c1955 Fiat 1900A 'Granluce' 2Dr Saloon

Description

Sharing the same platform and body, the Fiat 1400 and 1900 are a range of sedans, coupes and cabriolets produced in Italy between 1950 and 1959. The 1900A Granluce (“Full Light”) was the premium model in the range, sporting the larger 1901cc in-line four- cylinder engine and column-shift five-speed manual gearbox, fitted to a stylish two-door hardtop body. Fiat’s first unibody car and its first all-new post-war model, the 1400/1900 range was also its first to offer a diesel engine. The Fiat 1900A Granluce was sold in Australia, but few came here, partly because its lavish equipment levels (of the time) made it very expensive. The 1900A came standard with a heater, push button wireless (radio) with wind-down aerial (activated by a wheel in the driver’s footwell), windscreen washers, an anti-theft system which included transmission lock and locking ignition, and even a rudimental ‘trip computer’ that showed average speed on trips. Suspension was independent coils all ‘round with a rear anti-roll bar, steering was worm and roller, and aluminium drum brakes featured all round. The larger 1.9 litre engine had a power output of 51kW at 4400 rpm while the transmission used a fluid flywheel system. Other neat features include a fuel filler accessed through a trap door in the boot floor, a hand brake handle under the dashboard (new for that time) and armrests on the doors. Around 19,000 Fiat 1900s were built.