Siata 1400 Berlina

Vehicle Overview

The Siata 1400 Berlina Limousine by Stabilimenti Farina was a limited-production luxury sedan developed in the early 1950s. It was based on the Fiat 1400 mechanical platform and constructed by the Turin-based coachbuilder Stabilimenti Farina. Although branded and occasionally marketed under the Siata name, the model was a re-bodied Fiat intended for formal use, particularly as a chauffeur-driven vehicle. The chassis and running gear were derived from the Fiat 1400, which was introduced in 1950 as Fiat’s first postwar unibody car. The engine was a front-mounted inline four-cylinder with overhead valves, displacing 1,395 cubic centimetres. Power output in standard form was approximately 44 to 50 horsepower at around 4,400 revolutions per minute. The drivetrain included a four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on the upper gears. Power was delivered to the rear wheels. Suspension comprised independent front wheels with coil springs and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Braking was by hydraulic drums on all four wheels. The coachwork was executed entirely by Stabilimenti Farina, which specialized in aluminium-bodied custom and semi-custom vehicles. The Berlina limousine body featured four doors, a tall greenhouse, and an extended passenger compartment. Seating was configured in three rows, accommodating up to eight passengers. The design emphasized formality over ornamentation, with restrained chrome detailing, smooth flanks, and a high roofline. Construction was traditional, with hand-formed aluminium panels over a wooden substructure. Interiors were upholstered in cloth or leather, with polished wood trim and foldable auxiliary seats. Production figures are unconfirmed. It is believed that only a small number of examples were completed, possibly fewer than five. The model did not enter serial production and was likely commissioned individually. No specific chassis or engine numbers have been published, and ownership records remain largely untraced. One known specimen appeared in the 1956 Italian film Donne sole, though its identity and subsequent disposition remain unknown. The Siata 1400 Berlina Limousine by Stabilimenti Farina illustrates the intersection of standardised postwar mechanicals and bespoke luxury coachwork. It reflects the transitional period in Italian automotive design when artisanal craftsmanship was applied to otherwise utilitarian platforms for formal and representational purposes.