[Ducati] alfa returns/Ducati history lesson

[Veloce916 at aol.com]

I forgot about that, the VM tipped me off.  For the benefit of those  that 
have never heard the story, during one of Ducati's financial lows it was  
reorganized by the Italian govt. as part of a group of companies called VM.  (late 
70's/early 80's I believe) At that time what Ducati was building in much  
bigger numbers than motorcycles was (believe it or not) diesel engines. And one  of 
the engines they designed and built went in a number of cars including the  
Alfa Romeo Alfetta.  If you think this history is wacky, consider this. In  
1940, in a roundabout way, Ducati was responsible for a partnership between the  
Pope and Mussolini. It was targeted for redevelopment because of it's size 
(over  7000 employees before the war), and taken over by IRI - which was the  
Italian govt but funding was provided by the Vatican because the country was  
broke but the Vatican stayed neutral during the war so it still had coffers of  
cash.  So, the company basically belonged to the Vatican and  Mussolini. And 
THAT'S who was on the lookout for cheap transportation for the  people and who 
made the contract with Siata for clip on engines to put  Ducati in the 
motorcycle business and eventually build the Cucciolo. 
Vicki
 
In a message dated 7/14/2006 8:01:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
beveltracker at yahoo.com writes:

vicki
there is even a more POWERfull link than the  horrible
square style bike designs of the 60s & 70s. most
people on  the list were not even into ducatis back in
those days.for those who  dislike pierres designs how
do you think us older ducati riders felt when  we saw
the square style monza singles or 860GT???  
big hint  VM.