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Siata 8V

At the beginning of the 1950’s Fiat handed over the material for the 8V model to Siata, which created a cabriolet and let Bertone have a go at designing a very light racing semibarchetta based on the same mechanics. Nuccio Bertone was in fact a keen race driver, and in that period took part in many Grand Prix, using a version of the Fiat-Siata 8V with modified aerodynamics and about 100 kg lighter. The car was a natural on the race track, as the founder of the Turin bodywork company remembers. Although he himself was forced to give up racing under pressure from his family, his love of cars remained as strong as ever, and from then on Nuccio Bertone turned his attention to designing unmistakeable models with the same passion he had shown on the race track.

Vehicle Overview

The Siata 8V: The acronym SIATA stands for Società Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori was founded in 1926 by Giorgio Ambrosini in Turin. From the very beginning it was born mainly for the production dedicated to parts to process cars, in particular Fiat: noteworthy are the elaborations on Fiat 522, 524, 514 and 508 Balilla mechanics. The Ambrosini demonstrates remarkable evolutionary abilities. During the Second World War, SIATA decided to start the design of a small auxiliary motor for bicycles. He asked Giuseppe Remondini for advice, who had designed such an engine for the French Jonghi, which proved to be among the best. From that project, albeit with very different technical solutions, the Cucciolo was born. The success of this engine was so great that it forced SIATA to turn to Ducati, a Bolognese factory, very active in the electromechanical sector. After the war SIATA also dedicated itself to the construction of cars, always with Fiat mechanics: the first, in 1949, was the Amica, a small two-seater convertible on Fiat 500 “Topolino” mechanics. The following year Siata presented the Fiat 1400 derived Daina available as sedan  (made by Stabilimenti Farina), berlinetta (Bertone and Stabilimenti Farina) and convertible. This Siata 8V was born from unintended circumstances: basically Fiat had left to make another model, a large sedan but then the project was abandoned, but the engine remained: The eight-cylinder Fiat engine was born as well as Project 106, launched in 1950. Practically it could be defined as an “Esotic Car”, the only one that Fiat has launched, with this split, of only 1996 cc. with open V-head valves of 70 degrees with 105 Hp. Of course Fiat didn’t want to worry the sacred monsters like Ferrari or Maserati, but it nevertheless offered the great coachbuilders the opportunity to “make them compete” at least ideally. This model in particular SIATA 208 2+2 with chassis number CS057L / CS023 was built by Carrozzeria Bertone on a slightly elongated chassis of 200 mm in mid-1952 for a total of 4 chassis, wanted by Stanley Arnolt, his first American collaborator. This Siata 8V boasts unique details designed by Michelotti such as the doors and front and rear lights. The first time it was presented at the Paris Motor Show in the same year, then at the New York International Motor Show. Arnolt sold the car to Stuart Sherman in Illinois in 1955. It was then bought by Roy Thoressen, Minnesota who drove it for a few years, until he put it in a warehouse and for several years, it wasn’t driven. They “remembered” the Siata when a large infiltration of water and the weight of the snow caused the roof to collapse, it was 1989. It was bought in 1993 by Walter Eisenstark, still in its original condition … but finally a real restoration could be carried out , with high quality standards. Currently, the Siata 8V has found a home in Belgium.

Siata 8V

 

Technical Specifications

  • Body
  • Year
    1953
  • Make
    Siata
  • Model
    8V
  • Coachbuilder
    Bertone
  • Length (mm)
    N/A
  • Width (mm)
    N/A
  • Height (mm)
    N/A
  • Units built
    1
  • Engine Type
    V8
  • Designer
    Giovanni Michelotti
  • Make
    N/A
  • Model
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  • Cylinder Capacity
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  • Number Of Doors
    N/A
  • Six Month Rate
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  • Twelve Month Rate
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  • Date Of First Registration
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  • Year Of Manufacture
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  • CO2 Emissions
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  • Fuel Type
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  • Tax Status
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  • Transmission
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  • Colour
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  • Type Approval
    N/A
  • Wheel Plan
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  • Revenue Weight
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  • Tax Details
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  • Mot Details
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  • Taxed
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  • mot
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  • Make
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  • Cylinder Capacity
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  • Registration
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  • Year Of Manufacture
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  • CO2 Missions
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  • Fuel Type
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  • Tax Status
    N/A
  • Colour
    N/A
  • Type Approval
    N/A
  • Wheel Plan
    N/A
  • Revenue Weight
    N/A

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