The Rayton-Fissore Magnum was ahead of the time the idea of ​​luxury SUVs, but Fiat did not want it in its range. The model used components from various manufacturers, a \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'puzzle\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\' with notable commercial success as more than 6,000 units were sold. In the United States it was sold under the Laforza brand.

Now that they are experiencing their commercial boom, we tend to believe that SUVs are something new, but they have been on our roads for many decades. Looking back, we find that one of the most unexpected and curious was manufactured by the Italian brand Rayton-Fissore.

Carrozzeria Fissore never reached the prominence of other great body builders despite working with some of the great manufacturers of the time. In the 1980s, Fernanda Fissore, the daughter of one of the founders, and her husband Giulio Malvino, disappeared shortly before they created another company: Rayton-Fissore.

They started making exclusive cars in small series for private clients like a Fiat Ritmo Cabrio or an Alfa 75 Wagon until one day they came up with a brilliant idea. SUVs were always very spartan why not make a luxury SUV? They took an Iveco chassis, shaped it, and in July 1984 they presented the Rayton-Fissore Magnum prototype to Iveco and Fiat.

Rayton-Fissore Magnum with additional protections for offroad use

Fiat: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"No, thank you\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"

Iveco rejected the project because it only thought of building industrial models. Similarly, Fiat declined the idea because it saw no future: it was a very small market niche, where the only similar rival was the Range Rover. The small Italian company continued to rely on the Magnum and decided to build it on its own. At the Turin Motor Show in 1985 came the production version, the first car completely built and marketed under the brand. The adventure began.

Rayton-Fissore was clear that, first and foremost, the Magnum had to be robust and capable. The chassis was that of an Iveco VM 90, a military derivative of the first generation Iveco Daily van. In fact, much of its construction came from the Iveco multipurpose vehicle. The platform - shortened - as well as the all-wheel drive system, the front and rear differentials, the suspension and the brakes also came from Iveco Defense Vehicles.

Its design was imagined by Tom Tjaarda, who already had a lot of experience after going through Ghia, Pininfarina or the Fiat Group. It was a safe bet from Rayton-Fissore because the North American designer is the same one to whom we owe iconic models such as the Lincoln Zephyr, the De Tomaso Pantera, the Ford Fiesta Ghia, the Fiat 124 Spider or the Aston Martin Lagonda Coupé.

The large glass area provided excellent visibility

The SUV\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s design was very modern - for the time - with smooth, rounded shapes. An image that resembled that of the Fiat Uno but larger since the Magnum reached 4.57 meters in length. As is usual in small manufacturers, certain components came from other models whose brand had been authorized to use. For example, the headlights were from the Lancia Beta and the drivers originated from the Citroën BX.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the Italian off-roader had innovative features such as integrated bumpers in the same color as the bodywork, a novelty as up to that point manufacturers used black plastic or metal bumpers. The production was carried out in an artisanal way in Cherasco, an Italian municipality near Turin.

Another advanced idea for the time also reached its construction with the use of a technique patented by Rayton-Fissore called \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Univis\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\": the bodywork was not anchored directly to the chassis but was supported on a tubular frame through 10 rubber supports . This structure made it possible to offer a very rigid set that made this SUV one of the most robust in the world in the event of an impact.

The interior of the Magnum offered all kinds of comforts

But if there was one thing that distinguished it from competing SUVs, it was that it gave up being rustic. Although its appearance was tough, the small Italian manufacturer had no complexes when it came to offering equipment and finishes that could be the envy of the Range Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser, Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan Patrol. The Rayton-Fissore Magnum was ahead of the current concept of SUVs, where an offroad model can also be comfortable and refined.

Walnut wood trim, leather upholstery, tinted windows, alloy wheels, air conditioning, height and depth adjustable steering wheel, HiFi radio or electric windows were some of the features on offer. Some of the elements that the Magnum equipped were optional or did not even exist in its rivals.

The range of engines with which it was marketed included a 2.5 Sofim turbodiesel mechanics with 92 hp, to which was added the successful 2.4 turbodiesel from VM 105 hp motori, the same as the Range Rover used. As for gasoline options, the access model enjoyed a 2.0 Fiat that developed 138 hp.

The top-of-the-range version in the Old Continent was the Magnum VIP and it had a brand new Alfa Romeo 2.5 V6 that delivered 160 hp, a mechanic that at that time animated the Alfa Romeo GTV. Today, V6-powered Magnums are a true rarity as only 120 units with this mechanics were sold in Italy and France.

Heading to the United States

As a result of the good commercial results it was having, in 1988 its landing in North America was prepared. Rayton-Fissore was going for it. The importation of the Magnum was carried out under its own brand, Laforza. The parts were manufactured in Italy and shipped to the United States, where an eight-cylinder engine was coupled and assembled in California.

The Rayton-Fissore Magnum was sold in the United States under the Laforza brand.

The American versions were linked to an automatic transmission

In addition to the mechanical novelties, its design also received a slight update. The touches came to the headlights, pilots, front grille and bumpers, which adapted their external appearance while in the cabin it sported a new instrument panel, Momo steering wheel and redesigned seats.

In 1993, the Magnum was stopped being marketed in Europe because its demand declined significantly, despite a slight restyling in 1989. Rayton-Fissore went through a serious financial crisis for a long time, Laforza went bankrupt in 1990 and after several changes of ownership - In which prototypes with BMW engines were made, among other experiments, it ceased its activity in 2003.

About 1,200 units were marketed in the United States, becoming a vehicle for a wealthy and demanding clientele. Some units with the name Laforza PSV (Personal Security Vehicle) received armor with up to a protection level 4, that is, capable of withstanding fire from weapons such as an AK-47 assault rifle. The Laforza Magnum even made it to Saudi Arabia, where 150 units were exported.

The Italian security forces opted for this model

Without a doubt, the American market was more mature in this type of car. On this side of the pond we had a very different mentality and the main interest was captured by the Italian Administration. For example, some 1,500 units of the Magnum turbodiesel went to the Italian forces of order such as the forest guard or the police forces.

We are pleased to offer:

1991 Rayton Fissore Magnum VIP 2.5 V6 – one of 120 Units!

99.000Kms

Always Lived In Portugal

2 Owners

First owner was an Italian Gentleman that lived in Portugal…by the away we has also Another Magnum diesel at the same time!

This car was tested in the 90´s in some Portuguese Car Magazines.

The car its in Good Condition .

Sold  to Germany!