# The Transporter Before the Motorhome: Historic Racing Trucks in Scale **By Giuliano Ragazzi** · 2026-04-09 The paddock belonged to the transporter before it belonged to the motorhome. From the late 1950s through the 1980s, trucks moved racing cars. They went from factory to circuit. These trucks were part of a team's identity. Liveries on the cars defined them. Ferrari red on a Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti is an example. Alitalia green and white on a Fiat 673 also. Rothmans blue and gold on a Mercedes-Benz O317 bus too. These racing truck models did not merely transport machinery. They were rolling declarations of intent. They arrived at Monza, Monte Carlo, and Le Mans. This was hours ahead of the cars they carried. Today, they are evocative subjects. They are among the most underestimated in scale model collecting. * * * ## The Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti: Ferrari's Works Transporter In 1957, Scuderia Ferrari used two Fiat 642 RN2 trucks. Bartoletti, a Forlì firm, coach-bodied them. They carried Formula 1 and sports-prototype race cars across Europe. The 642 RN2 was built on a Fiat bus chassis. It had a 6.2-litre diesel engine. The truck sustained road speeds to move quickly. It went from Grand Prix circuit to circuit. The race calendar was tight back then. The Bartoletti body had a rear loading ramp. It featured an enclosed upper deck for spare parts. Crew luggage was also stored there. The external livery was Ferrari red. It had Shell and Agip sponsor graphics. Only two of these trucks were built for Ferrari. This makes them rare operational vehicles in motorsport history. Both attended Grands Prix in the late 1950s. They also attended into the early 1960s. They transported cars like the Dino 246 F1. Other cars included the Testa Rossa and 250 GTO. They traveled across circuits from Reims to Monza to Nürburgring. The Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti was not a spectacle then. It was the most efficient solution available. It moved fragile, irreplaceable machinery. It traveled across post-war European roads. Its iconic status was earned retrospectively.[](https://www.facebook.com/Avants.seattle/posts/asmr-of-one-of-the-rarest-vehicles-in-the-world-the-1957-ferrari-transporter-the/1114536624224913/) * * * ## CMC and CMR: The Fiat 642 RN2 in 1/18 Scale Two manufacturers have modeled the Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti Ferrari transporter. These 1/18 die-cast models are instructive for collectors. **CMC (Classic Model Cars)** reproduces the 642 RN2. It is an all-metal, hand-assembled construction. It comprises over 1,000 individual parts. The CMC version, reference M-084, is featured. It has a fully functional rear loading ramp. An opening driver's door is also included. Photo-etched exterior trim adds detail. The deck can carry three 1/18 scale Ferrari models. Tampo-printed livery replicates the Ferrari red. It includes Shell, Agip, and Pirelli period graphics. Dimensional accuracy is maintained. CMC's production philosophy positions this model. It's a display-grade centerpiece. It's not an entry-level die-cast. Its price point reflects the part count. The all-metal specification is considered. The limited production run also plays a role. The  [CMC Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti Ferrari Transporter](https://vroomimodels.com/products/fiat-642rn2-truck-bartoletti-f1-ferrari-car-m0842) is available. Find it now in the Vroomi catalogue. **CMR (Classic Model Replicars)** offers the same subject. It has a more accessible price point. Construction is die-cast with opening features. This includes the driver's door, crew cab, and rear ramp. It comes in two distinct liveries. There is the Ferrari red Bordeaux version (CMR140). Also, the Maserati blue and yellow transporter (CMR141). The CMR approach makes the Bartoletti transporter accessible. Collectors can build a 1950s racing paddock. This is without the CMC edition investment. Both manufacturers offer legitimate reproductions. They model the same historical vehicle. The choice depends on the collector's ambition. * * * ## The Fiat 673 and the Lancia Alitalia Rally Team, 1976 By the mid-1970s, the transporter's role evolved. WRC teams had a different logistical rhythm than Formula 1. Stages ran through mountain passes and forest roads. The transporter had to reach the service park. It traversed the same challenging terrain. For the Lancia Alitalia rally squad, the Fiat 673 was that vehicle.