This post, and a later one, deal with custom-bodied Fiat 1400s. As the link mentions, the 1400 and related 1900 were Fiat's first post- World War 2 design, also the first unibody Fiat. Wheelbase was 104.3 inches (2650 mm), giving the stylists semi-adequate length to work with.
Below are examples from six carrozzieri (in alphabetical order): Allemano, Balbo, Bertone, Canta, Castagnia and Ghia.
This was the standard production 1400.
Here is its unit-body structure. The framing on the passenger compartment greenhouse would impede customization. So what did the carrozzieri do?
They almost certainly used the cabriolet body. It seems to have retained the sedan's windshield framing, and lower body structural elements were probably reinforced to provide needed rigidity.
A rather bland design.
The stylist (perhaps Giovanni Michelotti) tried to pack too much into this design. The aft-leaning B window pillar adds a touch of tension and raciness. The two-tone side paint scheme attempts to add more raciness, but mostly adds visual clutter. Fore and aft elements of the fenderline create some additional length. The dished-in grille seems cramped from this camera angle.
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This is interesting because it might have been based on the sedan's body structure. But I can't rule out that it was cabriolet-based with two doors added.
Bertone also made convertibles using this design. The passenger greenhouse is rather tall, making the car seem stubby.
This Bertone design is more sleek. Note that the carrozzieri used their own -- not Fiat's -- grille design.
Another bland design. Heavy-looking too.
Another four-door car. I'm pretty sure it was cabriolet-based because the rear side door hinging is different from that of production sedans.
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Like the sleeker Bertone design, this is another nice example of classical postwar Italian styling.
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The greenhouse is nice. Otherwise, well, not all custom Italian bodies were successful designs.
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