Ford Siata-Ford 208S Cabriolet Speciale
The unique Siata-Ford 208S was commissioned by Jimmy Mulgrew of Euclid Ford in Euclid, Ohio, as a promotional tool. To assist with the project, Mulgrew enlisted the expertise of racer Dick Irish, class winner at the 1952 12 Hours of Sebring. Originally, the pair planned to base the project on a Ford “Police Special” chassis, but the request for such a chassis was reportedly rejected by Ford Motor Company. Consequently, a 1951 Ford sedan was purchased from Euclid Ford and sent to Siata in mid-1952 via Tony Pompeo’s dealer in New York. The flat V-8 drivetrain, suspension, and instrumentation used in the car are those of that Ford sedan, but the frame was specially designed by Siata. It is unknown whether the entire car was sent to Italy and subsequently disassembled, or whether the car’s key components were removed in New York and then shipped overseas.
The unique Siata-Ford 208S was commissioned by Jimmy Mulgrew of Euclid Ford in Euclid, Ohio, as a promotional vehicle. To assist with the project, Mulgrew enlisted the expertise of racer Dick Irish, class winner at the 1952 12 Hours of Sebring. Originally, the team intended to base the project on a Ford "Police Special" chassis, but the request for such a chassis was reportedly rejected by Ford Motor Company. Consequently, a 1951 Ford sedan was purchased from Euclid Ford and sent to Siata in mid-1952 via Tony Pompeo's New York dealership. The flathead V-8 drivetrain, suspension, and instrumentation used in the car are those of that Ford sedan, but the frame was custom-designed by Siata. It's unknown whether the entire car was shipped to Italy and then disassembled, or whether the car's major components were removed in New York and then shipped abroad. The use of a Siata chassis instead of the Ford seems to suggest the latter. What is known is that the completed aluminum convertible was shipped back to New York in late 1952, very close to the time Stabilimenti Farina ceased operations. It was even observed so closely by Dick Irish that the car may actually have been finished by the legendary coachbuilder Bertone. After displaying the car at Euclid Ford, Mulgrew sold the special convertible in 1955 through Alfred Momo's New York dealership. This second owner is unknown, but the car was then purchased in the mid-1960s by Frank Russo Sr. of Jacksonville, Maryland. It remained with Russo for several years until it was sold to a new, as-yet-unidentified owner in the late 1960s. The car was purchased by Michael Caltrider in October 1974 and changed owners several times afterward, including: Michael Supley in August 1975, Roland Wommack, Bill Lightfoot in 1982, Phil Goutell in 1985, Joseph Alphabet in 1987, and Oliver Kuttner in 1988.
The 208S had fallen into disrepair by the summer of 1988 when it was first restored by Kuttner. It remained largely unused until 2005, when it was purchased by Jerry Bensinger and Daniel Rapley. The car was treated to a complete aluminum body restoration by the German firm Bernhadt Karosseriebau before being shipped to Absolute Engineering in Goleta, California, for the rest of the car's construction. A remarkable product of international collaboration, the Siata-Ford 208S Speciale combines reliable American engineering and modern Italian design into an elegant and exceptionally enjoyable car. With a fresh two-tone red and black color scheme and the original parchment leather interior, this 208S Cabriolet Speciale is eligible for some of the world's best rallies and tours, as well as a unique candidate for the most prestigious international concours. It also includes a history of its construction, ownership, and restoration.