The Fiat Bartoletti 642 was purpose-built to serve the unique needs of racing teams, combining Italian industrial strength with coachbuilder Bartoletti’s flair for practical elegance. Based on Fiat’s rugged 642 RN2 truck chassis, it was fitted with a distinctive multi-level body that could carry up to three racing cars, along with spares and equipment. Bartoletti’s design featured wide loading ramps, generous storage lockers, and an enclosed cabin for long journeys across Europe. Painted in two-tone red, the transporter not only provided essential logistics but also projected a sense of professionalism that set Ferrari apart from many of its rivals during the 1950s.
The Scuderia Ferrari Bartoletti 642 was the backbone of Ferrari’s sports car racing operations in the mid-to-late 1950s. First pressed into service in 1956, it could be found at events such as the Monza Supercortemaggiore race, where Ferrari fielded its new 500 TRs and TRCs, and at the grueling Targa Florio that same year. In 1957 the transporter was loaded with works entries for both the Mille Miglia and Le Mans, and it returned to La Sarthe in 1958, carrying the Testa Rossas that would define an era. Its distinctive multi-level deck and bold Ferrari red paint made it instantly recognizable in the paddock, as much a part of the spectacle as the cars it carried.
Alongside its sports car duties, the Bartoletti 642 was also tasked with carrying Ferrari’s Formula One challengers to circuits across Europe. In this role it hauled machines such as the Ferrari 246 F1 and earlier Lancia-Ferrari D50 derivatives, ensuring the Scuderia could compete at the highest level of single-seater racing. Seen at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix as well as other championship rounds, it served as the logistical lifeline of the Grand Prix team at a time when Ferrari was cementing its reputation as the sport’s dominant force.