Created during World War II by Aldo Farinelli and Aldo Leoni, the four-stroke Cucciolo engine was initially produced by Siata (Società Italiana per Applicazioni Tecniche Auto-Aviatorie) and tested in Turin in 1944. Due to its characteristic sound, it went down in history with this name (Cucciolo meaning “puppy” in Italian).
After the war, Siata began selling this engine to the public, and its popularity grew to such an extent that Ducati took over production in 1946, increasing from an initial 15 units to more than 25,000 by 1958.
The Rápida model was built in the Algarve, the most famous ones being produced by engineer Manuel Barros. Due to the use of the resources available in each workshop, each Cucciolo Rápida immediately became a unique specimen, as is the case with this unit.
This motorcycle was donated to the Museu do Caramulo by Howard Aldridge.