On the market: a Siata searching for sympathy

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To the natural anglophone, the Italian tongue has always contributed to our perception of Italy as a glamorous and exotic country. The landscape reinforces that impression but, more than anything else, the most exciting thing about Italy is surely her motor industry. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Lancia, Alfa Romeo - the very names seem to suggest speed and elegance. Let us not forget the smaller manufacturers, either, such as Siata.

Siata - Societa Italiana Trasformazioni Automobilistici - was founded in 1926 as a specialist Fiat tuner, but in 1949 it started putting its own cars into production. These were still built around Fiat chassis, but they cut more of a dash and had a more impressive turn of speed, though its early efforts were unlikely to worry Enzo Ferrari. The Amica was based on the Fiat 500 and had visual similarities to the Fairthorpe Electron of 10 years later, the Siata 1400 Rallye looked like a slightly overweight MG TD and the Mitzi was a tiny people's car resembling the later Vespa 400.

The cars for which Siata is best-remembered, however, were the 208S and CS, two outstandingly rakish, limited-production sports model with barchetta and berlinetta bodies and Fiat's two-litre V8. They weren't Siata's only serious sporting efforts, though. In fact, they were preceded and outlasted by the Daina, which was built from 1950 to 1958.

Star of the Mille Miglia and Sebring

Based on a shortened Fiat 1400 chassis, it could be specified with a 1400, 1500 or 1800cc engine, extensively tuned with modified valves, manifolds, carburettors and more. Berlinetta, cabriolet and barchetta versions were made, with bespoke bodies being built by Bertone, Farina, et al. The barchetta was named the Gran Sport and some were extensively raced, including in the Mille Miglia and the 1952 12 Hours of Sebring, where a 1500cc Gran Sport won its class and finished third overall.

Across its eight-year production run, only between 200 and 250 Dainas were made, and there just happens to be one for sale here on PostWarClassic.com. It's rather an important one, too. It just happens to be the first Daina ever built, chassis SL0102, with cabriolet bodywork by Farina. Sadly, it seems to have suffered from neglect over the years, because it's now in need of restoration, although it's certainly not beyond salvation. The steel body shell doesn't show any obvious signs of serious corrosion, but unfortunately the car has been partially dismantled and the steering wheel and bumpers have been lost.

We'd love to know what happened to it. Where has it been all these years? Whatever the answer, it's in Switzerland now and may be viewed near Lake Constance. Priced at €48,000 (approx. £41,500), it's well worth saving and should be deserving of a spot at some top concours when it's done. We suggest you go and arrange a viewing, and be sure to let us know when you've put it back on the road...

Words: Zack Stiling
 

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