Steve McQueen nicknamed his 208 CS ‘Little Ferrari’.
The 1953 Siata 208 CS Balbo is a really unusual and historically significant car that will be added to the Concours of Elegance's 2024 lineup. This rare jewel, a magnificent example of the type that Steve McQueen dubbed his "little Ferrari," is expected to be one of the centrepieces of this year's festival. Only nine of the original models were constructed, and only seven remain today.
The Fiat 8V eight-cylinder engine of the 1953 Siata 208 CS Balbo, chassis number CS 071, powers an aluminium coupe with a Carrozzeria Balbo body style. This one has an amazing single-family ownership history dating back to 1959, which has been painstakingly recorded from the beginning to the end. According to its Siata body tag, it also keeps its corresponding numbers.
Tony Pompeo, a well-known dealer, swiftly introduced the vehicle to the racing circuit after bringing it into the nation. From 1953 to 1959, it participated in competitions held around the northeastern United States, including the Floyd Bennett Grand Prize Cup and the Keene Mountain Hill Climb. Dr. Julius Eisenstark found the automobile in 1959 after it had finished its racing career in a Queens, New York, used car yard. Dr. Eisenstark bought the automobile because it was love at first sight, and thus began the Eisenstark family's multi-decade romance with this remarkable car.
While under Dr. Eisenstark's care, the Siata underwent a number of modifications that transformed it from a crude race car to a more upscale GT suitable for daily use. The vehicle was in an accident in 2017, but Automotive Restorations Inc. of Stratford, Connecticut, saved it and brought it back to its previous splendour. The car's original hues were restored through a painstaking restoration that also involved rebuilding the car's original Fiat 8V engine and extensively repairing its aluminium body. An award for Best in Class was given to the restoration work at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
Ever since then, the Siata has maintained its reputation as a show-stopper, making appearances at esteemed US events like the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It also took the stage on the well-known programme "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," which featured comic Steve Martin as Jerry Seinfeld's guest. The vehicle's legacy demonstrates the excellent engineering and design, as well as the dedication and enthusiasm of its owners.
One of the seventy incredible and uncommon vehicles on display at the Concours of Elegance in 2024 is the 1953 Siata 208 CS Balbo. With live talks, unique exhibits, and a variety of luxury shopping experiences, this event looks to be a celebration of luxury and automotive history.
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Concours of Elegance 2024 Code: 24IMP
