In 1905 two of his grandsons, Vittorio and Pietro, founded the Diatto-A. Clément Vetture Marca Torino company, of which Adolphe Clément became president. The cars were Bayard cars made under license and were sold as Diatto-A. Clément. From the beginning, the cars were entered in trials and races and were successful in many of these events.

In 1909, however, the firm was reformed to become independent of Adolphe Clément. Was he too influential and did he hinder the ambition of the Diatto brothers? This is not fully clear, but very plausible of course. The new firm was called with a mouthful: Società Officine Fonderie Frejus Vetture Diatto. In 1909 a completely new Diatto car was designed, including a new monobloc engine. In an article early 1910 the Car Illustrated named the new car “exceptionally well designed” and tests on the Brooklands track of the 12/15 HP model showed a very good performance indeed. This model remained into production until 1922. An improved model with a slightly larger engine was introduced in 1912.

The firm expanded continuously, but halfway the twenties the economic situation forced Diatto to economize production, to give up racing and finally the end came in 1928. For more details, I want to recommend the excellent article by Frank Lugg in The Automobile of October and November 1999.The lead photo shows you a

Diatto coupé chauffeur in 1909, having a genuine Diatto engine under the bonnet. It is a 4DV 16/20 HP engine of 2.920 cc, making it the first of the Diatto monobloc range. No other Diatto of this age is known to exist, making this well-restored car the oldest survivor of the illustrious make. A problem in the research of this car is lack of information on the transition period during 1909. Therefore any information about this period would be very welcome, especially images of 1909 Diatto model range. For more information on the car, please visit the website www.retrolegends.nl.

On the other photos the new Diatto logo, the right-hand side of the 16/20hp engine, the right-hand side of the 1910 12-15hp engine and the 1910 model with stylish 'coupe-vent' radiator on the test hill at Brooklands.

Words by Ariejan Bos.

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