Fiat 1400 Brasil Cabriolet

The Fiat 1400 Brasil Cabriolet by Stabilimenti Farina was a limited-production convertible developed between approximately 1950 and 1952. It was constructed by Stabilimenti Farina of Turin, based on the mechanical underpinnings of the Fiat 1400 sedan. The model was conceived as a luxury-oriented, export-market variant and was presented with minimal fanfare. Its nomenclature references a potential export destination, though production remained exclusively Italian. The underlying chassis was derived from the Fiat 1400, introduced in 1950. This unibody platform was Fiat’s first postwar design of its type and featured a front-mounted inline four-cylinder engine. Displacement was 1,395 cubic centimetres, with power output ranging between 44 and 50 horsepower depending on carburation and state of tune. The powertrain comprised a four-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive layout. Suspension consisted of an independent front arrangement with coil springs and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Braking was by hydraulic drums at all four corners. The coachwork was executed in hand-formed aluminium over a wooden framework, a standard method employed by Stabilimenti Farina during the period. The body featured a two-door cabriolet configuration, with a full-width curved windshield, minimal brightwork, and understated proportions. The design reflected the prevailing restrained formalism characteristic of Farina’s postwar output. Seating accommodated four occupants. Production figures are not recorded in factory documentation. Surviving photographs and secondary sources suggest a very limited run, possibly fewer than five specimens. One example was exhibited at the 1952 Turin Motor Show. No further promotional materials or catalog entries are known. The absence of homologation or chassis numbering details precludes identification of specific examples. No comprehensive ownership records have been preserved. The Fiat 1400 Brasil Cabriolet marks one of the final bespoke projects undertaken by Stabilimenti Farina before the firm ceased operations in 1953. It stands as a representative case of the transition from artisanal coachbuilding to industrial body production in postwar Italy. Its rarity and subtle design place it within the narrower context of early 1950s Italian automotive experimentation.