Siata at amelia

We first ran this story in April of 2006. Peter Voorhees was well into restoring this one off 1400 Siata. Then we lost track of both Voorhees and the Siata. Find out what happened-Ed.

By Peter Voorhees
Photos by the author and as noted

This is the abbreviated story of a Siata that I bought in 1985 at a flea market in Stowe, Vermont. Restoration process has been slow, however. I’ve been telling my friends ‘This is the Year!’ for so many years it’s really become a joke. But the journey has been so much fun I don’t mind at all. Every year I learn a little more and finish a little more, but there are still things to learn and do.

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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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Siata 1400 Coupe

Eisenstark’s Siata Part 3: Making Amelia