Siata

SIATA
Industry Automotive
Fate ceased production
Founded 1926
Founder Giorgio Ambrosini
Defunct 1970
Headquarters Turin, Italy
Products Automobiles

Siata (Società Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori in English Italian Car Transformation Accessories Company) was an Italian car tuning shop and manufacturer founded in 1926 by amateur race car driver Giorgio Ambrosini.

Siata initially sold performance parts to modify and tune cars manufactured by Fiat. After World War II, the company began making its own sports cars under the Siata brand until its eventual bankruptcy following the first Arab oil embargo in the mid-1970s.

History

First production models: 1948-1952

1952 Siata 300BC Barchetta Sport Spider

Production of the Siata's first wholly original design the Siata Amica began in 1948 and continued through 1952. The Amica was powered by a Fiat 500 cc engine capable of producing 22 horsepower with an optional 750 cc unit producing 25 horsepower. The Amica was available in both two-seater convertible/spider and coupé configurations.[1]

A specially modified Amica known as the Fiat Siata 500 Pescara won the 1948 Italian Road Racing Championship fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox and a modified 500 cc engine producing 40 horsepower. Only two 500 Pescaras were ever built with only one surviving model. The surviving car also competed in the 1991 Historic Millie Miglia.[2]

From 1950 to 1958 there were approximately 200 Daina Series cars produced. However, only a few of the Series were produced after 1953.) The "Sport" version, a berlinatta, of the Series was only produced in 1952. About 20 Daina Sport (coupes) are thought to have been built, only six exist today. A cabriolet version, the Gran Sport, comprised most of the Daina Series cars. They were based on a FIAT 1400 chassis with the engine bored out to 1500cc. They had custom bodies by either Farina or Bertone.

Following the Amica, Siata introduced the 300BC Barchetta Sport Spider in 1951. The Barchetta Sport Spider was designed by Mario Revelli de Beaumont and built by Nuccio Bertone and Rocco Motto. Around 50 production models were created and predominantly featured either a 750 cc Crosley or 1100 cc Fiat engine. During this time Siata also created the Cucciolo ("puppy") motor sold in kit form by Ducati and later used to power Ducati's first complete mopeds and motorcycles starting in 1952.

8V Fiat engine and the 208S: 1953-1955

1953 Siata 208S

Siata introduced the Siata 208S in 1953 featuring Fiat's 2.0 liter 8V engine. 35 cars were produced between 1953 and 1955 priced at 5300 dollars available in both convertible and hard top. The car rose to prominence after actor and race car driver Steve McQueen purchased model BS523 from Los Angeles-based Siata importer Ernie McCaffe in the mid-1950s. McQueen reportedly re badged the car with Ferrari emblems and dubbed the car his "Little Ferrari".[3]

End of Siata: 1968-1975

1968 Siata Spring

In 1968, after a detailed market research among Italian youth, Siata launched the Siata Spring, a sports car based on parts from Fiat 850, with front end styled by Enrico Fumia in 1966,.[4] The Siata Spring was produced until 1970, when Siata went bankrupt, but the assembly line was purchased by a newly formed company called ORSA (Officina Realizzazioni Sarde Automobili), which moved it to an assembly plant near Cagliari, where it resumed the production of the Spring based on the SEAT 850 Special, thus increasing the engine displacement to 903cc with 47BHP, disc brakes on the front wheels and a maximum speed of 125 Kph. Because of the 1973 oil crisis sales of sports cars in Italy went down, forcing ORSA to end the production of the Spring in 1975.

Models

Racing

Siata raced in the Mille Miglia and the Italian Road Racing Championship in 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1955.

References

  1. ↑ "1950 Siata Amica". Conceptcarz. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  2. ↑ "Fiata Siata 500 Pescara". Barchetta Sports Cars. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  3. ↑ "1953 Siata 208S". Fantasy Junction. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  4. ↑ "Fumia Design". fumiadesign.com. Retrieved 2012-08-12.
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