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THE ITALIAN COACHBUILDER SITE

Fiat 1400 B Coupé Frua

1952Coachwork by Frua

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.

08 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Archive

References held in the vehicle dossier. Their inclusion does not establish that every historical claim has been independently verified.

ReferenceSource 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

10 / CONNECTED HISTORY

Timeline

Chronological history1 dated records

THE CONVERSATION

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