The appearance of two examples of the then-new Swiss Dyno I diesel at the 1942 Italian National Championship meeting in Asiago ignited a high level of Italian interest in this revolutionary technology. The result was the speedy appearance of Dyno-inspired engines in various Italian locations.

One of these engines was the sideport Ercolino 2 cc model of 1943 which was developed by Motominima of La Spezia, a port on the Ligurian Sea and an important naval base located roughly halfway between Genoa and Florence. It apparently had a larger companion in the shape of the 6.35 cc Ciclone of generally similar design. The Ciclone was apparently intended for amateur construction - it's possible that the Ercolino was similarly targeted.

The design of the Ercolino was very clearly influenced by that of the Dyno. It seems to have been a very capable performer by the standards of its day. A full review and test of a replica of this very rare engine may be found elsewhere on this website.