Left-hand drive
1976 SEAT-ORSA 850 Spring Roadster
Chassis no. ER00098

A revival of the defunct SIATA Spring, the rare car offered here was built by Sardinia-based ORSA (Officine Realizzazione Sarde Automobili). Founded in 1926 in Turin, Italy by Giorgio Ambrosini, SIATA (Societa Italiana Auto Trasformazioni Accessori) had begun life as a tuning firm specialising in the modification of FIATs. When the company, now renamed SIATA Auto Spa, eventually introduced its first production car in 1949, FIAT components, in this case sourced from the Topolino, were the logical choice for the new Amica cabriolet. During the 1950s and on into the '60s a variety of US engines including Crosley, Ford and Chrysler V8s was adopted in addition to FIAT's home-grown motors. The Milanese firm's next effort, based on the FIAT 1400, was the Rallye, a traditionally styled roadster bearing more than a passing resemblance to the MG TD. Not all SIATA's designs were so obviously plagiarised, the series of FIAT 8V 2-litre V8-powered coupés of the 1950s, equipped with a variety of stylish Italian coachwork from the likes of Stabilimenti Farina, Vignale and Bertone and arguably the firm's finest creations, being particularly striking. SIATAs of the 1960s continued to be FIAT based, the TS 1500 Coupé being the most noteworthy, and then in 1968 the firm returned to the MG theme with its swansong model, the Spring. A two-seat sports roadster constructed on the rear-engined FIAT 850S floor pan, the Spring lasted until 1970, with a brief revival by ORSA in 1973 using SEAT 850S components sourced from FIAT's Spanish offshoot. ORSA's version lasted until 1976. This unusual and rarely seen Italian sports car is described as substantially original and in generally good condition, currently displaying a total of only 57,000 kilometres (approximately 35,000 miles) on the odometer. Offered with Italian registration papers, this charming little soft-top is finished in white with black interior and comes with full weather equipment including side screens.