The Fiat 414 was a bus designed by Fiat Veicoli Industriali and marketed from the very early 1960s by Cansa for the Rome operator ATAC, and also by Scall and Caproni Vizzola. It was used mainly in urban transport. Smaller than the usual city bus, it belongs to what would now be called the midibus class, intended for routes with difficult traffic, such as historic centres, or for lines with fewer passengers.
Fiat 414 at a glance
| Production | from the early 1960s |
|---|---|
| Class | midibus |
| Builders | Cansa, Scall, Caproni Vizzola |
| Main operator | ATAC, Rome |
| Engine | 4,678 cc |
| Engine position | central, under the floor |
| Capacity | almost 70 passengers |
| Use | urban routes, historic centres |
| ATAC fleet | 20 examples |
Based on one source (Italian Wikipedia).
History of the Fiat 414
Concept
The 414 was conceived for routes where a full-size city bus was awkward. Its dimensions were smaller than usual, placing it in the category that later became known as the midibus, and it was intended for streets with complicated traffic such as historic centres, or for lines carrying fewer passengers.
Mechanical layout
The engine displaced 4,678 cc and was mounted centrally, beneath the floor, in an isolated compartment. This improved sound insulation and increased the space available for passengers. In the standard version capacity was almost 70 seats. Several companies carried out the bodywork, in particular Cansa, but also Scall and Caproni Vizzola.
Service
The 414 remained in service with many Italian public transport operators; twenty examples, for instance, were on the books of ATAC in Rome.
Design and features
- Midibus size: shorter than a standard city bus, for narrow streets and historic centres.
- Underfloor engine: a 4,678 cc unit mounted centrally in an isolated compartment.
- Quieter interior: the isolated engine bay was chosen for sound insulation.
- High capacity: almost 70 passengers in the standard version.
- Several builders: Cansa, Scall and Caproni Vizzola all bodied the type.
Fiat 414 versions
- Cansa-bodied 414: the version supplied to ATAC in Rome.
- Scall and Caproni Vizzola bodies: alternative bodywork for other operators.
The larger stablemate was the Fiat 314, and the earlier city bus of the range was the Fiat 306. More commercial vehicles are in the Fiat collection.
Sources
- Fiat 414, Italian Wikipedia: purpose, engine layout, capacity, builders and ATAC fleet
