We all know about the 402, but what about the 401B?

Looks like, remarkably, a Cessna 340.

Don't seem to hear or locate much about them.

Anyone here know or operate one?

Cessna answer to the navajo. Used extensively by Cape Air and similar operators. Most private operators preferred pressurization.

The Cessna 401/401B is basically an early 414 without pressurization. The 335/340 were both manufactured on the 320 type certificate, I dare say the 401 is derived from the 411 but not sure. I will bet Gerald Alves knows!

According the The Twin Cessna book by Ron Smith both the 401 and 402 were developments of the 411 that used 300 horse ungeared TSIO-520-E's that were located a little further out on the wing and a different tail than the 411. It says the idea was they were intended to be less expensive to buy and operate than the 411.

The 401 was aimed at general aviation and the 402 at commercial/air taxi guys.

I have a small amount of time in a 401, as I recall it was a pretty good airplane.

My first hour of twin time was in a 401 - N401LM. The flight school owner took me up on a maintenance flight to convince me I needed to pursue my multi. That was a fun flight and everything happened fast. With the two of us onboard she got up and went quick! The other thing that my feeble mind recalls was that, parked next to a 414, there was little difference outside of the nacelles. Then again, that was nearly 26 years ago.

Reading the history is interesting; thanks for sharing and bringing back some fond memories!

Flew a 401B air ambulance out of Southern Utah many years ago.

They are/were a nice airplane but DA challenged on single engine, especially at max gross. They are turbo'ed but as I remember only 285 hp.

Doesn't seem like many come up for sale.

402 was a modified 401. The 402 was intended for the third level airline market.
The 402 had a aft CG limit of 34.0% MAC compared to a more modest 401 limit of 31.25% MAC. 402 had a convertible cabin and a reinforced floor for cargo. The 402 also had a optional Cargo door that was not offered on the 401.
Basically the 401 was a passenger/business liner and the 402 was a working cargo/commuter plane. This is the short list.

With those small round Windows I assumed it was pressurized.

No they were not pressurized, but they did look "cool" . . . Not Duke cool, but maybe Cessna cool.