The latest episode in Sports Car Digest’s look back at classified advertisements features a 1953 Siata 208S Spyder that was offered for sale in the September 1964 issue of Road & Track for $4,000.
Created by Societa Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori (SIATA), these magnificent Italian wonders were powered by Fiat’s famed two liter “Otto Vu” or 8V engine. Only 37 Siata 208S Spyders were built in 1953-54, and they are highly eligible for any on or off road automotive event that you would desire, including the Mille Miglia.
The owner of this “absolutely concours” Siata 208S said that it won 1st in class at the 1964 Bakersfield auto show, speaking volumes about its condition at the time. (Or something like that). The seller also reported many “improvements over original such as dual master brake cylinders…custom dash.” We hate to see the latter upgrade listed, but we do appreciate the additional complete engine with 
Webers, plus gearbox and differential.
Although the Cars That Matter September – December 2008 price guide suggests $307,000 – $462,000 price for a Siata 208S, SCD feels that level could be way, way too low. Consider this Pebble Beach class-winning Siata that reportedly sold near its $1,150,000 asking price, showing that condition #1 cars with good provenance are clearly desired in the marketplace. And we will repeat that this Siata won 1st in class at the 1964 Bakersfield auto show.
Therefore, if you peg the present value of the Bakersfield winner at $1,000,000, your $4,000 Siata 208S Spyder purchase would have returned an annualized 13% since 1964 – not too shabby.
If you have a favorite classified ad that you would like featured, please email a scan of the ad to mail@sportscardigest.com. Further, please feel free to share your tear-jerking or blissful (if you bought and held) stories with us via e-mail or the comments section below.
[Source: Road & Track]
I think the $1M sale was not typical of the market. The Siata 208 and Fiat 8V coupes are actually more desirable to Europeans, and they go for something in the $600K-$750K range, depending on a car’s particular history
Could have bought a 54-55 Siata 8v coupe, in Paducah, KY, in about 1964/65, for $200, if I could have found where it was stored.
A high school classmate, who had NO IDEA what it was, happened upon it and bought it.
After keeping it for decades and doing various repairs, he sold it for about $35000 to a collector in California about ten years ago.
I saw him today and he told me that it had since been completely restored and sold for $1,000,000, perhaps at a west coast classic car meet(Pebble Beach?).
I can now proudly say I’ve ridden in a million dollar car, as I had taken a test drive with the mechanic who had got it running, shortly after it was imported, in the early/mid 1960s.
I was a real thrill, as there were only two aluminum bucket seats and a forty+ gallon gas tank inside the coupe. The hand-made aluminum body and various bits were all vibrating like a dozen hornet hives when he put the engine through its paces.
I was in my teens when I took that ride but I’ve never forgotten it!
Corky.