1952 Siata 300BC

Siata.

Societa Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori was an aftermarket company that produced parts to Hot Rod Fiats. The company was started in 1926 by Giorgio Ambrosini, an aspiring race car driver.

After the second world war the company started building its own cars under the Siata name.

The first original design to come out was the Amica in 1948. These were powered by 500cc Fiat engines producing 22HP; with the 750cc engine, the power jumped to a staggering 25HP.

In short order Siata began producing the 300BC Barchetta Sport Spider. The 300BC was penned by Mario Revelli de Beaumont and produced by Nuccio Bertone. A total of around fifty were built, with either a Crosley 750cc engine or their old friend Fiat’s, offering up a 1100cc power plant.

This particular 300BC was the third built. It sold through Otto Linton’s Speedcraft Enterprises in 1952 to Henry Wessells III. Wessells would go on to be a founding member of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America.

Henry raced the car in ‘52 at Giants Despair, Convair, Thompson, and Watkins Glen, where he finished second in class in the Queen Cathrine cup. This was the last time races were run on the street circuit.

From there it passed through several other owners ‘til 1962 it came into the hands of J.D. Igelheart, who raced the Siata in the newly formed VSCCA for many years. After that the car went into hiding for a long stretch. When it came out of hiding, it was treated to a full on, top-to-bottom restoration, with historical accuracy the key word. When a 94-year-old Otto Linton was reunited with the 300BC at Sebring, he took the car out for a hot lap and came back saying “you got it right—everything is perfect!”

Seeing the car in pictures, you don’t really get an idea of size if there is nothing near it to relate to. Then you might see the tires head-on; if so, you’ll realize they are no wider than early motorcycle tires. This is a tiny little jewel of a machine. a perfectly shaped race car that will cut through the air, with no added appendages . This can’t be your daily driver, what with its cut-down windscreen and no thought of a top, but there’s still a lot of room for fun.

Its competition spec Crosley  4 cylinder engine will give you 55HP at 5,300rpm while you run through the Siata’s 4 forward gears. The front independent suspension will keep you going in the right direction, with the rear live axle making things interesting. Stopping power is there by the grace of 4 wheel Alfin Drums. Gauges are at a minimum. Fuel, oil pressure, and a tach is all you get, and maybe all you need.

Its diminutive size doesn’t make it all that hard to get in. There’s a decent amount of space for a normal size being, but you do feel oversized in this pint-sized racer. Everything falls right to hand, everything is right where it should be. And it all does what it is supposed to do. The steering and the shift linkage all feel very delicate, but not to the point where you feel you’re going to break anything. The power plant may be undersized as well, but there is fun to be had  in those few CCs. It might look like a 3/4 sized Ferrari or a Maserati that was left in the dryer too long on high heat, but this miniature Italian sports car is not small on excitement and fun. Good things do come in small packages.

I want to thank New owners Jamie and Scott Cielewich for fitting me in between their small but mighty Siata’s busy social schedule at the Radnor Hunt concours and it’s visit to the AACA museum.
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