1952 Siata Daina Gran Sport
In the early 1950s, a small Italian automaker produced a sports car that captured the essence of post-war European motoring. The 1952 Siata Daina Gran Sport emerged as a striking example of Italian craftsmanship and engineering prowess.
Societa Italiana Auto Trasformazione Accessori (SIATA), founded in 1926 in Turin, Italy, initially focused on tuning Fiat vehicles and manufacturing performance accessories. By 1950, the company had expanded its operations to produce small custom-bodied automobiles under its own name.
The Daina series, introduced in 1950, represented SIATA’s largest offering at the time. These two-passenger coupes and cabriolets were built on a steel box-section frame and utilized the suspension, steering, and drivetrain components from the popular Fiat 1400.
The Gran Sport variant, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1952, featured steel bodywork crafted by Stabilimenti Farina, complemented by an aluminum hood for weight reduction.
Powering the Daina Gran Sport was a 1,395 cc overhead-valve inline four-cylinder engine. This water-cooled powerplant, equipped with dual Weber 32 DRP.5 carburetors, produced a respectable 65 bhp. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox.
The Daina Gran Sport’s chassis employed independent front suspension and a live rear axle, a common configuration for vehicles of its time. Braking duties were handled by finned drum brakes at all four corners, which were adequate for the car’s lightweight construction and performance capabilities.
With a wheelbase of 94 inches, the Daina Gran Sport offered nimble handling characteristics. Its compact dimensions and responsive chassis made it an attractive option for competitive driving, both in Europe and the United States.
The exterior design of the Daina Gran Sport exemplified the graceful lines and proportions that defined Italian sports cars of the 1950s. Its sleek profile, with a long hood and short rear deck, conveyed a sense of speed even at a standstill. Carefully placed chrome accents and distinctive Siata badging were a nice touch.
Inside the cabin, the Daina Gran Sport offered a driver-focused environment. The dashboard featured a full complement of Veglia instruments, providing essential information to the driver. Seating surfaces were typically upholstered in high-quality leather, while the dashboard and door panels were often trimmed in leatherette for durability.
Production of the Daina series was extremely limited, with estimates ranging from 30 to 50 units built in total. This rarity has contributed to the model’s desirability among collectors of vintage Italian sports cars.
The Daina Gran Sport faced competition from other small-volume Italian sports car manufacturers of the era, such as Cisitalia and Ermini. However, its Fiat-derived mechanicals offered a degree of parts availability and serviceability that some of its rivals lacked.
In the years following its production, many Daina Gran Sports were modified with more powerful American V8 engines, a common practice among enthusiasts seeking additional performance. This trend has made original, numbers-matching examples particularly sought after by collectors and historians.
Credit: RM Sotheby’s
