Fiat 600 Jungla

Vehicle Overview

The Fiat 600 Jungla was presented by Carrozzeria Savio at the Turin motor show in 1965 under the name Giungla, later changed to Jungla, the car could reach a top speed of 95 km/h. Three pre-series were made: a light green one (from the original brochure) later painted cream with a light-coloured roof; a grey model with a black roof later destroyed in an accident; an ivory-coloured one with a black roof (later remade blue) with a modified boot and extendable rear backrest for transporting goods up to 250 kg. The latter also served as a base for supplying the armed forces, having been entrusted to the Cecchignola. Distinguishing features included the folding windscreen that rested on two rubbers attached to the bonnet, the very basic instrumentation (consisting only of the original Fiat 500 odometer on the right of the steering wheel and the oil, fuel reserve, dynamo, high beam and radiator water temperature warning lights), a single windscreen wiper with a visible motor, and the external spare wheel anchored to the trunk and fitted with an anti-theft cover. It was available in eight different colours; green (military and sage), red, orange, yellow (school bus), white, blue, beige. Until 1969, these models had simple canvas-covered frames instead of doors, on which the upper part, also in canvas, including the side windows, was pushed on. In that year, in fact, sheet metal doors were fitted, the rear engine bonnet was modified with new hinges that allowed it to be opened without removing the spare wheel and the bodywork was strengthened with modifications to the side panels, now with ribs under the air intake, and the front skid that protected the front end was also strengthened, now made up of its half shields. At great customer demand, a second windscreen wiper motor was added, which until then had only been a single motor on the driver’s side, and for a fee, two windscreen wiper jets and the wiper fluid pump and reservoir could be had. Total production of the Fiat 600 Jungla stopped at 3200 cars, including the 300 fitted with a reducer (the ‘primino’) and those supplied to various state bodies: Enel, Stipel, Forestry Guard, Carabinieri, Hunting Police. Some cars had SEAT engines and fibreglass bonnets; one had Zastava mechanics.