[](https://vroomimodels.com/products/fiat-673-truck-car-transporter-team-lancia-alitalia-rally-1976-157571) The 1976 WRC season saw the Lancia Stratos HF excel. It was at the apex of its dominance. The Stratos won WRC titles in 1974 and 1975. The 1976 campaign continued this trajectory. It performed across gravel and tarmac events in Europe. The Fiat 673 transporter was distinct. It finished in Alitalia livery: white, green, and red. It carried the works Stratos entries. It arrived at service parks with a recognizable sponsorship. This was a leading commercial identity in motorsport. The Alitalia livery on the Fiat 673 was not mere decoration. It provided visual coherence. It represented an entire Italian works program. This ranged from the transporter to the race car. ![Green and white Lancia Alitalia rally team transporter truck model.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0922/8828/7104/files/aiease_1775755549449.png) IXO Models reproduces the  [Fiat 673 Team Lancia Alitalia Rally Transporter 1976](https://vroomimodels.com/products/fiat-673-truck-car-transporter-team-lancia-alitalia-rally-1976-157571) in 1/43 die-cast. It has tampo-printed Alitalia graphics. Its proportions are accurate. At 1/43 scale, it pairs well. It matches with IXO or Spark Model Lancia Stratos. Alitalia editions from the same season fit. This recreates a complete 1976 WRC service park. [](https://selectionrs.com/en/miniatures-rallye/17825-fiat-673-lancia-alitalia-racing-transporter-truck-1976-white-green-1-43-ixo-models-tru038.html) * * * ## The Mercedes-Benz O317: A Bus Built for Porsche The most unconventional transporter in this group started as a city bus. The Mercedes-Benz O317 was introduced in 1957. It was a high-floor intercity coach. A 10.8-litre inline six-cylinder diesel powered it. This engine produced 210 hp. The bus measured nearly twelve metres in length. Daimler-Benz built the self-supporting O317 structure until 1972. It was never intended for a racing circuit. Porsche commissioned Robert Schenk, a Stuttgart coachbuilder. Three O317 units were converted into race car transporters. They were equipped with a double-stacking loading system. This system accommodated low-slung profiles. It fit the 917, 935, and 956 cars. The first O317 was delivered in 1967. It later went to John Wyer Automotive Engineering. This was for the Gulf-liveried 917 program. A second served Porsche. It saw multiple Martini liveries until 1983. The third carried Rothmans colours into the 1984 season. It arrived at Le Mans, Monza, and Spa. It moved the Porsche 956. This car won the 24 Heures du Mans. It won four consecutive times between 1982 and 1985. This contradiction makes the O317 compelling. It makes for a great collecting subject. A civilian bus chassis was repurposed. It became the backbone of a dominant racing program. This was in endurance history. The  [Mercedes-Benz O317 Porsche Transporter 1984](https://vroomimodels.com/products/mercedes-benz-o317-truck-car-transporter-450032800) is reproduced. It's in 1/43 die-cast. The blue 1984 configuration is available. Find it in the Vroomi trucks catalogue. It pairs naturally with 1/43 Porsche 956 editions. Use Spark Model or IXO models. Reconstruct the full Rothmans-era Le Mans paddock. ![White Rothmans Porsche racing team truck with blue accents and racing decals.](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0922/8828/7104/files/aiease_1775755568642.png) For a detailed account of the O317's service history. The  [Mercedes-Benz O317 Porsche transporter archive at Supercar Nostalgia](https://supercarnostalgia.com/blog/mercedes-benz-o317-porsche-transporters) provides documentation. It details all three converted units. * * * ## Why Collecting Racing Transporters Matters A transporter model in a collection does something unique. A race car model alone cannot. It contextualises the car. It shows its operational reality. The Lancia Stratos on a display shelf tells one story. The Stratos alongside the Alitalia Fiat 673 tells the whole story. This includes team, logistics, era, and sponsor. It also shows the infrastructure. This infrastructure made a WRC title challenge possible.[](https://www.media.stellantis.com/ch-de/heritage/press/lancia-stratos-gr-4-alitalia-stars-in-the-fia-hall-of-fame-2) At 1/43 scale, IXO transporters are shelf-friendly. They integrate with the dominant scale. This is great for rally and F1 collecting. At 1/18, the CMC Fiat 642 RN2 Bartoletti is a statement. It's a model that commands space. It rewards close inspection too. Few race car replicas can match it. The Vroomi  [trucks and transporters collection](https://vroomimodels.com/collections/trucks-1) brings models together. It includes significant historic racing transporters. CMC, CMR, IXO, and Schuco are represented. From the 1950s Bartoletti to the 1980s Rothmans O317. Explore the full range. Add to Your Grid. ![Blue and yellow 1950s Maserati 3500 S.T. bus model with ](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0922/8828/7104/files/aiease_1775755528236.png) **Tags:** Racing Trucks --- > Source: [Vroomi](https://vroomimodels.com/blogs/history-icons-legendary-motorsport-in-scale/racing-trucks-models)