Diatto was an Italian manufacturing company founded in 1835 in Turin by Guglielmo Diatto (1804–1864) to make 'carriages for wealthy customers'. In 1874 Guglielmo’s sons, Giovanni and Battista Diatto, began building railway carriages for Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits and the Orient Express. In 1905 Guglielmo's grandsons, Vittorio and Pietro Diatto, began Diatto-Clément, a cooperative venture making motor-vehicles under license from French manufacturer Clément-Bayard owned by industrialist Adolphe Clément-Bayard. By 1909 they had full ownership of 'Autocostruzioni Diatto' and began developing their own motor-vehicles and exporting them worldwide. 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. Diatto ceased production in 1929.

History

19th century

In 1835 Guglielmo Diatto, a 30-year-old wheelwright from Carmagnola, founded a workshop on the banks of the river Po in Turin for the manufacture and repair of carriage wheels. The business developed into building carriages for nobility and Diatto Manifattura di Carrozze (Carriage Manufacture) became a successful industrial concern. In 1838 Guglielmo Diatto was awarded his first patent for a 'perfected wheel'. The patent is held at the 'National Museum of Automobiles' in Turin. In 1874 the founder’s sons, Giovanni and Battista, began building luxury railway carriages for Compagnie des Wagons Lits et des Grands Express Europeens of Paris who ran the Orient Express, the Nord Express, the Sud Express and the Transsibérien across Russia.

Diatto-Clément

In 1905 the grandsons of the founder, Vittorio and Pietro Diatto, believed that motor-vehicle production represented the future for the 'carriage market'. On 12 April 1905, they founded the Società Diatto-A. Clement in partnership with the French company Clément-Bayard, owned by Adolphe Clément-Bayard of Paris. Diatto-Clément had a workforce of 500 (Note: Fiat had 776) and produced cars with 4 and 6 cylinder engines. The company achieved significant sporting success from the outset. In 1906 it won the Herkomer Competition in Germany against 134 competitors (1800 km from Frankfurt to Innsbruk); the Lugano-San Gottardo (speed trial over 7 hours through the mountain passes) in Switzerland; and the Italian Gold Cup, defeating 48 competitors over 4000 km in 11 daily stages across Italy. It also won the 1907 Cannes Cup, for fuel economy and the 1908 Saint Petersburg-Moscow 700 km race.

Autocostruzioni Diatto

In 1909 the Diatto brothers bought out Adolphe Clément-Bayard and renamed the company 'Autocostruzioni Diatto'. The new company continued with its sporting reputation and traded on the slogan : Queen of lightweight vehicles, fast, comfortable, elegant. The company developed a worldwide sales and support network, with vehicles being exported to : From 1912 onwards Diatto expanded rapidly, becoming one of the top Italian industrial groups. In 1915, it acquired both the Scacchi factory in Chivasso, in which the workforce of 100 built five cars per month, and the 'Vetture Automobili Leggere Torino' (V.A.L.T.) factory.de:Vetture Automobili Leggere Torino It then consolidated both the workforces and plant in the new factory in 'Via Frejus' (Turin) where they were able to produce over 40 units a month.

Gnome et Rhône

Diatto acquired a controlling share of the leading aviation engine manufacturer Gnome et Rhône from 'Weiter and Waugham'. Gnome manufactured around 200 rotary aviation engines per month. Under Diatto ownership their technological know-how was also integrated into the motor-vehicles. The Gnome et Rhone 9 cylinder rotary engine won several prestigious trans-European prizes such as the Mediterranean crossing; the Gordon Bennet Cup; the Reims Meeting; plus the Raids of Friedrichshafen, Düsseldorf, Cuxhaven, Zeebrugge, and Dunkerque. The build-up to World War 1 lead to orders for 5,000 aviation engines for Italy, Russia, France and United Kingdom.

1920s

After the First World War they added 8 cylinder supercharged engines with aluminium pistons and 4 valves per cylinder, up to 6,000 cc.

1930s, 1940s, 1950s

During year 1932 the company changed ownership and limited production only to spare parts for cars already produced, which was then ceased in 1955

Revival of the marque

On 9 February 2007 Zagato announced the revival of the Diatto marque to celebrate its 100th anniversary. At the 77th Geneva Motor Show in March 2007 it unveiled a new all-aluminum sports car called the Diatto Ottovù Zagato.

