Siata 300 BC Registry - ST 403 BC Car detail

Overview

Chassis ST*403*BC was the third 300BC produced. The original owner, Henry Wessells Ill, purchased the car for $3642 on June, 1st 1952 from Otto linton of Speed Craft Enterprises. ST*403*BC has the distinction of being the first car in which young Henry Wessells Ill competed. Henry later became a founding member of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America and helped create Alfa Romeo Owner's Club in the United States. ln 1952 Henry competed with the SIATA at Giants' Despair, Convair, Thompson, and Watkins Glen. lt turned out the 1952 Queen Catharine Cup at Watkins Glen where Henry finished 2nd in his class would be the last completed race on the streets of Watkins Glen.

Red Livery
Crosley-Powered

Year Model 1952
Bertone Bodywork

Gallery

ST*403*BC

History

The car was always driven to the races and never transported via a trailer. ln fact, Henry's good friend, James Carson, drove the car in early March of 1953 from Ardmore, PA to Sebring, FL only to have the car miss the races due to a poor bearing that was discovered upon arrival. Instead Henry raced with Tom Scatchard in his 300BC, ST*402*BC to finish Sebring 3rd in their class. Scatchard's and Wessells' SIATAs were "sister" cars both purchased on the same day from Otto Linton and often raced together. Before being sold to its second owner, Herbert Whiting, ST*403*BC went on to be raced by James Carson in the 1953 Queen Catharine Cup at Watkins Glen new track where Jim finished 2nd in his class.

Ownership History

Owner	Name and location	Timeline and details
	Henry Wessels III	1952 - 1954
	Herbert Whiting of Cleveland, OH	1954 - 1959
	Kaye M. Hier of Stow, OH	1959 - 1961. Mr. Hier frequently raced the car at Put-ln-Bay, Watkins Glen and Cumberland until 1961.
	J.D. lgleheart of NY	1962 - 2010. The car was raced in many VSCCA events during the 60s, 70s and 80s. With the exception of being shown at the 2008 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance, the car was unused for the last 20 years
	Mark Bean and Jim Utaski	2010 - 2015. The car was restored to original specs
	Scott Cielewich	2015 to today

Racing

Race	Driver	Racing number	Result
Duryea Hill Climb Reading, June 15th 1952	Henry Wessels III	#170	4th in Class
Giant's Despair Hill Climb July 7th 1952	Henry Wessels III	#15	3rd in Class
Convair Trophy Races 1952	Henry Wessels III	n.a.	n.a.
European Road Races at Thompson August 17th 1952	Henry Wessels III	n.a.	6th overall
Queen Catharine Cup at Watkins Glen September 19th 1952	Henry Wessels III	#69	2nd in Class
Watkins Glen 1953	Jim Carson	#81	2nd in class
Watkins Glen September 22nd 1961	Kaye M. Hier	#220	18th Overall

Auctions

Auction	Date	Price
Bonhams Monterey, Quail Lodge Auction Lot N°. 53	August 14, 2015	€ 280,639 sold
The Finest Automobile Auctions, Hershey Lot N°. 132	June 11, 2016	€ 291,931 sold