Siata

Italy, 1949 – 1970

(1) Società Italiana Applicazione Trasformazione Automobilistiche, Turin, 1949 – 1959

(2) Siata-Abarth, Turin, 1959 – 1961

(3) Siata Auto, Turin, 1961 – 1970

As the Siata car name implies, Ambrosini’s company, founded in 1926, has always specialized in tuned and ‘customized’ version of other makes, chiefly Fiat. By 1933 Siata cars were extracting 48bhp from the basic Balilla design, which developed only 22bhp in standard form, and their ohv head for the 1936 500 Topolino enjoyed a wide currency: Siata cars also marketed a handsome little cabriolet version of this model with a V-grille. A rear-engined 750cc machine, the Bersaglieri, was announced in 1948, but the first production Siata car was the Siata Amica, which Siata car used ohv Fiat 500 B/C mechanical components in their own steel tube frame, clothed with full width cabriolet bodywork, and this Siata car was available not only with a 22bhp tuned standard engine, but also with a Siata-modified 750cc 3-bearing version developing 25bhp. The next Fiat model to receive the Siata treatment was the oversquare 1400 of 1950, which Siata car emerged with output boosted from 44 to 65bhp, open or closed sporting bodywork, and a grille which had a hint of MG about it – the Rallye two-seater of 1951 had a 5-speed gearbox and was a close imitation of the MG TD-type. Special Fiat 1400s were still being offered in 1958. In 1952 American power units were adopted, a few Siata cars being made both with the 722cc ohc Crosley and the big hemi-head V8 Chrysler, the latter unit mounted in a chassis with separate gearbox, torsion-bar independent front suspension, and De Dion rear axle. From 1952 to 1955 some handsome Siata car derivazioni were evolved round FIAT’s limited-production V8 2-litre, these Siata cars offering Vignale coachwork, a 5-speed gearbox, and 110mph for $6.000 in America. A brief essay into the popular market was made in 1953 with the Mitzi minicar by Siata cars: this Siata car had all-round torsion-bar suspension and a rear-mounted 400cc sv vertical-twin engine. Thereafter Siata cars concerned themselves with Fiat derivatives, using 600 and 1100 mechanical elements. In 1960 rescources of Siata cars were pooled with Abarth, both companies retaining their separate existences, and two years later Siata cars transferred their attention to the 1300 and 1500 Fiat models. 1.400 Siata cars were made in 1964, most of these being twin-carburettor 94bhp variants of the regular Fiat 1500 saloon, though a handsome GT coupé Siata car was offered as well. Last of the Siata cars was the Siata Spring, a sports two-seater based on the rear-engined Fiat 850; this Siata car marked a reversion to the mock-MG themse of 1951.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

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