Sporting victories, Palmares

Diatto-Clement competition victories included: Autocostruzioni Diatto competition victories included :

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History

Gnome et Rhone

• Diatto also acquires a controlling share in the Italian engine manufacturer "Gnome & Rhone", the most important maker of aviation engines (200 per month) and owner of the patent for fighter-plane-rotary engines, and transfers its sophisticated technology to automotive production.
• With its 9 cylinder rotary engines, Gnome & Rhone (Diatto owned), win the most prestigious cross-European prizes:
• The Mediterranean crossing, the Gordon Bennet Cup, the Reims Meeting, the Raids of Friedrichshafen, Düsseldorf, Cuxhaven, Zeebrugge, Dunkerque.
• Success and fame enable the company, at the outbreak of the Great War, to win enormous orders from around Europe: 5,000 aviation engines for Italy, Russia, France and England.
• (Source, Motori, Aero, Cicli & Sports, 1915–1919): "The most illuminated science and the greatest experience in automotive and aviation mechanics”.

Royal Family

• 1907-1927-Diatto is the official supplier to the Italian Royal Family.
• Thanks to its avant-garde technology and design, DIATTO conquers the favour of the Italian Royal Family - customer from 1907 - who, in 1910, purchases 4 vehicles, of which one is a sports car (source, Italian magazine MACS, February 1911), trust and confidence that will continue for 20 years, until 1927 (Registration document - 1927 - of a DIATTO belonging to the His Majesty the King of Italy is conserved in National Museum Automobile – Turin).
• The family of the future champion and constructor Enzo Ferrari also becomes a DIATTO client.
• Diatto cars were known for their innovative design and engineering.

1919-1932-First class design and performance

• The most famous designers in the world use DIATTO bodywork: Bertone, Castagna, Garavini, Ghia, Mulliner, Schieppati, Stabilimenti Farina, Zagato. From the press at the time: “The classic design of the DIATTO radiator, with its straight lines, its low chassis, elegantly fitted, for low streamlined vehicles, has been a lesson to others.”

1922-First Italian Grand prix at Monza”

1922-First “Pole position” at the Inauguration of the Autodrome at Monza.

• 2002 – 80 years later, “Inauguration pole position” revisited.
• In Autumn 1922, in front of Mussolini, the First Gran Premio d’Italia was held, the “Inaugural Race” to celebrate the opening of the brand new Monza Autodrome, which had been built in record time: in pole position were a Diatto, a Bugatti and a Fiat.
• To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Inaugural Race at Monza, in November 2002 the same line-up as the first Gran Premio d’Italia - Diatto, Bugatti and Fiat – raced against each other, an event which was enthusiastically reported by the sports press (Source: Corriere della sera, 12.11.2002).

1923 model

• 2.15.1923-Nationalist British magazine "The Auto Motor Journal - Road-Trials”, compares the performance of 2-liter Diatto those of 3-liter Bentley compressor: a success for Diatto.
• 5.31.1926-Source, L'auto Italiana: "DIATTO Type 30 is the fastest two-litre Italian cars on the market".

1932 Production suspended

• 1932-Production of cars is suspended
• In the early 1930s, after circa 8,500 automobiles produced, due to insuperable financial difficulties caused by the non-payment of the considerable military equipment supplied to the Italian kingdom for the first world war, DIATTO’s assembly lines are interrupted.
• Spare parts continue to be produced until 1955.

1915–1925-DIATTO-BUGATTI.

• Shortly before the first world war, Diatto begins working with Ettore Bugatti.
• The Diatto 8-cylinder engine for the wartime aircraft industry is built on licence from Bugatti.
• On September 23, 1916, Diatto sends an enthusiastic telegram to Bugatti: “Glad to tell you, excellent results from engine… tests concluded brilliantly at 210HP”.
• The magazines from the time reports the successful partnership widely:
• “Official tests for the Diatto-Bugatti engine: a true technical masterpiece, incomparable precision, strength and excellence of the materials, the compendium of all modern progress”.
• (source: 1916 - Motori, Aero, Cicli e Sports, Engine Diatto-Bugatti).

