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siata 208S

Siata Balbo Coupe CS071 Part 2

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Story and photos by Sean Smith

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From our Archives, 2018

On June 4th, 2017, Walter and the SIATA won the “Vintage Rallies” award at the 2017 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. But the car still was not running right—so off it went to Automotive Restorations in Stratford Connecticut.

They were chasing what they thought were some electrical gremlins. They got the SIATA running better, and technician Chip Webb took the car out for a road test.

On June 8th at 1:30 in the afternoon, Chip was waiting for a light at the corner of Stratford and Surf Avenues with his signal on, when a woman in a Toyota Camry came along doing something she shouldn’t have been doing… one hand on the wheel and the other on her ubiquitous cell phone… driving distracted.

BANG!

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Siata Balbo Coupe CS071 Part 1

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Story by Sean Smith

From our Archives, 2017

In Part 1, Sean Smith relates the fascinating life of a Siata that has been in the same family for almost 60 years, a story that begins back in 1952 with a most unlikely car….Ed.

Dr. Julius Eisenstark had an eye for unique cars. In 1952 when everybody else was buying Fords and Chevys, he bought a Hudson.

Not just any Hudson, but a Teaguemobile.

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Eisenstark’s Siata Part 3: Making Amelia

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Story by Sean Smith
Photos by Smith unless otherwise noted

Read Part 1 All in the family
Read Part 2 The Big Ouch

March 1, 2018—two days before Walt Eisenstark’s SIATA goes on a truck to take its trip down to Amelia Island—work continues.

It’s not like the automotive reality shows where everyone is running in circles throwing parts around and some heavily tattooed owner is screaming “if it’s not done in the next 8 hours it won’t be on the truck and it won’t get to auction and we won’t make a huge profit and you’ll all be fired!” This is Automotive Restorations, Inc. Everything is moving along smoothly with a purpose—no histrionics, just pure, professional calm. Everything gets done, no show-boating. The SIATA goes out for a drive on the last day of February: no seat, but a very nice milk carton in its place. The car has never run better; it now idles beautifully and pulls strongly to 5000 RPM.

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Eisenstark Siata Part 2: The Big Ouch

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Story and photos by Sean Smith

Read Part 1

On June 4th, 2017, Walter and the SIATA won the “Vintage Rallies” award at the 2017 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. But the car still was not running right—so off it went to Automotive Restorations in Stratford Connecticut.

They were chasing what they thought were some electrical gremlins. They got the SIATA running better, and technician Chip Webb took the car out for a road test.

On June 8th at 1:30 in the afternoon, Chip was waiting for a light at the corner of Stratford and Surf Avenues with his signal on, when a woman in a Toyota Camry came along doing something she shouldn’t have been doing… one hand on the wheel and the other on her ubiquitous cell phone… driving distracted.

BANG! [Read more…] about Eisenstark Siata Part 2: The Big Ouch

Stunning Siata by Balbo, CS071

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Story by Sean Smith

In Part 1, Sean Smith relates the fascinating life of a Siata that has been in the same family for almost 60 years, a story that begins back in 1952 with a most unlikely car….Ed.

Dr. Julius Eisenstark had an eye for unique cars. In 1952 when everybody else was buying Fords and Chevys, he bought a Hudson.

Not just any Hudson, but a Teaguemobile.

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Steve McQueen’s Siata

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McQueen’s 208-S. Photo by Tony Singer.

Surprised that Steve McQueen owned a Siata? That is interesting enough, but discovering that the young actor affixed a Ferrari badge to the 208S he bought might be even more surprising, and at the same time perhaps tells us about another side of the man himself. We must give thanks to Matt Stone for this information and presenting it in his book, “McQueen’s Machines”, and current owner Tony Singer, whose words constitute the bulk of the story below. In addition, collector Christophe Pund was kind enough to allow us to publish Michelotti’s original drawing of the Siata 208S, which is also supplied with the two volume Otto Vu set, authored by Tony Adriaensens. (read review). If you’d like to know more about Tony Singer, read about him here. Ed.

[Read more…] about Steve McQueen’s Siata

Chapter from “They Started in MGs”: Otto Linton

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otto linton oscaAbove: Otto Linton in the rare 2000S OSCA serial number 2006.

Special Notice:Otto Linton will be the guest speaker at a VSCCA Luncheon, December 4th, in Somers NY. Contact frankrighetti33@aol.com for details.

“I raced an MG in 1948 at Watkins Glen,” says driver Otto Linton. “It was a J4, the only one in the United States and it’s now back in the UK. “ As described in the book The Story of the MG Sports Car, the 1933 J4 was “too fast for most drivers.” The car had essentially the same body that would cover MG frames until 1955, except no doors. Mechanically, it had a 4-cylinder OHC engine of 750cc displacement, supercharged, with one large SU carburetor and a four speed transmission with a remote shift lever and lock-out reverse. It was built in 1933 in a special production of only 9 cars, at the same time as the more famous K3 Magnette with the same design engine but of 6 cylinder configuration – 30 of these were built and only sold to customer competition drivers.

MG-J4

Linton's MG J4 in 1945.

Like many other drivers in that first race of the new sports car era – Bill Milliken, race organizer Cam Argetsinger, Denver Cornett and George Weaver, Otto posted a DNF in the event, with Haig Ksayian going on to take the win in the MG class. “I just had that one race in ’48,” says Otto, “plus a couple of hill climbs in 1949.” [Read more…] about Chapter from “They Started in MGs”: Otto Linton

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