Siata Daina 1950-1958

[Revo]

Short History

Founded in 1926 in Turin, Italy by Giorgio Ambrosini, SIATA (Società Italiana Auto Trasformazioni e Accessori) began life as a tuning firm specialising in the modification of FIATs. When the company eventually introduced its first production car in 1949, FIAT components, in this case sourced from the Topolino, were the logical choice for the new Amica cabriolet. During the 1950s and on into the ’60s a variety of US engines including Crosley, Ford and Chrysler V8s were adopted in addition to FIAT’s home-grown motors.

SIATA’s Daina model of the early 1950s was based on the FIAT 1400 and built primarily in Convertible and Coupé forms, most of the former being bodied by Stabilimenti Farina and the latter by Bertone. Later cars were designated ‘SL’ (Scatolato Lamiera – literally: sheet metal box). The Daina used the FIAT 1400 overhead-valve engine, modified by SIATA with a special cylinder head, pistons and twin-carburettor inlet manifold. A 1,500cc unit was available as an option and is fitted to the car offered here, which also boasts a five-speed gearbox. SIATA was active in racing from its earliest days, and a Daina Convertible driven by Dick Irish and Bob Fergus won its class in the inaugural Sebring 12 Hours race of 1952, finishing 3rd overall ahead of many larger-engined cars.

Source: bonhams.com

[Soloracer]

Sort of neat looking. Definitely unique.

[cargirl1990]

i kinda like it...

[Delmaster]

never heard of it before.
those are mercedes-taillights, right?

[Revo]

those are mercedes-taillights, right?

Could be.

The rear light cluster is unusually sophisticated for early 1950s Italian specials. Maybe it has been retrofitted to pass a MOT test at some point of car's life.

[dretceterini]

I just found a restorable Siata Daina convertible S/N SL0172, motor S/N S0172 in Maine (in the boonies, about 2 hours from Bangor) of all places! It is the car that looks like the coupe with the roof cut off, and not a Gran Sport. The car is 95% there, but needs total restoration. I am negotiating with the owner on the price...

[f6fhellcat13]

I just found a restorable Siata Daina convertible S/N SL0172, motor S/N S0172 in Maine (in the boonies, about 2 hours from Bangor) of all places! It is the car that looks like the coupe with the roof cut off, and not a Gran Sport. The car is 95% there, but needs total restoration. I am negotiating with the owner on the price...

Good luck.
This seems to be a very interesting and stylistically (and possibly mechanically) unique car. Restoring one is indeed a noble cause.

[henk4]

I just found a restorable Siata Daina convertible S/N SL0172, motor S/N S0172 in Maine (in the boonies, about 2 hours from Bangor) of all places! It is the car that looks like the coupe with the roof cut off, and not a Gran Sport. The car is 95% there, but needs total restoration. I am negotiating with the owner on the price...

That's a very interesting find. Keeps us informed about the progress. A 2011 Quail entry?

[.M.]

I think we all know what this looks like...a knock off Aston Martin.

Here's the DB, DB2/4, Mark II, and Mark III (mkIII front as well) all produced at the start and throughout to the end of the 50's.

Don't kid yourself into thinking its beautiful, like a pre Datsun/E-Type look alike. When it is a knock off it is a knock off.

Although, much like the 240, for the price.....

[henk4]

Although there are similarities, I would not call it a knock-off of the Aston. Many designers followed the shape introduced by the Cisitalia 202, so you got fastback 2-door coupes such as the better known Ferrari Inter, but also the Maserati A6 from 1948 (1946 - 1950 Maserati A6 1500 GT 3C Pinin Farina Berlinetta - Images, Specifications and Information).

[.M.]

Very true...even today it is difficult to get a design to not be duplicated or made similar

[LeonOfTheDead]

I'd say today the situation is even worst, standardization, especially of the customers is leading to most cars being equal in the overall shape and having differences mainly in the detailing, which could be fine nonetheless.

[henk4]

Very true...even today it is difficult to get a design to not be duplicated or made similar

dictated by the law of aerodynamics.

[LeonOfTheDead]

dictated by the law of aerodynamics.

that's not entirely correct.
A lot of different shapes can achieve a similar Cx coefficient, still a lot of them stick to a familiar shape just for a marketing and customer identification purpose.

[Marrk]

The Daina is cool looking indeed. I also like the 208/s. My recollection is that the 208/s had a 2.0 V-8. Was that engine sourced from a Fiat?