FIAT 1950

Some interesting photos. What make of truck? Although from a Turin company right hand drive. The tail gate lifter (actually looks like a swing out double track ramp) seems to be a good idea pre-hydraulic ramps.

The cars are FIAT Topolino (Little Mouse). 4 cylinder conventional 500cc. Replaced in 1957 by the iconic two cylinder air cooled Bambino FIAT 500.

Lang

Found a bit on the truck. It is a FIAT 600 series which had its origins during the war. FIAT continued with the style in various sizes as their main heavy truck well into the 50's. With updated styling it went much longer.

Here is a brochure and photo of an updated model trying to beat unworkable load regulations with very weird axle combinations and positioning.

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Freshly pirated from Just a Car Guy @

justacarguy.blogspot.com/

cya

Lang, a lot of Italian trucks in the early days were right-hand drive. The reason for this was that their roads over the mountain passes were very narrow so they thought it was better to have the driver on the side near the edge of the road so he could keep as close as possible to the edge without going over.

Vic

Vic

Found the real answer:

What finally convinced me? The bit in your link saying that Italian truck drivers staying loyal to the old right hand drive regime "in particular when involved in earth moving and construction work, and, as the tale tells, because a speeding RHD lorry can easily cause a strong gust of wind lifting ladies' skirts up "
There is something so Italian about that, it can't be anything but true.

here is the history:
Until 1927 the countryside was RHT while cities were LHT.[86] Rome changed to RHT in 1924 and Milan in 1926. Alfa Romeo and Lancia did produce LHD cars until as late as 1950 and 1953 respectively only to special order, as many drivers favoured the RHD layout even in RHT as this offered the driver a clearer view of the edge of the road in mountainous regions at a time when many such roads lacked barriers or walls.[87]
The metro systems in Brescia, Genoa, Milan, and Turin use RHT, as well as all tram systems.

NMP's Fiats in Australia. Last 3 photos from Fred Sutherland.

This theory of right or left hand drive being an advantage in mountainous country amuses me. Surely it depends on which side of the mountain you are at the time and whether you are coming or going. Steve.

WeeAllis

Zaclee

eye do agree

cya

I don't think the mountain roads are relevant, it is the fact the Italian roads were (and in many cases still are) very narrow. Every time you met an oncoming car you had to get as far over to the edge as possible. Having the wheel on the gutter side made it much easier for the driver to constantly use the last inch of the road to avoid a collision on the outside or cleaning up a parked car on the inside.

. Driving a truck meant very seldom would you be overtaking and most times it would be a car and you could see over the top ahead no matter which side you sat on. On the rare occasion you had to overtake blind behind another truck you had to rely on the other bloke for a wave or trust your off-sider to give the all-clear.

In the day it was a great idea but nowadays with better wider roads probably not so good.

Lang