Replica: Ferrari transporter by Bartoletti

From model to original

In 1957, Ferrari commissioned three identical special vehicles from renowned Italian coachbuilder Bartoletti. Painted in Ferrari red, these spectacular transporters could each carry three racing cars to race tracks across Europe. In the decades that followed, the race car transporters were almost forgotten, but then various model car manufacturers took up the theme. Inspired by the models, some full-size copies were built in the USA, and in the Netherlands, too, years of detailed work resulted in a faithful replica, which Niels Jansen presents in this article.

This story began in 2016, when Hans Hendericks and his wife Anita were on vacation in Italy and came up with the idea of starting a very special car rental company back home in the Netherlands. Specializing in classic and modern convertibles, Cabriorent Events was founded in 2017, and soon colorful vintage convertibles and spectacular sports cars from the new company were on the road throughout the Netherlands. But one thing was still missing at the beginning: a suitable, stylish means of transport that could be used to move the valuable rental cars from here to there and that could also be used for advertising purposes.

There are models of the Bartoletti race car transporter from various manufacturers and in various scales. Among them, the models from German manufacturer CMC Modelcars in 1:18 scale are truly superlative. Variants are available as Ferrari and Maserati transporters, as well as a clear finish version without any specific brand affiliation. The models, manufactured with incredible attention to detail, feature countless moving parts and deceptively realistic surfaces, even in the interior. Such finely crafted miniatures naturally come at a price. The models cost €1,196 each ($ 1268.00). More information and many detailed photos can be found at this link from the manufacturer.

Originating from a model of the race car transporter based on the Fiat 624 RN 2, which was bodied by Bartoletti in the 1950s, an ambitious plan was hatched to build such a car on a 1:1 scale. An old Fiat 642 RN 2 fire truck was purchased in Italy as the basis for the project. Hans explains: “After some research, I found it in Cuneo. The vehicle was still roadworthy, but not easy to handle. It had two gear levers and you had to double-clutch when changing gears. It also didn't go faster than 50 to 60 kilometers per hour – a little too slow for a truck, but that was obviously not a problem on Italy's winding mountain roads.” Once it arrived in the Netherlands, work began immediately on dismantling the vehicle. Hans collaborated with Sraar Roebbers Autoschade in Venlo. However, it soon became clear that converting the vehicle into a faithful replica of the original car transporter would be an immense challenge. Lintrailers in Venlo asked truck restorer Theo Klaassen in Echteld for assistance. With the scale model under his arm, Hans asked, “I want to build this on a 1:1 scale. Can you do that?” In fact, Theo agreed.

Among the few photos that have survived of the three original Bartoletti race car transporters from the 1950s are two color photographs showing the vehicles with their cargo.
The front view of these two race car transporters shows the diagonal stripes on the radiator grille that were typical for Italy and were mandatory in the past. They indicated the type of use of the vehicle: red stripes meant that the vehicle was only used for the company's own purposes. White stripes indicated that the vehicle was used in the freight forwarding business.

In 1957, Italian coachbuilder Bartoletti from Forlì near Bologna produced three custom-built transporters for Ferrari and one for Maserati. Shortly thereafter, Bartoletti built a similar vehicle based on a Fiat 682 RN. Thanks to their partially open bodywork, the vehicles could each transport three race cars.

It was a mammoth task to recreate the race car transporter in detail. Theo Klaassen explains: "The chassis of the Fiat 642 fire truck was high. A bus chassis is significantly lower and has arches over the rear axle. It also has different suspension packages. We used part of the truck chassis, as well as the wheels with hubs and numerous smaller parts. From the cab, we used parts such as the dashboard, driver's seat, engine tunnel, engine, transmission, pedals, and gear lever. The six-cylinder diesel engine, transmission, clutch, rear axle, wheels, and hubs of the truck were also still in good condition overall.“

The raw material for the replica of a Bartoletti race car transporter in the Netherlands consisted of the remains of a Fiat 642 RN2 bus and a Fiat fire truck. Although valuable parts from both vehicles could be used, in the end almost everything had to be rebuilt from scratch in order to put a faithful replica on the road.
A brochure shows the production version of the Fiat 642 RN 2. However, the rusty find in the forest did not have exactly the same bodywork. It was probably once manufactured by a coachbuilder.

Hans searched the internet for the missing parts. In Italy, he discovered the owner of a Fiat 642 RN 2 bus chassis. Theo: ”The thing had been lying upside down among nettles in a ravine for decades. We could see exactly where it was and what it was using Google Maps." Hans then drove to Italy with a grinder and a bag full of tools to remove the usable parts. These included the front axle with spring stops, the drive shaft, and a few smaller parts. Finding suitable headlights was quite a challenge. Fortunately, they finally found a set of Marshall headlights in mint condition, still in their original packaging!

