1952 Siata 208CS

The Società Italiana Auto Trasformazione Accessori, or SIATA, was established in Turin by Giorgio Ambrosini in 1926. The early years were spent manufacturing speed equipment for Fiat automobiles, such as high compression cylinder heads, overhead valve conversions, dual carburetor manifolds, superchargers, gearsets, and complete gearboxes. After World War II, Siata resumed the construction of FIAT-based sports cars. Giorgio Ambrosini's son Renato won the 750cc Italian Championship in 1948 and 1949 with a FIAT-SIATA 750 Sport Competizione. The U.S. market received a series of SIATA 300BC Spiders powered by Crosley's 750cc single overhead camshaft engine. Larger engines and cars followed.

FIAT's Ottu Vu project amounted to 49 production cars, and when the project ceased, Siata had access to the overrun of planned V8 power units. From this came the 2-liter, or 208S. They wore the Siata badge and wore coachwork designed by Giovanni Michelotti and built by Rocco Motto. They employed a sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension with a tubular steel chassis built around the V-8 engine. They were also designed to accommodate the Chrysler's Hemi engine.

The Siata 208S was tuned by Siata to produce 125 horsepower and body styles included both Coupe (208 CS) and Spiders (208 S). Designs varied with many having sleek, elegant, and aggressively styled. The elegant looks and sporty performance came at a hefty price of just under $5,000, which made it a natural fit for the California culture seeking exclusivity. Many were imported by Los Angeles Hot Rodder, turned dealer, Ernie McAfee with the backing of the wealthy Doheny family.

Two 35 208 Spiders were produced, including the two Bertone-designed prototypes.

The Siata 208 CS was introduced in 1952 and was the coupe counterpart to the Siata 208S. It is believed that 18 examples were built, of which 11 wore coachwork by Balboa, while the other 7 wore bodies by Stabilimenti Farina. At least one of the Farina-bodied cars was a convertible/spyder model.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019