Author Topic: Solved: gte4289_21 - Siata Chevy at Dallas dealership, 1964 (Read 1018 times)

gte4289 · « **on:** October 25, 2018, 07:58:42 PM »

Identify this vehicle for a point:

gte4289 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2018, 11:50:43 AM »

Experts?

Carnut · « **Reply #2 on:** November 01, 2018, 12:01:18 PM »

Siata Daina Gran Sport convertible, 1952 - by Stabilimenti Farina

gte4289 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2018, 12:13:15 PM »

Quote from: Carnut on November 01, 2018, 12:01:18 PM

Siata Daina Gran Sport convertible, 1952 - by Stabilimenti Farina

That is the obvious part, but there's more to it than that.

Carnut · « **Reply #4 on:** November 01, 2018, 02:03:44 PM »

Some racing history?
Perhaps the Dick Irish car?

gte4289 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 01, 2018, 03:26:58 PM »

Quote from: Carnut on November 01, 2018, 02:03:44 PM

Some racing history?
Perhaps the Dick Irish car?

It is not the Dick Irish car.

As for racing history, when I posted this puzzle, I had the image associated with a car that had competition history. I have just gone back over my files and now I am not so sure this is the same car. I will search for more information.

That said, there is still something different about this Siata. I will award the point to whoever identifies this specific Siata based on that difference and the car's location at the time of the photo (information which is available online).

Carnut · « **Reply #6 on:** November 01, 2018, 08:24:14 PM »

A number were built with Chrysler engines rather than the 1.5 litre Fiat which superseded the 1.4 litre engine from 1952 onwards.
Is it one of those?

gte4289 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 01, 2018, 08:51:05 PM »

Quote from: Carnut on November 01, 2018, 08:24:14 PM

A number were built with Chrysler engines rather than the 1.5 litre Fiat which superseded the 1.4 litre engine from 1952 onwards.
Is it one of those?

No

Carnut · « **Reply #8 on:** November 02, 2018, 07:04:33 AM »

Is it the Studebaker-engined Siata Daina Gran Sport, which may or may not be the car driven by Tony Pompeo in the Convair Trophy Races at Allentown, Pa; nobody seems to know for sure...?

There was also speculation that it was the first Gran Sport built.

Is it also the Siata Gran Sport which made an appearance in the film "The Love Bug"?

gte4289 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 02, 2018, 10:02:41 AM »

Quote from: Carnut on November 02, 2018, 07:04:33 AM

Is it the Studebaker-engined Siata Daina Gran Sport, which may or may not be the car driven by Tony Pompeo in the Convair Trophy Races at Allentown, Pa; nobody seems to know for sure...?

There was also speculation that it was the first Gran Sport built.

Is it also the Siata Gran Sport which made an appearance in the film "The Love Bug"?

This is what I originally had it logged as, but alas, it is not. This car does have a non-standard engine, but not Studebaker.

Carnut · « **Reply #10 on:** November 02, 2018, 01:02:58 PM »

Actually the Studebaker engine only lasted until the 1960s, when it gained a Ford V8 engine instead.
Is that what you're looking for?
There were also some of these cars fitted with the Fiat 8V engine..

gte4289 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 02, 2018, 03:58:57 PM »

Quote from: Carnut on November 02, 2018, 01:02:58 PM

Actually the Studebaker engine only lasted until the 1960s, when it gained a Ford V8 engine instead.
Is that what you're looking for?
There were also some of these cars fitted with the Fiat 8V engine..

I apologize, but this puzzle has not gone as planned. I obtained the photo back in 2006 and misfiled it.

As it turns out, the photo was taken by a motorsport photographer while travelling to cover a motorsport event, however, there is no evidence that this Siata ever saw competition. The photographer's notes state only the engine manufacturer (not Fiat, Studebaker, Chrysler or Ford) and the location. The approximate date the photo was taken can be inferred based on the dates of the motorsport event. All of this information can be found online, along with the photo.

Track this one down and tell me the engine manufacturer, as well as the location and approximate date of the photo. I will provide a 24-hour lock for anyone who is able to name the engine manufacturer, allowing time for them to find the details on where and when the photo was taken.

Carnut · « **Reply #12 on:** November 02, 2018, 04:41:30 PM »

Chevrolet engine?

gte4289 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 02, 2018, 04:45:12 PM »

Quote from: Carnut on November 02, 2018, 04:41:30 PM

Chevrolet engine?

That's it. 24-hour lock for you to find the where and when.

Carnut · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2018, 07:56:55 AM »

Thanks.
However, despite Googling every single word of information we know about this car I have failed to find your image on the 'Net.
Google offers different pictures depending on which country you're in so it's possible it will just never pull up your photo in the UK.
I suppose it's possible the photo was taken at Watkins Glen, probably around 1958 or 1959.

However, what I have found points to the fact that the car pictured is probably Siata Daina Gran Sport Roadster Type A, chassis no. 0216 A, which was imported by Ernie McAfee of Hollywood, CA. It was later sold to a Colonel from Dayton, Ohio and was fitted with a 265 cu in Chevrolet V8 in the 1950s. This engine seems to have stayed with it until 1972 when it was replaced by a Ford 302 V8.
The car was extensively restored in 2014, when it was re-fitted with a Fiat Siata 1400 cc engine and Borrani wire wheels replaced the original disc wheels in preparation for the car's entry into the Mille Miglia in 2015.
This car was For Sale in the UK at Vintage and Classic Cars in 2016, registered 278 YUB (a number of the type allocated to older imports or cars re-registered for any reason).

If this isn't the answer you're looking for then I don't think it's possible to find out anything else about it from the UK without more information to start with.

gte4289 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 03, 2018, 10:31:46 AM »

Not Watkins Glen and a wee bit earlier than 1958/59. Try Google with two 5-letter words only, in quotes.

Carnut · « **Reply #16 on:** November 03, 2018, 11:18:54 AM »

Thanks but it makes no difference.
The reason I said 1958/9 was because the car next to it is a Hillman Minx, which only came out in mid 1956 as a 1957 model!
So if it's earlier than 1958 it could have been taken in 1957 or even the second half of 1956 but no earlier.
Perhaps the race track is Laguna Seca?
I've given all the information that is available using UK Google, so if that is not enough then I'm afraid I'll have to leave it for someone on your side of the pond.

Carnut · « **Reply #17 on:** November 05, 2018, 08:15:51 AM »

All right, if it's not Laguna Seca how about The Brickyard?

gte4289 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2018, 09:44:22 PM »

Quote from: Carnut on November 05, 2018, 08:15:51 AM

All right, if it's not Laguna Seca how about The Brickyard?

Sorry, but no. I'm going to give you a point for identifying the Chevy engine, but keep the thread open for someone else to find this exact car based on the time and place of the photo.

Carnut · « **Reply #19 on:** November 06, 2018, 03:34:31 AM »

Thanks for the point.
If the picture wasn't taken in 1957 then it was probably taken in 1956 but could have been taken in very late 1955, as the car next to it is not a Hillman Minx but a Sunbeam Rapier, which actually appeared for the first time at the London Motor Show in October 1955 for the 1956 model year!

Carnut · « **Reply #20 on:** November 06, 2018, 04:12:39 AM »

Also I did find another Daina Gran Sport which had been fitted with a 325 cu in Chevy V8, but I dismissed that one as it was a B series model (#SL0264 B) whilst the car pictured in your puzzle is an A series..