Rare Rides: The 1952 Siata Daina - a Mysterious Coupe

Today’s Rare Ride is one of those cars where your author had heard of neither marque nor model before encountering a sale listing. A luxurious early Fifties coupe of Italian origin and simple, elegant coachwork, this Daina is one of six remaining worldwide.

The Siata name was an Italian acronym, which translated stood for Italian Car Transformation Accessories Company. Formed in 1926 by racing driver Giorgio Ambrosini, the company first produced performance parts for various Fiats. With a solid business foundation, Siata entered into complete automobile production after the conclusion of WWII.

Through its history Siata produced eight different models, all of which qualify as Rare Rides. Though Siata produced some beautiful cars, the company took a turn after the early Sixties. At that point it conducted market research focused on Italian youths. The youths responded that they wanted a roadster with corny, almost neoclassical styling. Thus Siata’s swan song, the Spring, was introduced in 1968. The single model offering sustained Siata only through 1970, when the company folded. Assets were sold to an organization called ORSA, which was promptly crushed by the oil crisis of 1973. Spring production ended in 1975, and Siata was gone for good. Let’s return to Daina.

Daina was the longest-lived model in Siata’s stable, entering production in 1950. Available in coupe or cabriolet guises, bodies were bespoke affairs designed by Stabilimenti Farina, Bertone, and other smaller Italian design firms. Underneath the Daina, Siata stuck to its core competency: It was a very heavy modification of the Fiat 1400, a common small family car that also debuted in 1950.

For a start, Siata chopped 10 inches from the Fiat’s wheelbase and strengthened the frame. It then borrowed three different engines from Fiat (of 1.4, 1.5, and 1.8 liters) and developed new valve heads, manifolds, carburetors, and borrowed the occasional exhaust system from well-known Fiat tuner Abarth. Transmissions were manual, and had either four or five speeds. Such details were all negotiable, depending on customer desires. The front suspension was independent, with a live axle at the rear. Brakes were drums at all corners.

Siata took the Daina racing, as was intended from the start. Cars participated in the Mille Miglia and the International Grand Prix. They also raced at Sebring, and in 1952, a 1.5-liter Daina Grand Sport placed first in its class, and third overall.

Daina production was incredibly slow. The model’s full run from 1950 to 1958 saw about 50 completed cars, most of which were built before 1953. Of the 50, the majority were of the Gran Sport (cabriolet) type, while only 20 Sports (coupes) were completed.

Our subject’s coupe body was sourced from Stabilimenti Farina, a coachwork firm founded by Giovanni Farina. Giovanni employed his younger brother Battista in the early days, who stuck with the car building thing when he founded Pininfarina in 1930. Pietro Frua worked there too. Important place!

Already fully restored, this sparkling navy blue Daina is one of six Sports remaining globally. It asks $187,800 in Germany.

[Images: seller]