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 Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023