Production of automobiles and racing cars Diatto-Bugatti

• After the first world war, the collaboration between Diatto and Bugatti is extended to the design and production of road and race cars. In 1919, at the International Motor Shows of Paris (Diatto has a branch in the Champs-Elysées) and London, Diatto presents five top of the range cars, including the “16 valve Diatto 30”, featuring chassis designed by Bugatti: “Luxury cars, Convertibles and Coupés with internal steering, refined bodywork and antique silk and velvet upholstery. The Parisian upper classes, from Princess Murat to Madame Gould, bid against each other for the most luxurious Diatto-Bugatti cars at a price of 100,000 franks" (the price at the top, at the time). Also the Bugatti Type 23 is sold in Italy under Diatto brand (sources: 1988, Le Fanatique de l'automobile; 1999, The Automobile: the first 50 Diatto-Bugatti). Production of Diatto-Bugatti cars will continue for several years.
• (An excerpt from - Motori, Aero, Cicli e Sports,1919) “the names Diatto and Bugatti, with their long, sound tradition of mechanical engineering and daring innovation, brought together into a single enterprise, are extraordinarily eloquent and significant for any technician or automobile enthusiast”. Thanks to this successful collaboration, Diatto and Bugatti agree to construct a special series of race cars, initially with a 25 HP Sport Diatto chassis modified with a tubular axle and a supercharged 1500cc 4-cylinder Bugatti engine.

1919 racing results - Diatto Bugatti

• In 1919, the first post-war race, Diatto wins an outstanding first and second place, Diatto Type 30 (Bugatti) and Diatto 4DC, at the Parma-Poggio di Berceto (Italy). These special Diatto-Bugatti racing cars, lightweight and powerful, enjoy considerable success in rallies and uphill competitions: The Brescia Gentleman’s Grand Prix, (1° GP of Italy), the Susa–Moncenisio and the Aosta-San Bernardo – top right -, etc..
• Furthermore, some Bugatti “Brescia da corsa” models are also equipped with the powerful 2 litre DIATTO engine with 4 valves per cylinder (source, the book: Bugatti Magnum) to witness the technological versatility of the partnership in racing: Diatto chassis with Bugatti engines and vice versa. DIATTO-BUGATTI racing cars: a winning binomial (source: Incontri 2000).

Diatto Maserati

• 1922-1926-DIATTO-MASERATI.
• In 1922, DIATTO engages the driver and designer Alfieri Maserati, with his brother Ernesto, entrusting him the position of Racing Team Manager. Alfieri Maserati, at the head of the DIATTO Racing Team until 1926, wins numerous victories; 1922 Monza – 1st Grand Prix: Maserati wins class in a 3 litre Diatto, second Sivocci in an Alfa Romeo, than in Sicily, from the Targa to the Florio Cup, from the Cremona circuit to the Coppa della Consuma, from the Colline Pistoiesi to the Monza Gran Prix, from the Aosta-Gran San Bernardo to the Parma-Poggio di Berceto, from the Limonest to the Schabenberg in France, from the Gothenburg to the Bollans in Swiss, from the Rebassada to the Valencia in Spain, etc.
• From 1924 to 1925, Maserati, under the lead of the director of Diatto, eng. Coda, that Maserati called "my professor", realizes the first 8C, 2,000cc Diatto engine with compressor. The legendary supercharged, 160-HP, 8C, Diatto-Grand-Prix car with Schieppati bodywork is born. The car is unveiled by Maserati on 14 June 1925 at the inauguration of the famous “100 kph club”, an association founded by Diatto supporters at the Monza racetrack. Maserati drives a number of demonstration laps and to the enthusiasm of the crowd reached 180 km/h. Now, Maserati is mature to start the experience like constructor.
• The year after, in 1926, Maserati receives on payment some DIATTO Type 30 sport chassis, equipped with 8C engines, gears, suspensions and many mechanical parts. With these DIATTO rolling chassis and the vast technical and sporting know-how inherited from the DIATTO Racing Team, Maserati builds the first sports cars with the ‘Maserati’ brand (sources: 1985 - French magazine “Le Fanauto”, Automobile, Jenuary 1998, etc.)

Diatto palmares - 1906-1932

• 1906-1932-PALAMRES DIATTO: 300 TIMES ON THE PODIUM.
• (Sources: Motori, Aero, Cicli & Sports; L'Auto Italiana; L'Automobile; La Manovella; Auto d'Epoca; The Automobile; The automotor Journal; Le fanatique de l'automobile; Incontri; ecc.).

