Imperia TA-9 / Diane History
History
Introduced at the Brussels Motor Show in 1934 as the Albatros, the TA-9 paired a 1645 cc four-cylinder Adler engine (38 hp) with front-wheel drive and Belgian four-door saloon coachwork. It sat above the TA-7 in the range and offered a more comfortable, better-equipped car for the Belgian middle class.
By spring 1936 the original Albatros body looked dated, and Imperia launched the Diane — a freshened TA-9 with a modernised inclined grille and an exposed rear luggage compartment. The Adler engine was retained unchanged at 1645 cc and 38 hp, with a top speed of around 63 mph. The Diane was built until 1938, after which preparations for a new post-war design began — interrupted, ultimately, by the German occupation.
Generations
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TA-9 Albatros · Albatros
Brussels Motor Show debut; 4-door saloon with 1645 cc Adler FWD drivetrain.
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TA-9 Diane · Diane
Restyled with inclined grille and apparent boot; same 38 hp Adler engine, built until July 1938.
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1937 Photo: “1937 Imperia TA-9 Diane berline fr3q.JPG” by André Ritzinger / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 3.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
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Body styles
- Saloon (Albatros)
- Saloon (Diane)
Related models