Luxury Off-Roader: 1989 Laforza

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Do any of you have a list of vehicles that are just an awful idea as potential projects, but you still want to own anyway? I do, and right near the top of said list is a Laforza SUV. I’ve always loved the idea of a muscular SUV like a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, but those are quite pricey, especially relative to their annual maintenance budget. A Laforza? Just as expensive to maintain, but much cheaper to buy. Check out this 1989 example here on eBay with bids to $6,500 and no reserve.

The Laforza was based on an existing, military-grade SUV, the Rayton-Fissore Magnum. Like most obscure, foreign brands, this company looked to the U.S. and saw a place where one could easily make a profit by tarting up an existing model with some extra leather and woodgrain trim while swapping in a domestically-sourced V8 to keep prices down. Ironically, the Laforza concept makes more sense in today’s market than it did in 1988. Check out those flared wheel arches and impressive ride height.

Today, the Laforza often shows up like this, as a vehicle half-way between project status and driver-ready. I don’t know if this is because there’s a fatal flaw that prevents it from becoming a completely restored example or if most current owners simply know it doesn’t make financial sense to bring one all the way back from the brink. One of the last times we saw a Laforza come up for grabs, it came with its own parts rig, so that tells you something. The interior of this Laforza is in respectable shape, with loads of leather-wrapped surfaces and woodgrain trim still presenting well.

Under the hood is perhaps the most sensible part of the whole equation, with a Ford-sourced 5.0L V8. As the years wore on, a supercharger became an option, and that would be the one to look for if you decided to go all-in on this super quirky SUV. The current bid price is a bit surprising to me, as these are not exactly loved by the enthusiast community. However, if you’re like me and wake up one day deciding you have to own one, your opportunity to buy one is exceedingly limited.

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. Allen L

    For those, like me, who’ve never heard of these, it’s from Italy.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayton-Fissore_Magnum

    Like 0
    • Martin Horrocks

      Thanks for that. Very interesting background. I thought the Rayton element was British, producing early examples of customised luxury Range Rovers. Does anyone know more?

      Like 0
      • John W

        Quirky parts bin specials, but quite unique and very capable trucks. They tow up to about 8,000 lbs from the hidden hitch. The turning radius is unbelievable. