Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show, the ‘1400’ was Fiat’s first all-new postwar model, its first unibody car, and its first passenger car offered with a diesel engine


Thursday 16th March 1950

Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show, the ‘1400’ was Fiat’s first all-new postwar model, its first unibody car, and its first passenger car offered with a diesel engine. It also was the first passenger car produced by Spanish manufacturer SEAT and Yugoslavian manufacturer Zastava.

A 1400 cc model tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1950 had a top speed of 74.4 mph (119.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 35.7 seconds. A fuel consumption of 24.2 miles per imperial gallon (11.7 L/100 km; 20.2 mpg‑US) was recorded. The car was never sold in the UK, but the Italian market price would have equated to approximately £750 including taxes. Having eulogised the performance and “quite exceptional…top gear flexibility”, British journalists went on to praise the “astonishing silence, smoothness and comfort provided by the vehicle”, highlighting various “unique features designed to prevent the transmission of noise and vibration to the passengers”. Great use was made of rubber and of “a sound-proofing compound…liberally coated…[on the car’s]…integral structure”.

The Motor tested a 1901 cc diesel model in 1954 and recorded a top speed of 63.8 mph (102.7 km/h), acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 45.2 seconds and a fuel consumption of 33.9 miles per imperial gallon (8.3 L/100 km; 28.2 mpg‑US). The car was not at the time available on the UK market but a price in Italy of 1,545,000 Lire was quoted which they worked out as equivalent to £909


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