Fiat 900E Camper

[daverapid]

I manage an independent garage/MOT Centre owned by a taxi company for a living. AIso I go halves on the rent of a small workshop where I keep my Skoda restoration projects and my friend keeps his Land Rovers. As well as doing our own cars we repair and restore friends and customers cars there that would be uneconomical to repair in a conventional garage with conventional labour rates. Thought you might be interested to see what has come to us to be serviced and repaired...an extremely rare Fiat 900E Camper!

 

[eddyramrod]

You were right! Thank you!

[daverapid]

Just thought I'd point out that I do have the owners permission to post these pics up!

[pogweasel]

Wow, what a cutie!!!!

I imagine driving one of these is at best masochistic, at worst thoroughly miserable, but I'll wager the overall ownership experience is FUN FUN FUN.

 

(Also, where did that massive building at the end of the yard spring from? )

[wackywacerwill]

Nice, hope part of the service is frizbying them hateful hubcaps across the yard.

 

On another note, what's that MK3 doing up there and does it have a pair of decent wings it would like to donate

[lovejoy]

- and here it is in full erection..... sorry, "fully erected"...

Daverapid - can I ask what "repairs" it needs? Trunnions, or brake master cylinder ???

[Angrydicky]

I've always fancied one of these! My parents had a T-reg Amigo in slime green many years back

[nigel bickle]

Is it yours, Chris? looks a goody? Where's the rust? Oil can in the back denote a problem?

[skattrd]

That looks ace, its in far better condition than the few others I've seen.

[scooters]

ace!

 

Uber rare being a RHD - I didn't know that they made them for the UK market - thought any here were imports.

 

I was going to get one of these instead of the Sherpa - fortunately Torsten talked me out of it as you have to be an Oompah Loopah to actually use them.

 

I like the extending roof space a proper 4 berth for small folk -

 

mind you - you'd freeze your ballacks off in the roof hammocks!!

[Angrydicky]

They certainly did make it to the UK market, and I think they sold quite well! Trouble is the dreaded rust caught hold after not very long and there are very few survivors now.

 

XVB 707T where are you now? (My parent's one, sold to someone who said he was going to restore it in about 1990).

 

Edit: A DVLA check shows "Vehicle details could not be found". A year ago when I last checked it was still active, Date of liability 1990. Looks like it's been weighed in

[lovejoy]

Is it yours, Chris? looks a goody? Where's the rust? Oil can in the back denote a problem?

No Nigel, this one is mine - previous owner changed over the roof from an earlier Amigo, as he could not get it up, being 80 !

 

these "Pandora's Box" versions were converted by CI (Caravans International) but various other conversions were done by other companies Motorhomes International being one of them, known as a "Caravelle",based on the 900e van, with windows all the way down the side (no 'orrible plastic panels at rear) and conventional side-hinged roofs,each one seemed to be a one-off, as very few seem to match up

There was even an amazing "Sleeping Giant" version, where the roof overhung the cab front, a few of which still survive.

Earlier versions, "Amigo" based on the 900T van, were much the same, but with 12" wheels, and drums all round, as I believe Vin's is.....

[dollywobbler]

Excellent. Thanks Dave. Wish I hadn't moved so far away from where you are! 2CV could do with some low-cost resto work... (boot floor really should be attached all the way around...)

[VWPowered]

i almost pulled one of these out of field fer free, still sat there far as i know, rotten as a rotten pear, nice to see a clean loved version

[lovejoy]

i almost pulled one of these out of field fer free, still sat there far as i know, rotten as a rotten pear, nice to see a clean loved version

Is that somewhere in France, near you VWP ? I might come on over for a parts raid !! ( I should be re-named as "Pandora Hunter"..... )

they actually have quite a following on the continent, France/Germany in particular, as the van versions sold well as a NINE seater ! known as a "Panorama". Lovely curved glass windows in the rear quarter panels.

see

http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... %3D1I7DVXA

[scooters]

Is it yours, Chris? looks a goody? Where's the rust? Oil can in the back denote a problem?

No Nigel, this one is mine - previous owner changed over the roof from an earlier Amigo, as he could not get it up, being 80 !

