1953 Siata 208 CS Berlinetta by Balbo (chassis CS 072)

Siata’s 208 CS was built around Fiat’s compact aluminum Otto Vu V-8 — the same two-litre family that powered Fiat’s own limited 8V. Oval-tube chassis, five-speed gearbox, four-wheel independent suspension: a dual-purpose etceterini aimed at the two-litre class, not a boulevard special. Early coupes came from Stabilimenti Farina; when that coachbuilder closed at the end of 1952, construction passed to Carrozzeria Successori Balbo. Balbo kept the low Farina attitude and added its own eggcrate grille and revised proportions.

Public Gooding Christie’s catalogue materials put Balbo’s Berlinetta run at nine cars, of which six are known to survive. That is Path C: coachbuilt short series ≤ 25, and effectively one-of-N with N ≤ 10 for the Balbo body. Chassis CS 072 is believed completed in April 1953. Provenance from new has been documented through Archivio Targhe research using original French registration documents and Automobile Club d’Italia records — a stronger start than most etceterini stories get.

Engine-number diligence (reconciled to Gooding): the lot lists chassis CS 072 and engine CS 065, described as a correct Fiat tipo 104 V-8 whose number corresponds to the Siata data plate. Write and score that as engine CS 065 matching the data plate. Do not invent an engine stamped CS 072. Any prior RM Monterey 2023 (Not Sold) wording that conflicts with this Gooding statement must yield to the current catalogue language until primary plate photos say otherwise.

Ownership runs Du Quenne (new, France) through Milan dealers and Italian collectors, then Capaldi to the United States, Betz, Kaus’s Rosso Bianco, Louwman, Walker, Bruno (Gooding 2021), and the current California collector. RX Autoworks executed the recent concours restoration (metallic anthracite over brown; Borrani wires / whitewalls echoing Pessina’s show-car preference). Post-restoration results are public: 2025 Pebble Beach First in Class plus the Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car Trophy; 2026 Villa d’Este and Hampton Court First in Class / Best Italian Berlinetta.

Score 80 — Rare-enough (Curator 2026-11-05). Path C on Balbo six-of-nine survival. Provenance and documentation are strong; market points are tempered because coachbuilt Siatas do appear at major houses, and the 2023 Not Sold is part of the public record (−1 vs CEO est 81). Estimate $1.5–2.0M, Rétromobile New York, 20–21 November 2026.

Watcher’s checklist

1. Confirm chassis plate CS 072 and engine CS 065 against the Siata data plate in person.
2. Reconcile any older auction catalogue engine wording to Gooding’s current “CS 065 matching data plate” statement before writing or bidding.
3. Separate concours awards (2025–2026) from period competition claims — this car’s published story is road/concours provenance, not a works race log.
4. Note prior Not Sold at RM Monterey 2023 as market context, not a defect.
5. Outbound only to the Gooding lot URL above — never mirror listing photography.
6. Rare Machines is editorial — we do not inspect, authenticate, or broker; confirm everything with the venue and your own diligence.