26 superbly odd classic cars this week in Italy

The weird and the wonderful

The fabulous Auto e Moto d’Epoca, on 20-23 October 2022, was as brilliant as ever.

It’s the event’s final time in Padua, because after many years in the quaint northern town just half an hour by train from Venice, it moves to Bologna for 2023. But it was a super send-off.

Not only did we see the usual glitterati you’d expect from one of the biggest classic car shows in Europe, from Ferraris to Jaguar E-types and Mercedes-Benz Pagodas to Lamborghinis, but it provides a fascinating insight into the varied world of the carrozzerie that provided all sorts of bodies for all sorts of cars – albeit, mainly Fiats. 

However, there’s more to the oddness than reshaped Fiats. Here, we’ve pulled together 26 of our favourite classic oddities from what was another excellent show.

1. Alfa Romeo AR51 ‘Matta’

The Alfisti may not have taken the Stelvio, let alone the new Tonale, to heart quite yet, but here’s proof that Alfa Romeo has form for SUVs. Well, four-wheel-drive vehicles, at least.

This is one of 457 Mattas built, and dates from 1952. It was originally used by the state police, though apparently this is eligible for the Mille Miglia – according to the vendor, anyway.
 

2. Callaway Camaro C8

We weren’t expecting to turn the corner and see this slice of American muscle in northern Italy.

Under the much-louvred bonnet lies a 400bhp supercharged 6.2-litre V8, its power delivered to the road via a six-speed manual transmission.

It’s believed that just 55 examples were ever made, worldwide. Very few made it across the Atlantic and this is thought to be the only one in Italy. 

3. Rayton-Fissore Magnum

The Rayton-Fissore Magnum was originally a military vehicle, but its Tom Tjaarda design soon proved popular with domestic users.

Inspired by the success of the more luxurious side of the Range Rover story, it used a variety of four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines.

At the tail end of the 1980s, it was finished off by Pininfarina before being shipped to the USA as the LaForza, with a range of Ford or GM V8s. In Europe, diesels were far more common, such as this 2.4-litre example, which was first used by state police before finding work with the forestry service.

4. Peugeot 504 Pick-up

One of the most fascinating parts of the show is always the private sales section, which spills out from the many halls and into the various courtyards.

This year the cars had a tent to shelter from the elements, though we feel this Peugeot 504 would be hardy enough to shrug off a mere spot of rain. After all, it’s taken on the Dakar Classic in Saudi Arabia.

5. Fiat Panda Ambulance

If you’re a skier, and you have an unfortunate and sudden reintroduction to the effects of gravity, which would you be most piste off to see – a modern SUV or a tiny Panda ambulance? Pardon the pun…

Forget the SUV, pick the Panda! This little mountain goat blends light weight and four-wheel-drive to scramble up snow-ridden Alps far more adeptly than you might imagine.

However, if you’re taller than about 6ft, I wouldn’t expect to lie down…

6. Maserati Barchetta… well, an attempt…

Looking like a papier-mâché attempt at a Maserati Barchetta, this strange-looking contraption drew a lot of attention at the 2022 Auto e Moto d’Epoca.

Clearly an unfinished project, it did have a link to its inspiration – well, a tenuous one. Underneath the somewhat unkempt bodywork is a Maserati Biturbo chassis.

7. Intermeccanica Murena

It takes quite a car to upstage an enormous Maserati Quattroporte III, but if any car can, the Intermeccanica Murena can.

Just 10 Murenas were built, at a cost double that of a 911, and used a Ford Thunderbird-derived 7.0-litre V8.

However, it’s believed this isn’t an original car – which makes this all the more notable for someone taking the time to build a replica. Still, whether it’s original or not, this is pretty much guaranteed top billing at the dog-walking park.

8. Fiat 126 Cabrio Omologata

The Fiat 126 is fondly remembered in Eastern Europe as the little car that mobilised an entire generation.

Unlike earlier small Fiats, they weren’t quite as popular as beach cars and convertibles – yet some were made, including this creation by Bosmal.

This is one of the earlier cars, recognisable via its smaller doors and lack of a rollover bar.

9. Alfasud Giardinetta

The Alfasud story is an amazing tale of what might have been, considering the innovative nature of the base materials.

It may be best remembered for helping to make front-wheel-drive fun, but than ‘fun’ could be fun-ctional (see what we did there?) with the Giardinetta model.

Essentially a two-door estate car, it was a pet project of both engineer Hruska and designer Giugiaro (though it was eventually designed by Aldo Mantovani). It featured extra bracing for heavier loads, but the Italian market wasn’t ready for the car, seeing such station wagons as work vehicles at the time.

This, plus a high list price, meant that just fewer than 6000 were ever made.

10. Brutus

This enormous – and enormously loud – machine was built in 1917/1918, using the axles, gearbox, differential and clutch from an American LaFrance.

The engine, however, is a BMW V12 measuring 47 litres that originally called aeroplanes such as the Heinkel HE-111, Focke-Wulf A29 and Dornier Whale home. Oh, and just the rear wheels are braked…

11. Ferves Ranger

This titchy off-road beach vehicle combines the engine and steering box of Fiat’s 500F with the 600D’s brakes and suspension, while the front axle shafts were donated by the Autobianchi Primula.

Built by Ferves of Turin between 1966 and 1971, just 600 found homes and it’s believed just 50 were ever made. This is the two-wheel-drive 4x2 version – a larger 4x4 version was also made.

12. Fiat 850 T Mirafiori Bus

If you need a tour bus for visitors to take a look around the Mirafiori factory, then why not get a carrozzeria to build one for you?