 

these "Pandora's Box" versions were converted by CI (Caravans International) but various other conversions were done by other companies Motorhomes International being one of them, known as a "Caravelle",based on the 900e van, with windows all the way down the side (no 'orrible plastic panels at rear) and conventional side-hinged roofs,each one seemed to be a one-off, as very few seem to match up

There was even an amazing "Sleeping Giant" version, where the roof overhung the cab front, a few of which still survive.

Earlier versions, "Amigo" based on the 900T van, were much the same, but with 12" wheels, and drums all round, as I believe Vin's is.....

 

 

Nice one Chris - is that the Martello tower at Lulworth cove in Dorset at the back?

 

nice part of the world - They've got a wee campsite at Worth Matravers now - staggering distance from the Square and Compass!

 

not been down there for a few years

[lovejoy]

That was taken at Kimmeridge Ledges, not too far from Lulworth, where the only onshore nodding donkeys oilfield in Europe is situated.

That tower has since been moved further inland ! stone by stone, to save it from disappearing down the cliff, it's the "Clavell Tower" on the Encombe Estate. Bloody lovely bit of coastline in both directions.

[Vin]

Thanks for posting Daverapid

 

Shitefact time - The 900E lent it's rear lights to the Delta S4

 

they actually have quite a following on the continent, France/Germany in particular, as the van versions sold well as a NINE seater ! known as a "Panorama".

 

This Mini-bus version appeared on the Bay in August 2009. Do you know of it Lovejoy or what happened to it

 

[lovejoy]

not one I know of, Vin. The panel vans, or windowed vans, are pretty rare now, Malcolm Fancy used to have one round the back

(Fancy Engineering), I am sure Franco at "Ricambio" may know of a few, I doubt if this one is scrapped, it looks reasonable, the DVLA have this to say :-

Date of Liability 01 02 1982

Date of First Registration 27 07 1978

Year of Manufacture 1978

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 903CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker------------------- Export (looks like it left the country)

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour YELLOW

Vehicle Type Approval

 

Oh, and the 900e rear lights CAME FROM the Fiat 238

[lovejoy]

here's an earlier pic of the one at Dave Rapid's - before the man with the yellow spray gun let loose on it !

slightly nicer frisbees fitted too

[trigger]

I saw this one in the Beaulieu car park a couple of years ago.

 

1983 Fiat 900e Camper by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

 

And here's a UK advert for them.

 

Fiat Amigo 900T Camper Van Advert 1981 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[scooters]

Is it yours, Chris? looks a goody? Where's the rust? Oil can in the back denote a problem?

No Nigel, this one is mine - previous owner changed over the roof from an earlier Amigo, as he could not get it up, being 80 !

 

these "Pandora's Box" versions were converted by CI (Caravans International) but various other conversions were done by other companies Motorhomes International being one of them, known as a "Caravelle",based on the 900e van, with windows all the way down the side (no 'orrible plastic panels at rear) and conventional side-hinged roofs,each one seemed to be a one-off, as very few seem to match up

There was even an amazing "Sleeping Giant" version, where the roof overhung the cab front, a few of which still survive.

Earlier versions, "Amigo" based on the 900T van, were much the same, but with 12" wheels, and drums all round, as I believe Vin's

 

 

is.....

 

Doh of course its kimmeridge....the tower is indeed several dozen yards back now which is a shame for whilst it was on the cliff edge it was GR8 4 smoking illegal roll UPS whilst sheltered from the path...there was a nice wee ledge between the tower and the cliff edge

[Gompo]

I love these vans, BIG RTSEPCTE to the owner.

 

where the only onshore nodding donkeys oilfield in Europe is situated.

 

There's some nodding donkeys near me (in Gainsborough), I presume the operable word in what you said being 'oilfield', what's the difference though? Do they use nodding donkeys for all sorts of things? Apologies for the o/t but they always remind me of Beverly Hills Cop, which is ace.

[lovejoy]

Gompo - I think these are the sort of "nodding donkeys" that you will see on the beaches up your way ...

 

(nodding donkey acknowledges Arawak Hustler ... )

[Gompo]

This is the one near me, possibly taken by a member of AS (not I)

 

 

[tysonian]

This is my partners camper, it is an absolute giggle! I'm so proud!!!