THE VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
Model dossier
- Production period
- 1952
- Body style
- Coupé
- Type
- Limited
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CAR
Coachbuilding, design & conversions
PRICE & SALES RECORD
Vehicle value
- Original price
- Not documented
- Latest recorded sale
- Not documented
01 / THE STORY
History & context
The Fiat 1400 Frua Coupé, revealed at the 1952 Turin Auto Salon, is a masterclass in Italian automotive design and ingenuity. This one-of-a-kind creation, crafted by the renowned Pietro Frua, took the standard Fiat 1400 sedan and elevated it to a level of elegance and sophistication rarely seen in mass-produced cars. Designed as a unique two-door, six-seater coupe, the 1400 Frua Coupé stood as a striking example of what could be achieved through bespoke coachbuilding, showcasing Frua’s signature blend of refinement and practicality. Built on the sturdy Fiat 1400 chassis, the car’s standout feature was its sleek, aluminum body—a rarity at the time. The smooth curves and clean lines were characteristic of Frua’s design philosophy, making the car appear both modern and timeless. While it retained the practicality of a four-door sedan, the design was cleverly modified to incorporate a coupe-like silhouette that enhanced its aesthetic appeal while still offering ample space for passengers. The result was a strikingly elegant yet functional vehicle that stood apart from the crowd of post-war automobiles. Though it’s unclear whether any other examples of the Fiat 1400 Frua Coupé were ever produced, this singular model has cemented its place as a coveted piece of automotive history. The car’s unveiling at the 1952 Turin Motor Show was an event in itself, demonstrating the incredible skill and vision of Pietro Frua. With its perfect balance of luxury, practicality, and innovative design, the Fiat 1400 Frua Coupé remains an enduring symbol of the golden age of coachbuilding, admired for both its rarity and the creative genius behind it.
02 / TECHNICAL IDENTITY
Specifications & construction
Production & construction
- Production type
- Limited
Engine & performance
- Specification notes
- Confidence detail moved from confidence: high_disposition_only | Pietro Frua catalogue raisonné directly lists Fiat 1400 B Coupé under 1952. Canonical year normalized to 1952; the OldCar24 1951 survivor listing is retained as secondary counter-evidence, not canonical chronology.
Design & manufacture
- Coachbuilder / Body Builder · Documented
- Frua
- Designer · Documented
- Pietro Frua
- Manufacturer · Documented
- Fiat
05 / VALUE
Value & price history
Auction & sale history
| Date | Venue | Chassis | Record | Status | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model-level · chassis not verified | Asking price | Candidate · Asking | EUR 51,500 |
Market observations describe documented transactions, estimates or offers. They are not themselves a current valuation of the vehicle.
06 / EVENTS & AWARDS
Events & awards
34° Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile – Torino General · legacy_preserved
- Date
- 1952
- Chassis
- General
Preserved CI 1.0 relation. Evidence field: _yoast_wpseo_primary_events. No award inferred.
07 / THE VEHICLE IN DETAIL
Photo gallery 7 photographs
Show 1 more photographs Show fewer photographs
08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE
Archive
References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.
| Reference | Source type |
|---|---|
| Pietro Frua archive — Fiat creations pietro-frua.de | Designer specialist archive |
| OldCar24 — Fiat 1400 Coupé Frua survivor listing www.oldcar24.com | Market survivor history |













THE CONVERSATION
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