1957 Siata 208 S

Sold for $1,655,000 at 2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge.
Founded in 1926 by Giorgio Ambrosini, the first cars built by Siata were small Fiat engined sports cars like the 500cc and 750cc Amica. Siata introduced their first 2 litre sports car, the 208S in 1953 and sales took off in America. Built with the legendary Fiat 8V engine it had a sophisticated chassis with all round independent suspension. Thirty-seven Spyders were built between 1953 and 1957 by Carrozzeria Rocco Motto in Turin. Imported by the Beverly Hills Siata dealership, this car was sold to a California fireman in 1957 but due to the Fiat 8V engine's complexity it was replaced by a Chevy V8. After changing hands in the 1960s, the car's third owner found the original engine and while rebuilding the car it was re-fitted but in 1993 the next owner decided to put that unit in his 8V Ghia and the chassis was fitted with yet another Chevrolet engine. Happily, the current owner managed to source a new period-correct 8V engine from another Siata 208S.