Fiat-MAN-Saviem Europa-Jeep

The Europa-Jeep was a joint project begun in 1966 by France, West Germany and Italy to produce one standard light amphibious 4x4 for all three armies, replacing the French Hotchkiss M201, the German DKW Munga and the Italian Fiat Campagnola. The Germans called it a command and liaison vehicle, and in France it was the VCL. The car was to be built by the mainstream motor industry, and a production run of around 50,000 was envisaged.

Requirement

The specification called for a 40 to 50 hp four-wheel-drive vehicle with a top speed of 95 km/h, a range of 800 km, a 500 kg payload and the ability to tow a 750 kg trailer. It was to weigh no more than 1.5 tonnes, be droppable by parachute, and be amphibious.

Fiat-MAN-Saviem

Three industrial groups were originally proposed, but the competition settled into two consortia: Fiat-MAN-Saviem (FMS) and Büssing-Hotchkiss-Lancia. The FMS prototype had a rear-mounted 80 PS BMW petrol engine and four-wheel drive, and could swim. A first FMS prototype dated 1972 survives with a German collector, later offered for sale as one of only three remaining. Germany tested three vehicles designated "LKW 0,5 t gls (4x4) FMS" around 1975; one is in the Bundeswehr collection at Koblenz.

Cancellation

Prototypes were meant to be ready for trials by 1970, but progress was so slow that the project collapsed in 1976 when France withdrew; Germany also left that year. Only the Italian Army took a number of FMS vehicles into service. Germany had already bought the Volkswagen Type 181 as a stop-gap from 1969, and in 1977 chose the non-amphibious VW 183 Iltis. France turned to its own industry and in 1981 ordered some 15,000 Peugeot P4s, a version of the Mercedes G-class.