Beretta

Beretta, the Italian armaments maker based in Gardone Valtrompia, near Brescia, and a gunmaker since the 16th century, briefly turned to automobile manufacturing between 1949 and 1952. The venture arose from a need to keep the company's workforce occupied once postwar demand for firearms collapsed. The resulting car, the Beretta BBC, was a front-wheel-drive two-door saloon with fully enveloping bodywork. Power came from a 750cc V-twin engine of Beretta's own…