Fiat 238 Van

Manufacturer	FIAT
Main type	Commercial vehicle
Versions	Van/pick up
Production	from 1969  to 1983
Length	4600  m m
Width	1835 mm
Height	1980 mm
Step	2400 mm
Mass	full load 2300  k g

The Fiat 238 is a medium-sized van produced by FIAT from 1967 to 1983 . 

History

In the range of Fiat commercial vehicles it was placed between the small Fiat 850T and 900T and the 241 , slightly larger.Presented as the natural heir to the 1100T , the 238 was based on the mechanics of the Autobianchi Primula , therefore front engine and drive.

Engines: 1,197 gasoline 44hp and 1,438 petrol 46cv 52cv starting from 1975 with the introduction of the timing belt instead of the chain.First by the 1200cc petrol engine of the Fiat 124 , weakened to 44 hp, which made it reach 105 km / h . It was later equipped with the engine of the Fiat 124 Special and the Autobianchi A111 of 1438cc, reduced to 46hp.

The interior and exterior design, shared with the older 241, took up many elements of the Fiat production of the period (the headlights were the same as the 124), but reinterpreted in a modern key. Equipped with 4 drum brakes with brake booster, suspensionwith a cross beam at the front and torsion bars at the rear, it was available in various settings such as ambulances , vans, trucks and cabs as well as passenger transport. It was also used as a recreational vehicle with camper transformations : one of these, carried out by FIAT itself, was the 238 Andal .

The body of the 238, not excessively high and well connected, ensured good load capacity, thanks above all to the guessed design of the roof. With a full load mass of 2.3 t, its declared capacity was about 1 ton in the goods transport version with a payload volume of 6.5 m ³ while in the minibus version 9 seats were available. Less popular, but in the catalog, are also the school bus versions, one with an open load compartment and a version similar to pick-up with an extended cab. In addition to being sold on the Italian market, it was also sold abroad, for example in Germany by the Fiat Neckar .

In 1974, what was to be his heir was presented: the Fiat 242. In reality the two models would have coexisted in the list for many years, also because the 242, more cumbersome and expensive, ended up involving a higher category user. In 1977 the van was the object of a limited restyling as well as a revision of the range: the 238 E Panorama version was also presented, intended for passenger transport, with more accurate finishes than those of the industrial versions. The appearance of the new front was really criticizable, with a black plastic mask that connected the front lights together, but which left a good half of the air intake covered by the old grille uncovered. Bumper strips were added to the sides. The 238 continued its career until 1983, when it was replaced by the Fiat Ducato .