For Fiat, it could not be just any carrozzeria – how about Bertone, the team behind many a rakish supercar?

This is one of four built, and features a panoramic roof and air conditioning – not bad for 1974.

13. Lancia Y10 4x4

We’ve already touched on the appeal on the Fiat Panda 4x4, but what if you wanted a little bit more luxury?

The Autobianchi-Lancia Y10 broke the mould in offering big-car luxury in a small-car footprint, but it didn’t prove too popular in the UK. It was more successful in Europe, though, and for those wanting a more plush way to scale mountains, then the Y10 4x4 provided that option.

Notably, fitting fuel injection in 1989 cut the 0-60mph time by 4 secs – to a still-hardly-hair-raising 15 secs. Still, it could do 90mph all out…

14. Zagato Zele

Zagato might be best known for its exotic productions for Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin and Lancia, among many others, but in the 1970s it turned its hand to a novel city car.

The chassis and suspension were derived from the Fiat 124 and 500, while propulsion came from a Marelli direct-drive electric motor.

Power outputs between 1000 Watts and 2000 Watts were available, and just 500 of these glassfibre-bodied cars were built between 1974 and 1976.

15. Ferrario 500 Lucertola

What started out as a fun project for Giuseppe and Carlo Ferrario – a blacksmith and petrol station owner respectively – turned into something with commercial legs with the design nous of Giuseppe Mauro.

This little off-roader proved to be useful on Alpine mule tracks, and used a Fiat 500 engine and a 600 gearbox. The body was made either Introzzi or Alta Brianza, and between 24 and 29 were built to order between 1969 and 1974.

16. Fiat 500 Spider Elegance by Savio

Mario Boano’s name may be more familiar for his work for Ferrari and Fiat’s styling departments, but this cute little machine was his last design before heading to the latter.

It was built by Carrozzeria Savio and displayed at the 1965 Turin motor show, but full-time production didn’t go ahead because of Savio’s commitment to the Jungla Mini Moke-style machine based on the Fiat 600 and 850. It’s believed just four were ever made.

17. Fiat 600 Maggiolina

Carlo Francis Lombardi was quite a chap. Not only was he a famous pilot, but he was an accomplished car crafter, building the Lombardi Grand Prix.

He produced several 600-based specials, all named after insects, and the Maggiolina features dune-buggy-like bodywork, a Surrey top and wicker seats. 

18. Fiat 500 Decathlon

Another Fiat 500-based creation, this time by Carrozzeria Sibona and Basano.

Though known for its work with Abarth, the coachbuilder also fancied a piece of the beach-car market and in 1963 produced this, the Decathlon.

Based on a Fiat 500 with a glassfibre body, it’s believed this could be the only example made.

19. Lancia Superjolly

The rise of the beach car spawned several interesting diversions, including this, a topless minibus built by Ruggeri.

One of only four or five examples made, this particular Superjolly was used for the Monaco Grand Prix with winners Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart (1965 and 1966 respectively).

It also served Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, and it’s believed Pope Paul VI and John Paul II also made use of this vehicle. 

20. Siata Amica ST

The Amica was the first car produced by Giorgio Ambrosini’s Siata concern, having started out building tuning parts for Fiats.

Unsurprisingly, a Fiat 500cc engine provides the motive power in a tubular-frame construction.

Just 50 were produced in either two-seater coupé or convertible form. An optional 750cc engine was available, upping the power from 22hp to 25hp.

21. Joker 750

Here is yet another Fiat 600D-based machine, this time by Erio Bruseghini’s eponymous carrozzeria.

A mere 20 examples of this off-road vehicle were produced between 1976 and ’77. 

22. Fiat 600 Rendez Vous

It’s understood that no more than 200 of these Fiat 600-based machines were created by Vignale between 1955 and 1959 – squint and you can see hints of the Vignale-bodied Fiat 8Vs, and Lancia B20 and B52.

Just 20 are believed to still exist, each one boasting an Abarth-tuned 60hp engine and a luxurious interior.

23. Renault Twingo Benetton

To mark the Benetton Formula One team’s tie-up with Renault, the Twingo Benetton was born.

Five bespoke colours were available, while the interior featured a multicoloured check design, plus blue seatbelts and carpet.

Automatic ignition, a sunroof, airbags (driver and passenger seats), power steering, an automatic transmission, air conditioning and ABS were all optional. This one was fresh from restoration.

24. Fiat-Lancia Barchetta

This car started life as a 1950s Fiat Topolino 500C, before it was sent to Carozzeria Zabora of Pavia, a city south of Milan in Italy.

The body was hand-crafted in aluminium, and at some point in its life its engine was upgraded to a Lancia Ardea unit. 

25. BMW-Isetta Jagdwagen

In 1955, Kurt Donath, then CEO of BMW, wanted a hunting car, and got his engineers to build one based on an Isetta 300 chassis and drivetrain, but with custom bodywork.

Several years afterwards, a Pennsylvania-based company called Chadwick – no relation to the author, sadly – converted Isettas into golf carts, with a similar look to the Jagdwagen.
 

26. Zagato Milanina

If this looks a bit like the Zagato Zele mentioned earlier, then here’s the reason – this was the car that provided much of the inspiration for the later Zele.

This all-electric machine was made for the 1972 Milan International Trade Fair, and is one of just 25 built to transport people around the event.

The lessons learned during the Milanina project would help to develop the Zele.

The next edition of Auto e Moto d’Epoca, now in Bologna, will take place on 26-29 October 2023.