Siata Daina: a Fiat-based gran turismo with coachbuilt bodies

The Siata Daina is an Italian car produced by Siata from 1950 to 1958. It was available as a coupé or a convertible with custom bodies by Stabilimenti Farina, Bertone and other coachbuilders, and it was based on heavily modified Fiat 1400 mechanicals.

Siata Daina at a glance

Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Siata Daina.

History of the Siata Daina

The Daina was Siata’s gran turismo of the 1950s, built from 1950 to 1958. Like all Siata cars it was based on heavily modified Fiat mechanicals, in this case the Fiat 1400: the frame was reinforced and shortened, and the engine was developed with new head valves, new manifolds, new carburettors and, on some models, Abarth exhaust systems. Buyers could choose a 1,395 cc, 1,500 cc or 1,817 cc overhead-valve four-cylinder engine, all sourced from Fiat. The chassis had independent front suspension, a live rear axle with coil springs all round and four-wheel drum brakes, and the gearbox was a four- or five-speed manual.

Initially a three-seat coupé and a convertible, called a trasformabile, were designed and built in aluminium with steel doors by Stabilimenti Farina. A limousine and a sports car called the Rally were also built in the early days. Towards the end of production of the coupé and convertible a roadster was added to the line at Stabilimenti Farina as the Gran Sport, and a closed version of the Gran Sport joined the range as the Sport. About 20 Daina Sport coupés are thought to have been built, and at least eight are known to exist today.

The Gran Sport comprised most of the Daina Series cars. It had a steel body with an aluminium bonnet designed by Stabilimenti Farina, although three all-aluminium Gran Sports were also made; when Stabilimenti Farina closed in 1953 Bertone took over production of both the Sport and the Gran Sport. Some cars were built by other coachbuilders as well. Between 1950 and 1958 approximately 200 to 250 Daina Series cars were produced, though only a few were made after 1953.

The best known Dainas were the Gran Sport convertibles used in racing, which many called the “little Ferrari”. The car was built to take part in the International Grand Prix and the Mille Miglia, and its most notable result came at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1952, when Dick Irish and Bob Fergus drove a 1,500 cc Daina Gran Sport to first in class and third overall.

Design and features

• Fiat 1400 basis: a reinforced and shortened Fiat chassis with engines enlarged to 1.4, 1.5 and 1.8 litres.
• Coachbuilt bodies: coupés and convertibles by Stabilimenti Farina, Bertone and other carrozzerie.
• Gran Sport: the sporting version that formed most of the production and was campaigned in races.
• Racing pedigree: a class win and third overall at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1952.

Siata Daina versions

• Coupé and trasformabile (1950): the first three-seat bodies, aluminium with steel doors by Stabilimenti Farina.
• Limousine and Rally: a saloon and a sports car built in small numbers in the early days.
• Gran Sport: the open sporting model with a Farina-designed steel body and aluminium bonnet.
• Sport: the closed version of the Gran Sport, of which about 20 are thought to have been built.
• Bertone-built cars: Sport and Gran Sport production continued at Bertone after Stabilimenti Farina closed in 1953.

Siata’s other road car of the period was the V8-engined 208S, and the Spring is described separately. More models are in the Siata collection.

Video: Siata 1500 Daina Gran Sport test drive

Video on YouTube.

Sources

• Siata Daina, English Wikipedia: history, bodies, engines, chassis, production, racing