This time we’re featuring a Fiat Campagnola—a rare and rugged Italian off-roader. The seller provided no description, so all observations are based on visual analysis and remain speculative. The vehicle appears to be an early petrol-powered Campagnola, possibly used by RAI as a support vehicle.

Originally introduced in 1951, the Campagnola was Fiat’s first dedicated four-wheel-drive vehicle, designed to serve both military and civilian needs in postwar Italy. Its development was overseen by Dante Giacosa, the same engineer behind many of Fiat’s most important models. The Campagnola featured a body-on-frame construction, independent front suspension, and selectable four-wheel drive, a technical solution that was still relatively advanced for a utility vehicle at the time. It was powered by a 1.9-liter petrol engine derived from the Fiat 1900, capable of producing around 53 to 63 horsepower, paired with a four-speed gearbox and reduction gear for off-road use.

Shortly after its debut, the Campagnola demonstrated its capabilities in a record-setting endurance expedition from Algiers to Cape Town and back, covering over 20,000 kilometers in just over eleven days. This feat helped solidify its reputation as a reliable and durable platform. Over the course of its production, the Campagnola evolved into various forms, including military variants (AR51, AR55, AR59) and civilian models. A diesel version was introduced in 1953, and in 1974 Fiat launched a completely redesigned version known as the Nuova Campagnola, which remained in production until 1987. The original series continued to be used well into the 1970s, especially in institutional roles. The Campagnola was widely adopted by the Italian armed forces, Carabinieri, civil protection services, fire brigades, and public agencies including RAI—the national broadcasting company—which used modified examples as mobile support units and field vehicles. Some were converted by coachbuilders like Savio and Boneschi into wagons, ambulances, or radio service vehicles. Surviving examples, especially those with documented public service use, are now of growing interest to collectors of vintage utility vehicles and Italian motoring heritage. Find it for sale at €36,000 (today $42,000) here in Reggio Emilia, Italy.