These two photos show the view inside Theo Klaassen's workshop, where the replica of the race car transporter can be seen in various stages of completion. The upper photo shows the specially made bend in the frame in the rear axle area and the bent cross members above the cardan shaft.

In the meantime, Theo worked diligently in his workshop to overhaul dozens of parts or build them from scratch. He explains: "Most of the bus chassis was still usable, but unfortunately the front axle was not. So we decided to make it ourselves, as it was no longer available in Italy either.“ When the chassis was almost finished, Theo threw himself into building the body. ”Based on data and photos from authentic factory documents, the entire body was made entirely by hand," he explains. He also designed and built the lifting platform at the rear of the transporter himself, based on old Italian specifications. The seams, doors, radiator grille, bumper, and fenders, as well as the front, roof, and floor panel, were all made using traditional methods. Due to their unusual shape, the construction of the doors was a particular challenge. Theo reports: “The authentic information from Italy was very helpful to me.” For example, the beautiful radiator grille was also made entirely by hand with the help of a photo.

Visibly satisfied with his work, to which he has devoted several years of his life, Theo Klaassen stands on the roof of the successful replica. This photo was taken shortly before the vehicle had to be taken apart again for painting.
Here, the nearly finished vehicle is being loaded up. It is headed to Bert Maassen's workshop in Harskamp, where preparations for painting will be carried out, namely sandblasting and priming, in order to preserve this valuable one-of-a-kind vehicle for the future.
View of Bert Maassen's workshop, where the parts were sandblasted and primed

Once the bodywork was largely complete, the Fiat 642 RN 2 was transported to Bert Maassen's workshop in Harskamp. There, the car was almost completely dismantled again so that everything could be sandblasted and coated with high-quality primer, including the interior. After reassembly, the body was painted in two shades of red, silver, and black. The engine and transmission were then reinstalled. In addition, the controls, such as the steering, had to be made functional again and all cables and wires had to be laid. “We looked at everything closely to find out what the original Bartolettis looked like in the 1950s, not only from the outside, but also from underneath,” reports Theo. The lifting platform in the rear was also recreated in detail. “And it works perfectly,” Hans announces with pride.

The miracle is complete: after eight years of painstaking detail work, the replica of the Fiat 642 RN 2 with Bartoletti bodywork looks deceptively similar to the original. Even a contemporary witness from the 1950s would probably not notice any difference.
A magnificent sight: Ferrari race car transporter, built by Theo Klaassen for his client Hans Hendericks, who originally wanted to use it to transport the sports cars in his classic car rental company “CabrioRentEvents.”
A look inside the long cab reveals the immaculate workmanship of the interior and the possibility of converting the bench seat into a bunk bed.
In fact, Theo Klaassen built the entire mechanism for loading three race cars, including all the individual parts, himself. How fortunate that original documents could still be found in Italy, providing the relevant dimensions and details!
On the left is the rear view, on the right a look inside the mobile spare parts store between the cab and the cargo area. Hans Hendericks is currently arranging various boxes on the carefully recreated wooden shelf.
A glance at the driver's seat and dashboard reveals that in Italian commercial vehicles, the driver's seat used to be located on the right-hand side. This gave the driver a better view of the right-hand side of the road on the country's narrow, winding mountain roads. Overtaking was hardly an option anyway.
Even the flap with the Fiat logo and the Carrozzeria Bartoletti lettering, behind which the oil filler neck is hidden, was made entirely by hand – including the hinge and locking mechanism. On the right, another look at the driver's seat.

Theo Klaassen is satisfied with the solution to this complex task, which took eight years to complete: “The project is actually indescribable. It's old, it's new, it's unique!” The original Ferrari transporters from the 1950s were an extremely expensive investment for Scuderia Ferrari in Modena. They remained in service until 1970, covering hundreds of thousands of kilometers on Formula One race tracks throughout Europe during that time. The 642 RN 2 and later the slightly more powerful 682 RN 2 were not only designed for logistical purposes, but also served as workshops, sleeping quarters, and advertising media. However, the unique Ferrari transporter from the Netherlands will not be covering many kilometers. “At least not under its own power,” says its owner. “The Fiat drives well, but it's too valuable to drive in heavy traffic.” That's why they prefer to put it on a flatbed truck when they take it to an event. “Because we really want to show it to the world!” The convertible rental company has since changed hands, but the race car transporter remains in the possession of the Hendericks family and is regularly presented to amazed audiences at classic car events.

Niels Jansen

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