Aquila

Fabbrica Italiana d'Automobili Aquila, Turin.

The Aquila Italiana, hich means Italian Eagle, was not widely known, being made in small numbers, but it's design was very advanced. The founder was the Marques Palavivini di Priola. The chief engineer was Giulio Cesare Cappa who later worked for Fiat and Itala, and among the features of his early cars were monobloc casting of cylinders, the first use of aluminium pistons, in 1908, overhead inlet and side exhaust valves (as used by Henry Royce), ball bearing crankshaft, and engine and gearbox carried on a common tray. Though the first cars were announced in 1906- two foursof 12/16 and 28/40hp and two sixes of 18/24 and 60/75hp- production was delayed by two years because of the death of the chief backer and a move to a larger factory. Models listed for 1908 were similar to those of 1906. Initially Storeo agreed o buy the whole of Aquila's production, but they ended this agreement in 1909. The 1912 30/45hp six had an output of 60bhp from 4.2 litres. There was also a smaller 12/15hp four. One of these , with a stramlined aluminium body had numerous hill climb and sprint successes driven by Eugenio Beria d'Argentina. They also competed in the Targa Florio, and three cars with 4 litre single overhead camshaft engines were entered in the 1914 French Grand Prix, though only one started. Aquila Italiana also made aero engines, under licence from Salmson and SPA, and car production ended in 1917 when SPA took over the company.

The Aquila Italiana founded as the "Società Anonima Aquila" and quickly renamed as "Società Anonima Italiana Aquila" was an Italian automobile manufacturer from 1906 to 1917. The company was named again in 1909 after it was bough by bank as "Aquila Anonima Italiana di L. Marsaglia", the Marsaglia part came from the name of bank owner's son Vincenzo Marsaglia, talented automobile driver.

Designed by Giulio Cesare Cappa, the cars were big four- and six-cylinder models with ioe engines of an advanced type. There was an interruption in construction after 1908, but the company introduced new models in 1911; these featured 4192 cc six-cylinder engines and proved to be successful in many races. Among Aquila Italiana drivers were Meo Constantini (later to join Bugatti at Molsheim, where he became first a racing driver and later the Chef d'Equipe) and Carlo Masetti (count Giulio Masetti's elder brother).

Production

The company Aquila Italiana produced a total of approximately 1,500 copies of its cars, all models combined.

Technical specifications
Cars produced by "Aquila Anonima Italiana di L. Marsaglia" Type 15/20 HP 40/50 HP 25/30 HP K-12/15 HP H4-20/30 HP H6-35/50
Displacement 2,797 cc (170.7 cu in) 7,432 cc (453.5 cu in) 3,921 cc (239.3 cu in) 1,847 cc (112.7 cu in) 2,614 cc (159.5 cu in) 3,921 cc (239.3 cu in)
Cylinders 4 4 6 4 4 6
Bore mm 90 130 80 70 80 80
Stroke mm 110 140 130 120 130 130
rpm 1500 1200 3600 2000 1800 1800
Valves Side Side Mixed At the top At the top At the top
Ignition magneto magneto magneto magneto magneto magneto
Gears 4+ RM 4+ RM 4+ RM 4+ RM 4+ RM 4 + RM
Transmission cardan cardan cardan cardan cardan cardan
Wheelbase 2,500 mm (98.4 in) 2,900 mm (114.2 in) 3,055 mm (120.3 in) 2,600 mm (102.4 in) 2,850 mm (112.2 in) 3,050 mm (120.1 in)
Track 1,250 mm (49.2 in) 1,400 mm (55.1 in) 1,445 mm (56.9 in) 1,300 mm (51.2 in) 1,440 mm (56.7 in) 1,440 mm (56.7 in)
Production 1909-11 1909-11 1909-12 1913-17 1912-17 1913-17