Miguel Sánchez
1950 was a particularly emblematic year for Italian motorsport. Not surprisingly, after five years of postwar it finally channeled its future thanks to the presentation of two models. The Alfa Romeo 1900 and the FIAT 1400. Apparently distant but, in truth, similar both in their approaches and in their commercial purposes. Regarding the first, both were the first monocoque chassis designs for their respective brands. In addition, its lines already integrated the wheel arches into the overall volume of the body. Quite a loosening of the moorings with respect to the canons prior to the Second World War, also sporting a certain American influence thanks to the use of chrome details.
Likewise, in reference to their commercial projections, both 1400 and 1900 sought to be massive. Especially the second, being the first Alfa Romeo model manufactured using methods governed by mass production. So things, Italian motoring returned to muscle up after the war destruction thanks to these two designs. Perfect for the most thriving sectors of the new middle classes as well as for not a few public administrations. Undoubtedly, an excellent prologue to the massive motorization of the country. Carried out a few years later with the FIAT 500 and 600. Symbols of access to mass consumption as in Spain it was, without going any further, the SEAT 600.
And it is that, at this point, it is interesting to see the great relationship established between the Spanish and Italian automotive industries. In fact, shortly after the start of the fifties, Motor Italia, Moto-Guzzi Hispania, Mototrans, Avello, Motovespa, Moto Scooter and Lambretta Locomotions had already been founded. All of them dedicated to the manufacture of Italian motorcycles under licenses from ISO, Moto-Guzzi, Ducati, MV Agusta, Piaggio, Rondine and Lambretta respectively. A truly prolific process that, in the automotive field, found the full support of the state when SEAT was founded in 1950.
Created by the National Institute of Industry on the ruins of the old Hispano-Suiza, SEAT sought to motorize the population while ENASA and its Pegaso trucks led everything related to industrial vehicles. At this point, the alliance with FIAT as technological partner was the most reasonable. Not surprisingly, it was looking in Italy for the same thing that SEAT was in Spain. With all this, in 1953 the first fruit of that union finally came onto the market. It was the SEAT 1400. Created in the image and likeness of its FIAT counterpart although, in a certain show of autonomy, SEAT collaborated with Pullman Bodyworks in order to launch the convertibles Sport molded by Pedro Serra.
SEAT 1400 AMBULANCE, A MAGNIFICENT RESTORATION
With the SEAT 1400 in dealerships, there was a paradox very similar to the one produced in Italy. And it is that, even being a vehicle destined for mass production, it was unattainable for the social majority. Still constrained at a level of consumption where most of them solved their mobility needs through mopeds, mopeds or touring motorcycles. In fact, Not even in the industrial field had the van been popularized. Unattainable until the arrival of the Citroën AZU manufactured in Vigo. Main responsible for the disappearance of the popular motorcycles already in the sixties.
With all this, until the arrival of the 600 in 1957, SEAT failed to popularize its range in Spain at the time. Something that leads us to ask ourselves a recurring question. Who was the SEAT 1400 sold to? Well, to begin with, the truth is that in Spain the wealthy classes were not yet as widespread as in Italy. In this way, the commercial spectrum was reduced although, evidently, it did not remain non-existent. What's more, due to its reliability and presence, the SEAT 1400 was ideal for use in the state fleet.
Thanks to this, since 1953 this model abounded at the doors of ministries, general directorates and public administrations of all kinds. In addition, based on its generous interior, it was also especially popular in taxi fleets until its gradual replacement by the 1500 already in the sixties. Exactly the same thing that happened in the ambulance sector, where the SEAT 1400 became quite recurrent thanks to the transformations that were made of it on its commercial versions “closed van”. Offered by SEAT itself with a double door at the rear for easy access to the passenger compartment.
However, despite the importance of those ambulances in the daily life of the population, almost all suffered the same fate as other industrial vehicles not valued at the time. That is, the scrapping and its final disappearance. Nevertheless, Fortunately, there are collectors who do know how to appreciate the charm of these vehicles.. Thanks to that, SEAT on the road rescued a dilapidated SEAT 1400B ambulance in León during the summer of 2016. In need of a deep and complete restoration, two years of work were invested in it until it was left in the magnificent state it appears today.
Eight months were invested in the engine alone and, in addition, there were all the details related to its medical use. Not only the interiors such as the stretcher or the blinds, but also the exteriors. Among them, standing out clearly, the mermaid. Fully operational in both light and sound. And the fact is that SEAT in Filming has not left a single detail to chance in this restoration, working with specialized workshops to thus achieve the best result. In fact, it is the only SEAT 1400 ambulance currently preserved. Anyway, who knows if some lost warehouse will surprise us at some point.
Photographs: SEAT Filming
