Ferves
Ferves - Ferrari Veicoli Speciali
Head office:
Via Mombasiglio 99
Torino
(1965–approx. 1968)
Plant:
Via Guido Reni 12
Torino
(second production phase until 1971)
Ferves built the first Ranger prototype in 1966 and showed it to the public that same year at the Turin Motor Show. Production started in spring 1967 and stopped in March 1971 when the company went bankrupt.
Two different types were built in that time: the Ranger and the Cargo, offered in both 4×2 and 4×4 form. Ranger serial numbers began at 300 and ended in 1971 with 837. Over five years Ferves’ entire output thus reached 562 vehicles.
Our register lists 331 Ferves, 202 of them with a known chassis number. Spare parts supply is in part very difficult, because special components such as the mechanical parts of the 4×4 versions were commissioned by Ferves in very small quantities. Fortunately Ferves drew on the Fiat, Alfa and Lancia parts bins in many cases.
The versions
According to my research, the following versions existed:
| Chassis from | Version | Features |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Cargo 4×2, 2 seats | only even chassis numbers found |
| 150 | Cargo 4×2, 4 seats | square bumpers, windscreen mounts as on the Ranger 2nd series |
| 300 | Ranger 1st series | horn in the front panel, round bumpers, fuel tank under the passenger seat, different indicator switch, battery under the driver’s seat, different windscreen fixing |
| 470 | Ranger series 1.5 | horn low down by the brake master cylinder |
| 570 | Ranger 2nd series | square bumpers, indicator switch as on the Fiat 500, fuel tank behind the rear seat, battery in the passenger footwell |
| approx. 680 | Ranger 4×4 and Cargo 4×4 with 4 seats | no separate numbering; on the papers the Cargo was still called Ranger, so no additional homologation was needed |
There was also a Rally version, which so far I have only seen on paper.
When chassis number and features do not match
In Italy you find Ferves whose chassis number does not match their features. I spoke with the former workshop manager, who named several possible reasons. Now and then a car was not finished and was set aside, and later received a chassis number outside the series. But Ferves were also re-stamped when the papers had been lost. I have even found two Ferves with the same chassis number, which should not really be possible.
Be careful when the number is too far from the type – for example a 300-series number on a car with square bumpers. That was certainly not how it left the factory.
Importers and dealers
France
Société de Gestion et de Représentation (SOGEREP), importer and distributor
32, Rue Washington, Paris 8e
Switzerland
Luigi C. Roggero, Zentral-Garage
Sihlfeldstrasse 10, Zurich 3
1st Ferves meeting
For the 50th anniversary of the Ferves, we are taking advantage of the international Fiat 500 meeting in Garlenda to organise the 1st Ferves meeting.
Photos from the meeting in Garlenda, 2 July 2016.