4 cylinder 2.6

• Diatto, with the 4 cylindres, 2-6 litre - 20S/2000; 20H-S/6000; 23S/2300; 26S/2600; 30S/300; 35SS/3500 - and GP 8 cylinders with compressor, 2-4 litre - 20SSMB/2000; 40MM/4000; 40BTS/4000; 40BTF/4000 -, AND with the greatest drivers of the time, Alfieri and Ernesto Maserati, Tazio Nuvolari, Marquis Diego De Sterlich, Count Gastone Brilli Peri, Countess Maria Antonietta Avanzo, the brothers Franz and Carlo Alberto Conelli, Cesare Schieppati, Emilio Materassi, Guido Meregalli, Giulio Aymini, Domenico Gamboni and many others, conquers the podium in;

France-The Tourism Cup

• France-The Tourism Cup, Limonest Race (2 times), Cannes Cup ... Germany-Herkomer Race... England-Brooklands 6-hour race, Essex Car Club, International Competition of England ... Russia-St. Petersburg–Moscow rally ... Spain-Tourism Grand Prix, Barcelona Grand Prix (5 times)... Sweden-Swedish Grand prix ... Switzerland-European Grand Prix, Lugano-San Gottardo, The Geneva Meet, Flying Kilometre at Geneva, International Competition of Switzerland .... North Africa-Tunis-Tripoli Rally ...

Monza

• Italy,at Monza: the 24 Ore, Gran Premio d’Autunno, Coppa Internazionale, Coppa dei Re, Coppa Ascari, Gran Premio della Notte,

Mugello

• and than, Mugello (3 times), Circuito di Mantova, Susa-Moncenisio (5 times), Coppa d’oro del Turismo, Trento-Bondone, Gran Premio città di Bologna, Criterium di Roma (3 times), Corsa Rocca di Roffeno, Pontedecimo-Giovi, Circuito Apuano, Milan-San Remo, Coppa delle colline Pistoiesi (5 times), Vittorio Veneto-Cansiglio, Gran Premio d’Inverno, Coppa delle Alpi (2 times), Circuito di Belfiore, Circuito del lago di Garda (3 times), Record del Miglio, Circuito Principe di Piemonte, Aosta -Gran S. Bernardo (5 times), Circuito del Savio, Trieste-Opicina, Coppa Caffaro, Circuito di Rimini, Coppa Nissena, Circuito dei monti Cimini, Parma-Poggio di Berceto (5 times), Coppa di Natale, Vernicino-Rocca di Papa (3 times), Biella-Oropa, Coppa Monte Nero (3 times), Terni-Passo della Somma (3 times), Gara della Merluzza, Circuito del Tempio Canoviano, Cuneo-Colle della Maddalena, Sorrento-San’Agata, Corsa di Porto Recanati, Imperia-Colle di Nava, Coppa Tre Venezie(2 times), Circuito di Alessandria, Circuito di Reggio Calabria, Coppa e Circuito di Verona, Coppa Conegliano Veneto, Padova-Bovolenta, Circuito Toscano, Coppa Consuma (3 times), Circuito dell’Italia centrale, Gran Premio Gentleman, Coppa della Sila, Giro di Sicilia and the Targa e Coppa Florio (4 times)...
• Diatto is considered one of the oldest luxury sport brand in the world, amongst the car manufactures.

Revival

DIATTO TODAY. Diatto presented the new Diatto "Ottovù" Zagato-design at Geneva motor show in 2007. Diatto is ranked amongst the most renowned supercars in the world, by international press; Italy: AUTO DIGEST (road test Diatto Ottovù): "Diatto is a brand with an historic heritage, without doubt, gigantic; its industrial adventure has reached results not yet equal by any global automobile brand" CORRIERE DELLA SERA, The magnificent Three : Bugatti Veyron - Diatto Zagato - Ferrari 612 PROGRESSAUTO, MOTOR, AUTO, AUTOMOBILISMO, AL VOLANTE, AUTO CAPITAL, AUTO OGGI, AUTOCAR, LA PROVINCIA, LA STAMPA, OGGI, QUATTRORUOTE, IL SOLE 24 ORE, AUTOSPRINT, IL SECOLO, LA MIA AUTO, LA MANOVELLA, AUTO D’EPOCA UK: THE NEWS OF THE WORLD has linked DIATTO to the famous actor Matt Damon who plays the spy Jason Bourne, just as the Aston Martin is linked to James Bond AUTO & DESIGN, AUTONEWS EUROPE, AUTONEWS, EUROPE CAR MAGAZINE, BUSINESS PEOPLE Japan: SUPER CG, the important Japanese automobile magazine, in the same month, published the articles “Diatto Ottovù” and “Bugatti Veyron” CLASSIC CAR: road test of a 1923 Diatto 20 from a Japanese collection Russia: ITALIA, AUTOMOBILI; Switzerland: MOTOR, ILLUSTRAZIONE TICINESE; Germany: AUTOZEITUNG France: L’AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE, AUTOHEBDO, ETC. -->