1952 Fiat 1400

Fiat introduced the 1400 in 1950 at the Geneva Motor Show, and it would remain in production through 1958. Powered by a 1.4-liter engine, the 1400 holds the distinction of being Fiat's first unibody automobile. A diesel variant with a 1900cc engine was another first for Fiat, with it being known as the 1400 Diesel.

The Fiat 1400 was the company's first all-new postwar model and was the first passenger car produced by Spanish manufacturer SEAT and by Yugoslavian manufacturer Zastava. They used a 104.3-inch wheelbase and during the early 1950s, would serve as a basis for many custom-bodied cars, designed and built by coachbuilders that included PInin Farina, Ghia, Bertone, Vignale, and Touring.

The 1,374cc four-cylinder engine produced 44 horsepower and was paired with a four-speed manual transmission. A top speed of 75 mph was achievable, while fuel economy was in the neighborhood of 20 MPG. A 1.9-liter engine was used for an upmarket model dubbed the Fiat 1900 A. Introduced in 1954, it wore the same body as the 1400 but used the larger engine and a five-speed column-shift manual transmission with a hydraulically operated clutch. The Fiat 1900 was built through 1959.

The front-engine, rear-drive Fiat 1300 (along with its identical sibling - the Fiat 1500) replaced the Fiat 1400. The Fiat 1300 was powered by a 1,295cc OHV inline-4, while the Fiat 1500 used a larger, 1,481cc version.

by Dan Vaughan

Rondine Coupe by Stabilimento Monviso
Chassis number: 101.048757
Engine number: 101.000.014383

This Fiat 1400 wears a Rondine Coupe body created by a Torino-based company named Stabilimento Monviso, which was established in 1944 by Alessandro Casalis and acquired by Ghia in 1955. Monviso remained a small company that specialized in high-quality custom bodies built on Lancia and Fiat chassis.

Monviso produced the Rondine, Italian for 'swallow' in limited numbers from 1950 to 1953. The design was penned by Giovanni Michelotti and featured well-proportioned lines, rear-hinged doors, and two-tone paint schemes.

This particular example was delivered new in 1952 to Professor Pietro Francesco Guerrini and remained in his family's ownership until 1992. At that time, it was acquired by Giorgio Resca of Ferrara. While in the care of American collector Leo Schigiel, the car was given a complete restoration and finished in its current grigio (gray) and amaranto (amaranth) color scheme.

by Dan Vaughan

The Fiat 1400 was the company's first unibody car, and their first passenger car equipped with a diesel engine. It was introduced at the 1950 Geneva Motor Show and came powered by a 1.4-liter engine. The Fiat 1900 was introduced in 1952 and it shared the same body and platform as its 1400 sibling. The 1.4-liter 1400 was Fiat's intermediate model while the 1900 was an upmarket version that had an enlarged 1.9-liter powerplant along with more luxurious trim and equipment. In 1954, the petrol-engined Fiat 1900 A was introduced, offering 70 horsepower. It came with a five-speed column shifted manual transmission was a hydraulically operated clutch, and unusual setup for the era.

by Dan Vaughan