Spyder
Coachwork: Bertone
Designer: Michelotti
Chassis #: BS523
Designed by Michelotti and built by Bertone in 1953, the Siata (Chassis #523) was equipped with the Fiat 8V 'kit' including 2-liter engine, 4-speed transmission, and independent suspension. Its stunning clean design provided many styling cues seen in later cars. Less than 35 of the Spiders were ever built, with most finding their way to the West Coast. This car, #523, was originally sold to Steve McQueen and spent most of its life in California. It is the only one to have been shown at Pebble Beach twice, as well as many of the other Northern concours events. It participated in the inaugural Mille Autunno and the California Classic rallies.Always considered very pleasing to the eye, the Siata 208S Spyder could only really be appreciated when it was allowed to bear its soul. Its soul; however, had almost been stolen from it before it had even taken its first breath.Everyone has their niche. The Ambrosini family had great talent and craftsmanship in high-performance modifications. After World War II, the Societa Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori (SIATA) company would become part of Fiat. Fiat would bring on a brilliant Porsche engineer by the name of Rudolf Hruska. Hruska had been involved with Piero Dusio and his grand prix project. This made him of very great interest to Fiat as it decided to begin to branch out into high-performance automobiles.
Fiat conceived their path into the high-performance market with a 2-liter V8 that was known as the 'Otto Vu'. The new V8 engine was something different. It had an unusual square design made so by its 70-degree arrangement and wedge-shaped combustion chambers. The high-revving engine with its dual-throat Weber carburetors turned out an estimated 132 bhp at a little over 6,000 rpm.
The car was intended to run in the Colorado Grand in 2007, but it would be discovered by the Epifani Restoration firm the engine was sorely in need of some attention. And unlike when the car first went on sale during the 1950s, the car would get a lot of attention. A full rebuild was commissioned through Epifani. Almost everything had either come to be modified or replaced. Many parts, like the generator, would be replaced with more modern and reliable components. Others, like the head gaskets, would be fitted with brand new and state-of-the-art designs.
'Feature Lots: Lot No. 255: 1953 Siata 208S Spyder', (http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r109). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/FeatureCars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r109. Retrieved 16 August 2011.'Manufacturers: Siata: 1953 Siata 208S', (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10303/Siata-208-S.aspx). Conceptcarz.com: From Concept to Production. http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10303/Siata-208-S.aspx. Retrieved 16 August 2011.'Siata: 1953 Siata 208S', (http://www.supercars.net/cars/2634.html). Supercars.net. http://www.supercars.net/cars/2634.html. Retrieved 16 August 2011.By Jeremy McMullen
1953 Siata 208 S
Siata
2011 RM Auctions at Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $875,000-USD $1,175,000
Sale Price :
USD $946,000
Recent Sales of the Siata 208 S
(Data based on Model Year 1953 sales)
1953 SIATA 208S SPORTS TWO SEATER Chassis#: BS 509 Sold for USD$1,072,500 2015 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction | ![]() ![]() |
1953 Siata 208 S Spider Chassis#: BS 514 Sold for USD$1,567,500 2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | ![]() ![]() |
1953 Siata 208S Spyder Chassis#: BS523 Sold for USD$946,000 2011 RM Auctions at Monterey | ![]() ![]() |
Siata 208 Ss That Failed To Sell At Auction
1953 Siata 208 S's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 Siata 208S Spyder | BS509 | 2014 RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona | $1,000,000 | ||
1953 SIATA 208S Barchetta | BS 535 | 2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia | $700,000 | $750,000 |
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1953 Siata 208 S
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