Ferves Ranger

[blob]

Ok so it's a Fiat but I like these: http://cgi.ebay.fr/FIAT-500-FERVES-RANGER-TRES-TRES-RARE_W0QQitemZ180294059547QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item180294059547&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C240%3A1308&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[motornoter]

I'd love to know how they achieved the four-wheel drive - all the articles I can find on the Ranger say the first ones were rear-wheel drive (Fiat 500 engine and some Fiat 600 drive parts) but later ones were 4x4 - how did they do that??
Incidentally, the date on this one is wrong - they were first shown at Turin in 1965 or 66 (accounts vary) and production didn't start immediately. Some 600 were built, production ending c1970?
Malcolm

[Chris Thomas]

Dear Malcolm

The way that they do it on most vehicles is either straight off the the end of the output shaft at the back of the gear box or a bevel gear  off the differntial crown wheel, whichever is at the furthest point. With the Fiat engine being at the rear either would be easy to do and run a drive shaft forward to another differential on the front axle.

There were about four or five Italian compamies that offered 4x4 Fiat 500, 600 or 126 derivatives, so it could not be too difficult. They were mostly used up in the mountains by small farmers, who could not afford Land Rovers or Jeeps.

Chris Thomas