For a country with such a profound love of beauty, design and speed, Italy also has a somewhat untapped admiration vehicles usually found in more industrial environments. The country's post-war period saw some truly impressive off-roaders, including the Fiat Campagnola and Alfa Romeo Matta, the likes of which even made Land Rover’s creators dip their Sunday Times newspaper in curiosity.
Despite these highly capable Italian mud-lovers breaking into the scene and lasting a few decades since the 1940s, we now fast forward to 2009 to present the beefy Iveco Massif Campagnola Opening Edition you see before you from Top Marques Deluxe Car. It took the DNA of Fiat’s Campagnola, reinventing the authentic spirit of the 4x4 with a modern twist, while retaining its simplistic and yet charming looks. This blend of old and new makes the Massif truly stand out, and Giugiaro was keen to retain the characteristics of the original Fiat Campagnola's front end.
Available only with 3 doors and 4 seats, the Iveco has a wheelbase of 2,452mm, making it almost identical in size to the Mercedes W461 G-Wagon SWB and Land Rover Series 2. Under the bonnet sits a 3-litre HPT 4-cylinder 16-valve turbodiesel engine, giving the Massif more than enough torque to handle even the toughest terrain, 400 Nm to be exact.
With only two colours offered, Sage Green and Ivory, both based on historical records of the Fiat that preceeded it, we think the Sage Green is the one to go for. This pastel shade, combined with the plethora of ‘Opening Edition’ nameplates dotted around the vehicle, confirm you’re travelling in something truly unique, with this example being number 54 of just 499 produced.
While the market for early Land Rovers and, more recently, early G-Wagons is skyrocketing, it’s rare to find a vehicle as capable as those two icons that offers even more rarity and charm. While Giorgetto Giugiaro's vast catalogue of designs includes some of the greatest Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, Ferraris and even Classic Driver’s beloved Fiat Panda, the Iveco Massif showcases the his talent in combining rich heritage with a style designed for more modern-day adventures.
