1952 Siata 208S Cabriolet Speciale (Ford-powered)
- Engine
- Flathead V8, Ford-sourced
- Colour
- Two-tone red and black
A one-off aluminum-bodied cabriolet built by Siata in Turin around 1952, this Ford Speciale was commissioned as a showroom promotional piece by an Ohio Ford dealer. The chassis was purpose-designed by Siata while the running gear — including the flathead V-8, suspension, and instruments — derived from a 1951 Ford sedan. Believed to be among the last coachwork commissions completed by Stabilimenti Farina before that firm closed, the car passed through numerous American owners over several decades before receiving a comprehensive restoration of its aluminum bodywork and interior.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$225,000 – US$300,000
- —Auction saleSold US$209,000
- 1952 → 1955Factory deliveryJimmy Mulgrew, Euclid Fordpartial documentation
Commissioned the car as a promotional vehicle for his Ohio dealership; displayed it there before selling through a New York intermediary.
- 1955 →Private saleUnknown second ownernone documentation
Acquired via Alfred Momo's New York dealership; identity not recorded in available documentation.
- 1974-10-01 → 1975-08-01Acquisition unknownMichael Caltriderpartial documentation
- 1975-08-01 →Acquisition unknownMichael Supleypartial documentation
- 1982 →Acquisition unknownBill Lightfootpartial documentation
- 1985 →Acquisition unknownPhil Goutellpartial documentation
- 1987 →Acquisition unknownJoseph Alphabetpartial documentation
- 1988 → 2005Acquisition unknownOliver Kuttnerpartial documentation
Car had deteriorated significantly when Kuttner undertook the first recorded refurbishment during the summer of 1988.
- 2005 →Private saleJerry Bensinger and Daniel Rapleypartial documentation
Joint purchasers who subsequently sold the car to the next owner; full restoration of the aluminum bodywork and mechanical components was carried out under subsequent ownership.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownRoland Wommackpartial documentation
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownFrank Russo Sr.partial documentation
Jacksonville, Maryland resident who owned the car for several years during the mid-1960s before passing it on.
- Date unknownPrivate salePrevious owner (identity unstated)partial documentation
Had the body professionally restored by German coachbuilder Bernhardt Karosseriebau, then completed the remaining work at Absolute Engineering in Goleta, California.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1988Restoration
First-ever refurbishment of the car, carried out after it had fallen into considerable disrepair.
Work initiated by owner Oliver Kuttner during summer 1988.
- —BodyworkBernhardt Karosseriebau
Complete restoration of the aluminum coachwork by a German specialist coachbuilder.
Completed body was subsequently shipped to California for final assembly.
- —RestorationAbsolute Engineering
Full mechanical and cosmetic completion of the car following receipt of the restored aluminum body, including fitment of parchment leather interior and matching cabriolet hood.
Workshop located in Goleta, California.
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