Ducati · 1946–1958
Ducati Cucciolo: history and buyer’s guide
The little clip-on bicycle engine that turned Ducati into a motorcycle maker.
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History
The idea came from Turin lawyer Aldo Farinelli, who designed a small four-stroke engine to fit to an ordinary bicycle during the war. Siata built it from late 1945. Ducati, then a maker of radios and electronics, was looking for new work for its Borgo Panigale factory, and in June 1946 it started its own production of the version called T1.
The name means ‘puppy’, after the short, yapping exhaust note. Unlike most clip-on engines of the time it was a four-stroke, with pull-rod operated valves and a two-speed gearbox. The T2 followed with a separate cylinder, and Ducati also built complete little bikes around the engine. Hundreds of thousands were made; the last descendant disappeared in 1958.
Key facts
| Engine | single, four-stroke, pull-rod operated valves |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 48 cc |
| Power | approx. 1.25 hp at 5,200 rpm (T1) |
| Gearbox | two speeds |
| Top speed | approx. 40 km/h on a bicycle |
| Engine weight | approx. 7.8 kg |
What to check when buying
- Find out which version you have: on the T1 the cylinder is cast with the crankcase, on the T2 it is separate.
- Many engines were later fitted to another bicycle. A complete, original Ducati machine is worth more than a loose engine on any old frame.
- Check that both gears select properly and that the clutch doesn’t slip.
- The pull rods and valves are exposed and wear. Listen for rattles and check for play.
- Compare the engine number with the papers and ask how the machine is registered today.
Nederlandse versie: Ducati Cucciolo in het Nederlands
More English guides
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