Beautifully restored Fiat 1100-103 Industriale pickup, delivered new in Genoa, Italy, in 1955 and one of only a few vehicles of its kind in The Netherlands. Note the backward-opening doors, commonly used on Italian and French cars in the 1950s and ‘60s. These made stepping in and out of the car easier, but when hit by a passing ve- hicle they could be very dangerous. Hence the nickname ‘suicide doors’.
Introduced in 1954, the Fiat 1100-103 was the first 1100 model with a unibody construction. However, this wasn’t suitable for the com- mercial versions, called ‘Industriale’, so these made use of a separate ‘Mussone’-chassis, which was heavier, longer and wider. Hence the wing extensions at the front. The Industriale had a load capacity of 1,000kg and a top speed of a little over 100 km/h. The low fuel con- sumption, the excellent transmission and the heavy chassis were all fit for the job. Apart from Italy, the Industriale was manufactured in Austria by Steyr and in former Yugoslavia by Zastava.
Engine
1,089cc four-cylinder
Power output
34hp
Load capacity
1,000kg
Special details
One of only a few in The Netherlands