Siata (Societa Italiana Applicazioni Transformazioni Automobilistici)was founded in 1926 and as the company name indicates, their specialty was modifying stock cars. However at the same time, the company had a connection with the R&D department of FIAT and were in charge of the development of some FIAT cars. Starting with this pre-war 508S Barilla to the post war 8V (means V8 engine), SIATA's own special versions always appeared. Many of the newly developed pans and equipment used for those SIATA Specials were part of the experimental activities of FIAT and many were later used on FIAT cars. The "specials" were driven by FIAT Works team drivers at the track and the test results collected and used to improve FIAT cars. As AMG is to Mercedes-Benz today, Siata was to FIAT back then.