Siata Orchidea Spider

Vehicle Overview

The Siata Orchidea Spider was a one-off prototype constructed in 1949 by Società Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori (Siata), following the earlier Berlinetta configuration of the same designation. The project was developed by Renato Ambrosini, utilizing a tubular spaceframe chassis originally engineered by Augusto Monaco for use by Nardi. The Spider was conceived as a lightweight competition vehicle, with modifications implemented in response to the limitations encountered with the heavier Berlinetta body. The Monaco-designed chassis employed a triangulated tubular structure noted for its rigidity and low mass, but also for the complexity and cost of its manufacture. The chassis represented a pre-unitary construction solution intended for small-displacement sports cars. It was ultimately deemed impractical for broader production and was not used in subsequent Siata models. The powerplant installed in the Spider variant was a modified Fiat 500 engine, later replaced in some competition entries by a Crosley-derived 750 cc unit. The drivetrain was front-mounted and coupled to a manual gearbox, likely four-speed in configuration. Given the car’s low weight and compact size, performance was adequate for its class, although limited by the modest output of the original engine. The Spider body was constructed in aluminum by Carrozzeria Bertone, replacing the earlier coupe configuration which had proved overly heavy for the chassis. The open configuration reduced overall weight and improved cooling and accessibility during endurance competition. The vehicle retained Borrani wire wheels and minimal exterior detailing consistent with period Italian racing practice. The Siata Orchidea Spider was entered in multiple Italian motorsport events, including the Targa Florio and hill climbs such as the Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti and Aosta–Gran San Bernardo. It was subsequently exported to the United States, where it was entered in SCCA events, notably at Elkhart Lake in 1951. At that event, the car was driven by Otto Linton in standard competition and by Lee Kerrigan in a separate women’s race. The Orchidea Spider illustrates Siata’s experimental approach to sports car development during the immediate post-war period and the role of bespoke engineering and coachbuilding in early Italian motorsport. Only one example is known to have been constructed.