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Photo of a Iveco VM 90

Iveco VM 90

The VM 90 Torpedo: Daily roots, room for 10 and three locking differentials.1

Researched November 2, 2026 from 23 sources

Also called

  • camaleonteGianluca Celentano's 'chameleon' label for a platform adaptable enough to spawn an amphibious version.2
  • scarrafoneItalian troops likened the VM 90P to an oversized, ugly cockroach.3
  • Italian UnimogSimilar looks and duties invited Unimog comparisons, although the VM90 lacks its portal axles.4

At a glance

0100200
98.6–147.9 hpPower
0100200
102–110 km/hTop speed
02,0004,000
2,800–3,350 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.135713

Engine
T1: 2.5 L; T2: 2.5/2.8 L; T3: 2.8/3.0 L diesels311
Layout
Front-engine 4x4; frame chassis, independent front/live rear4
Gearbox
VM90: 5-speed manual, low range, 3 diff locks; LSVW: 4-speed automatic34
Units built
4,200 for Italy; Boneschi built over 500 VM 90 P812

The story

VM means Veicolo Multiruolo. Built to move army squads with compact dimensions and cross-country agility, it bridges tactical truck and off-roader, combining Daily roots with military bodywork by Boneschi.25

1978: Daily roots, Boneschi bodywork19781990: In military service by 199019901993: 200 armored VM-90P built19932006: Nassiriya attack exposes IED limits20062008: T3/F1C towing rises to 3,500 kg20082014: Four T3 ambulances for the Red Cross20142022: AID and Iveco refurbish surplus VM90s20222026: Six VM90P earmarked for Somalia2026 Fiat Campagnola (1101): 1951–19731101Fiat Nuova Campagnola (1107 / AR76): 1974–19871107 / AR76Iveco Daily / Alfa Romeo AR8: 1978–1985 19501960197019801990200020102020
Before and afterMilestones25619
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1951–1973Fiat Campagnola (1101)
1974–1987Fiat Nuova Campagnola (1107 / AR76)
1978–1985Iveco Daily / Alfa Romeo AR8
1978Daily roots, Boneschi bodywork
1990In military service by 1990
1993200 armored VM-90P built
2006Nassiriya attack exposes IED limits
2008T3/F1C towing rises to 3,500 kg
2014Four T3 ambulances for the Red Cross
2022AID and Iveco refurbish surplus VM90s
2026Six VM90P earmarked for Somalia
  1. 1978

    Daily roots, Boneschi bodywork

    The Daily supplies the VM90's starting point; Boneschi later shapes its bodywork to suit military requirements.267

  2. 1990

    In military service by 1990

    The Daily-based VM90 is in service; civilian offshoots later include the 40E10 W/M, 40E13 and 40E15 for police and civil protection.1

  3. 1993

    200 armored VM-90P built

    A batch of 200 armored VM-90P answers urgent needs for missions in Somalia and Mozambique.8

  4. 2006

    Nassiriya attack exposes IED limits

    A fatal April 27 attack highlights the VM90P's weakness: its underbody was not specifically designed and protected against mines and IEDs.9

  5. 2008

    T3/F1C towing rises to 3,500 kg

    Towing rises from 1,500 to 3,500 kg on the VM90 T3/F1C; gross weight reaches 4,700 kg and front torsion-bar diameter grows to 33 mm.7

  6. 2014

    Four T3 ambulances for the Red Cross

    The Italian Red Cross orders four VM 90 T3 4x4 ambulances with four stretchers apiece; the contract is worth 346,948 euros.10

  7. 2022

    AID and Iveco refurbish surplus VM90s

    Under a 2021 AID–Iveco agreement, Torre Annunziata completes initial refurbishment work on retired VM90s for international reuse.7

  8. 2026

    Six VM90P earmarked for Somalia

    Italy prepares to donate six retired Carabinieri VM90P to the Somali National Police Force for renewed police service.9

Every generation

  • Fiat Campagnola
    11011951–1973
  • Fiat Nuova Campagnola
    1107 / AR761974–1987
  • Iveco Daily / Alfa Romeo AR8
    Iveco Daily / Alfa Romeo AR81978–1985

