A Brief History of the Marque
Manufactured: 1945-1955
Established in the 1920s as Società Italiana Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie and trading as Societè Italiana Applicazioni Tecniche Automobilistiche, the Torino firm built a 48cc motorcycle with overhead valves called Cucciolo, which had great success since 1947 and was also produced by Ducati.
A very early example (engine number 127) of the original SIATA built Cucciolo, distinguished by the 45° angle of the barrel fins. These early motors were fitted with the Feroldi carburettor but mounted on a long intake tube. This one was mounted directly on the motor purely for the photography. Designed by lawyer & writer Aldo Farinelli in 1943 it was built by SIATA before they co-operated with Ducati to increase production in 1946. With over 25,000 sold Ducati took over construction in 1947. With a claimed fuel consumption of 1lt/100km (275mpg) the Cucciolo was the best selling of the post war micro motors. Interestingly it used pull rods rather than push rods to operate its valves.Image and text courtesy Phil Aynsley Photographed in France. 2018.
The first series of the TI SIATA.La prima serie del TI SIATA. Il motore è tutto in lega leggera con canna cilindro riportata in acciaio. Le due valvole in testa sono comandate da un originale sistema di astine e con unica camma nel basamento. La lubrificazione, senza pompa, è a sbattimento. Il cambio è comandato da un preselettore, che inserisce la prima, il folle o la seconda a seconda della posizione dei pedali al momento in cui si aziona la frizione. Notare l'andamento elicoidale dell'alettatura del cilindro. La trasmissione finale utilizza la catena della bicicletta ed è coadiuvata da una moltiplica a dentatura interna agente sul pignone di uscita dal motore. Peso del motore sette chilogrammi.The engine is all light alloy with a steel cylinder liner. The two overhead valves are controlled by an original rod system and a single cam in the crankcase. Lubrication is by splash, without a pump. The gearbox is controlled by a pre-selector, which engages first, neutral, or second gear depending on the position of the pedals when the clutch is activated. Note the helical pattern of the cylinder fins. The final drive uses the bicycle chain and is assisted by an internally geared multiplication acting on the engine output sprocket. The engine weighs seven kilograms.
From 1952 they produced a series of complete mopeds with Cucciolo engines and a 160cc four-speed two-stroke model named the Dinghy. The engine for the Dinghy was built by SIATA. There may also have been a 100cc machine.
In later years the company produced sports cars with bodies by the likes of Bertone which today are highly collectible.
Sources: MC Storico Conti, Phil Aynsley, et al.
