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 Motor Trend’s executive editor, Matt Stone, for this information and presenting it in his book, “McQueen’s Machinesâ€, (read review), 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). Finally, if you’d like to know more about Tony Singer, read about him here.
By Tony Singer
The Siata 208-S was designed by Michelotti and hand-built by Bertone (some sources are sure that all the 208-S spiders were actually built by Motto and others–ed.) in 1953, utilizing the Fiat 8V [“otto vuâ€] “kit†including 2 liter engine, 4 speed transmission, fully independent suspension, chassis, and brakes.
Drawing courtesy of Christophe Pund.
With an initial cost of over $5300, it was not the car for everyone although the stunning clean design provided many styling cues seen in later cars. About 35 of the Spiders were ever built, with most finding their way to the West Coast being sold through McAfee Motors in LA.
The McQueen Siata when owned by Bruce Sand. Courtesy Bruce Sand and Tony Singer.
BS-523 was originally sold to Steve McQueen by Ernie McAfee. McQueen sold the car, through McAfee Engineering, to Bruce Sand, who was attending UCLA Medical School. He recounts that Steve had removed the front nose badge, put the Ferrari shield on it, and called it his “little Ferrariâ€. There is also a famous story of Steve commandeering the car, with Bruce and a friend in it, and taking Bruce for “the ride of his lifeâ€. Tim Considine, the actor friend of McQueen corroborated this ownership, having seen him in the car at his home. The car was it’s original gun-metal grey with yellow California plates MTY 906. It is also the first car listed in the new book “McQueen’s Machines†by Matt Stone.
As it appears today. Photo by Tony Singer.
The car went through a number of owners and found it’s way to the East Coast. Larry Frye found the car in North Carolina, around 1983 and succeeded in buying the car from Lee Dart, in 1991. He then began an extensive restoration [over $175,000 in receipts]by renowned expert Knute Kollman, with body and paint by Brian Hoyt of Perfect Reflections. When Knute built the engine he performed his famous oiling modifications to the block, installed 2.3 liter pistons/barrels, etc., which then yielded 137 hp on the dyno! Mr. Frye also secured FIA official papers in 1999 prior to an intended Mille Miglia entry.
Photo by Tony Singer.
Larry subsequently showed the car at the 1994 Pebble Beach Concours [3rd in Class, Custom Italian Coachwork], various other local/regional Concours events, usually coming in first in class [Hillsborough, Lafayette, San Jose, etc.]. I purchased the car directly from Larry Frye in October, 2000. It was promptly entered in the inaugural Mille Autunno Rallye, ran in the California Classic Rallye the following June, and was awarded “Best Italian Car†at the 2001 Concours on Rodeo [Drive].
After this, I sought to attend to a number of detail errors I found and embarked on a lengthy saga with a fine mechanic who “lost his focusâ€. The car was later brought to Phil Reilly’s shop, where under the guidance of Ivan Zaremba, the car was gone through from one end to the other…to transform a show car into a driving car.
Photo by Tony Singer.
Upon completion, it was entered in the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours. In 2006 it was shown at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. From there it was part of the Cars of Steve McQueen exhibition at The Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles and shown at Concorso Italiano in 2007.
In 2008 the engine was fully rebuilt by Epifani including new pistons, rods, valves, bearings; the camshaft has been hard faced and the lifters hard chromed. The carbs have been rebuilt and the heads have been “flowedâ€.
In the world of the Siata 208-S, BS-523 is considered one of the two finest examples: the second finest concours car next to the Ron Hein/Scott Borman car, and the second most important [due to it’s McQueen ownership] behind the McAfee “Holy Terrorâ€. Sourced during my ownership are the three impossible to find original manuals: McAfee original operating instructions, 8V engine manual [original and with Ferrari stampings from their archives], 8V engine parts book [original]. I designed a unique tonneau cover; the top and side curtains are supplied, as well as a tool kit [replicated from BS-529], and a very rare set of Heuer instruments [watch and stop-watch].
Photo by Tony Singer.
In an era of rather large and heavy cars, the Siata 208-S is a delightful change. Being one of the first cars with fully independent suspension, it is light, agile, predictable, and extremely well balanced. It is an absolute joy to drive and glorious to look at with it’s clean, flowing lines and prototypical design.
Siata 208-S, BS-523, will be a feature article in an upcoming issue of Octane Magazine.
Tony Singer can be contacted at
www.VintageAutoPosters.com
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
in 1959 one of my friends (have forgotten his name) was running one of these at drivers schools at marlboro, it was painted with an odd sort of interior-decorator speckle paint. he turned the car upside down at one point so i got to look @ the chassis.
> jack
Jack Ensley, a race driver who lived near me in Indianapolis, owned a Siata 208 spyder in 1952 or ‘53. I clearly remember riding in the car (and even more, Jack’s Kurtis-Cadillac 500S!).
Does anyone know which Siata Ensley owned, and its subsequent history?
I spent a lot of time at McAfee motors, and my friend, Gene, bought his Italmechania Rootes Blower for his MG-TD. What a screamer with the straight cut gears. I have been all over McAfee’s race Siata. What an amazing machine. Jack had “lightening” holes throughout the structure, including the ignition key!
His friend gave him a present for the next race, of undershorts punched through with many large “lightening” holes. (9-)
Steve
well as far as i can remember this is my first look at a siata.however if this predates the ace one can easily see the origin of the cobra.
I remember seeing a blue Siata like this at the Monterey Historics years ago, and just fell in love with the coachwork. Just an absolutely beautiful car!
By association with the 208 spyders now valued in excess of 500K, the beautiful little Siata Gran Sport is starting to receive considerable attention. The Gran Sport featured a Fiat 1400 engine with Siata modifications including the now irreplaceable 32DRP 5 Weber carbs & Siata manifold. Stabilimente Farina did the coachwork which closely resembles a 166 Ferrari. Much like the 208, the car was not inexpensive, selling for $ 4000. when many sport cars sold at 1/2 that price in 1952. the 1400 Gran Sport probably is just about as rare as the 208, and of the 20 or so remaining probably less than half have the original Siata modified engine I was pleased to show mine at Quail this year, & also run the 2008 Cal Mille. Before bring the car back to my desert home I showed it at Ironstone Concours & had the pleasure of bringing Martin Swig to the stage where the car received a special award
Gorgeous car. Too bad it’s resale red instead of the original silver.
I was told by the man who was hired to sort out Ernie McAffee Engineering after Ernie was killed at Pebble Beach that “only one or two Siatas were originally red”.
I’m involved right now in the restoration of the ex-Don Diffenderfer 208 in which he won an SCCA national championship in 1960 when the car was 8 years old.
They are truly wonderful cars to drive.
i have a little story that was interesting to me.in the late 50’s (i’m 69 now)my family was an MG,Borgward,dealer in lexington mass.i was 16 at the time,we also had cars on consighnment for sale.only now because of the internet did i figure out that the car i remember as a kid was a 208 siata.i did get to drive it a little, mostly around the parking lot,today i remember the sounds of that car,i remember also the v-8 engine and also the round rod type ignition key,the car was red,repainted or not i wouldn’t know but i thought that it was interesting that only a couple were factory red.today being so rare i really wonder what happened to that car since there were so few,but at some time somone on the east coast,in lexington ma. owned one of these cars.well i had to tell my little experience to some one.do you know what years and how many were made? well thanks for listening. patric barbieri
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