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • VM 90T Torpedo

    Standard

    VM 90T Torpedo

  • Standard

    VM 90 T2 2.8-liter

  • Standard

    VM 90 T3

  • Standard

    40E10 W/M / 40E13 / 40E15

  • Western Star LSVW

    Standard

    Western Star LSVW

    1990s

    115 hp

  • Standard

    Nanjing NJ2046

  • VM 90 Ambulanza

    Special

    VM 90 Ambulanza

    102 hp
  • VM 90P Protetto

    Special

    VM 90P Protetto

    102 hp
  • Antincendio

    Special

    Antincendio

  • Special

    VM 90P Ambulanza Protetta

    102 hp

  • Special

    VM 90 P2 Ambulanza

  • Special

    VM90 Hard Top T3 Self Powered

How to spot one

Look for

  • Large circular front lamps; aftermarket grille and headlight swaps can alter the face.718
  • Flat glass throughout the windows.4
  • Torpedo: a folding fabric roof over the troop-carrying rear body.4
  • Protetto: a full armored body with wedge-shaped sides.213
  • Ambulance: a square, rigid medical box mounted behind the cab.14

Year by year

  1. T1 / T2, 2.5-liter

    Four central hood-intake slots, a left-side intake and no right-side intake; the lower hood edge sits flush with the body.11

  2. T1 vs. T2, 2.5-liter

    The two may differ only in dashboard shape; separating them from the exterior can be difficult.11

  3. T2, 2.8-liter

    Three central hood-intake slots, a right-side intake and a notch along the lower hood edge; the intercooled nose looks fuller.11

  4. T3

    Adds a 12V battery box below the passenger side for ABS; 3.0-liter versions may also have a small hump in the top hood intake.11

  5. 2008

    A rollbar was added to the rear platform, alongside the change from a metal fuel tank to polypropylene.7

Don’t confuse it with

  • Photo of a Iveco VM 90
    VM 90
    Photo of a Mercedes-Benz Unimog
    Mercedes-Benz Unimog

    Mercedes-Benz Unimog

    The VM90 is smaller and lacks the Unimog's portal axles, so its ground clearance is less dramatic.4

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 13 stories from its legend
    • “Leading Overland's orange giants”
    • “The writer who called it a chameleon”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 6 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
Read the full file in SPOT

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 23 sources
  1. VM90 – Battaglione Logistico Paracadutisti "Folgore" battaglionelogisticofolgore.it
  2. Un camaleonte di nome Iveco VM 90 - Difesa Online difesaonline.it
  3. Iveco VM 90 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. Rare In The USA: An Ex-Italian Military Iveco VM90 Torpedo 4x4 Unimog Rival silodrome.com
  5. Як багатоцільовий автомобіль IVECO VM 90 допомагає нашим захисникам – останні автоновини на Автоцентр.ua autocentre.ua
  6. Iveco Daily - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  7. Una nuova vita per l’inarrestabile VM 90. Cosa ne pensano i comandanti? - Difesa Online difesaonline.it
  8. L’ITALIA “È” UN PAESE PER AUTOBLINDO | storiain.net
  9. Sei VM90P alla Somalia: l’ultima missione del Camaleonte - Difesa Online difesaonline.it
  10. Gazzetta Ufficiale gazzettaufficiale.it
  11. IVECO VM 90 - MANUALI USO E OFFICINA | Vancoolers vancoolers.org
  12. BLINDINO VM90 PROTETTO saviogruppo.com
  13. Iveco VM 90 - Wikipedia it.wikipedia.org
  14. The Italian IVECO 40.10WM aka VM 90 Military Vehicle tanknutdave.com
  15. Corpo Militare CriPadova.it cripadova.it
  16. Beirut - Giornata di addestramento CRI/SARC per l'ambulanza con protezione balistica - Croce Rossa Italiana cri.it
  17. LEM Srl - Veicolo VM90 Hard Top T3 self powered lemsrl.eu
  18. 1996 Iveco VM90 Torpedo 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $28,800 on September 1, 2023 (Lot #118,901) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  19. Fiat Campagnola - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. Il MUV 70.20 segna il passo. Si parla di VM90, anzi "TOTOVM" - Difesa Online difesaonline.it
  21. Iveco VM90 | Pagina 1 | CamperOnLine camperonline.it
  22. Iveco VM90 NAP – SOBCHAK SECURITY – est. 2005 sobchak.wordpress.com
  23. Τι τρέχει με το Iveco; | The World Offroad theworldoffroad.com
  • battaglionelogisticofolgore.it
  • difesaonline.it
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • silodrome.com
  • autocentre.ua
  • storiain.net
  • gazzettaufficiale.it
  • vancoolers.org
  • saviogruppo.com
  • it.wikipedia.org
  • tanknutdave.com
  • cripadova.it
  • cri.it
  • lemsrl.eu

Photo credits

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