World economics were working againt such small companies
however, and in 1908 Strada departed, his control taken over by Benedetti,
who also injected some fresh finance. A new car, using a 2800cc 16/20HP
engine and known as the Tipo A was released, followed closely by the 4082cc
20/30HP Tipo B and in 1909 by the 5426cc 28/35HP Tipo C. All of conventional
design, they were particularly praised for their robustness.
1911 saw the first monoblock engines from De Vecchi
used in the Tipo E (20/25HP) and the Tipo F (25/35HP). The First World
War saw production turning to military vehicles such as ambulances, trucks
and four-wheel-drive artillery tractors. Following the conflict, De Vecchi
withdrew from the company which passed into liquidation in 1919. It changed
hands and became CMN.
Some De Vecchi cars also achieved notable results
in motorsport, including 2nd in the 1914 Targa Florio and 1st in the 1908
Padova-Bovolenta.
At
the very beginning of the 20th Century, Giuseppe De Vecchi opened a workshop
in Milan to produce automobiles. 1903 saw him joined by his friend Ettore
Strada, together forming a new company and moving to a larger premises.
Powered by a small 10/12HP four cylinder engine their first car sold well,
including some sales abroad, and in 1905 the company expanded displaying
various models at the Milan Exposition of 1906.
In 1920 the factory moved to a new site in Tuscany,
and production began of a new 3000cc (25HP) six-cylinder engine and a 1940cc
four-cylinder unit, alongside continuing production of the old 20HP model.
These were the last cars to be produced by the company, which ceased to
trade in 1923.
Following
the purchase of De Vecchi in 1919 CMN (Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali)
continued production of some of the pre-war cars, especially the 2297cc
(15/20HP) four-cylinder sidevalve powered models. Motorsport featured from
the start, two CMN's driven by Ugo Sivocchi and a young Enzo Ferrari being
entered in the 1919 Targa Florio, finishing 2nd and 3rd in class.
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