1953 Siata 208CS Berlinetta

The fifth of nine Siata 208 chassis bodied with a coupe body by Balbo, this car - chassis CS069 - is believed to have been displayed at both the Geneva and Turin Auto Shows in 1953. It was soon after sold to George Arents Jr., who began his racing career in the Siata in 1955 and would go on to be one of the founders of the North American Racing Team (NART). In 1956 the delicate Fiat V8 was replaced by a Ferrari four-cylinder engine and the car was raced in this guise with considerable success. Arents and a subsequent owner from North Carolina compete in approximately 50 races. Following its contemporary racing career, the lovely Balbo Coupe was left to disintegrate. Many years later, Italian sports car specialist John de Boer acquired the car. He tracked down the original gearbox and engine but never got around to restoring the car. The next owner bought the car from de Boer in 2006 and had it beautifully restored. The current owner has owned it since 2013.

This Siata is believed to be the 1953 Geneva Auto Salon and Turin Auto Salon show car. It was sold to successful race car driver George Arents Jr., who later co-founded the North American Racing Team (NART) with Luigi Chinetti in 1958. Arents competed in many races with the car, most notably the Sebring Grand Prix of Endurance in 1955. During the car's last race, one of the connecting rods broke, and the Otto Vu engine was replaced with a 2-liter Ferrari Mondial engine. Subsequently, the car became known as the 'Siata-Ferrari,' nicknamed the 'Wop-Rod.' After a succession of owners, it was re-united with its original engine, and in 2006 it was purchased by its current owner, who started a complete restoration using its original body.