1962 Di Inferi 320 Mondragone 1.0

Close your eyes - imagine the smooth, Italian-designed lines. A 3.2 liter, high-revving V12 engine mounted in the front. Two bucket seats, for ultimate sportiness. Open your eyes as cousin Billy-Bob Joe bursts through the door loudly proclaiming the superiority of his "good ol' American work truck"; and stop him right in his tracks with the Di Inferi Mondragone - take a sip of your fine wine - now you can finally pretend to be a working class hero.

The Italians are renowned for their style, even in perhaps not the most classiest of professions. Therefore, Di Inferi had the idea in the early 1960s of a vehicle to bring supercar style and performance to the working class. The result was the 320 "Mondragone", an unusual compact sports-truck.
Needless to say, the project was a massive economic misstep - somehow, Di Inferi had not figured that the average laborer would not be able to afford such an expensive vehicle. Still, it has gone down in the history books as one of the rarest and most unusual vehicles to come out of Di Inferi's HQ in Ravenna.



Powered by a 3.2L V12, the Mondragone produces approximately 260 horsepower. This is more than enough for the kind of vehicle it is though - equipped with a switchable four-wheel drive system for better offroading capabilities while also reserving the rear-wheel drive sporty feeling for the road. One may expect it to handle like a truck, but it truly does handle more like a car than anything. The low, relatively stiff suspension and the close-ratio gearing make for a surprisingly agile and competitive sportscar.



The body is a classic Italian shape, but with a pickup bed in the back instead of a sleek coupe. It still retains the sporty, smooth looks which other cars in its bloodline share.

The Mondragone is a lot of fun, and is as practical as it is sporty. Don't be afraid to push it, it loves it! Personally, I recommend disengaging the all-wheel drive when taking it on regular asphalt roads, as it will steer more sharply and directly.

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The Mondragone is an idea I've had for a while now, essentially just asking "what would a 1960s Italian sportscar be like, if it was a truck?". Here is the answer - and I think it came out very nicely, if a bit on the odd side. I hope you enjoy it!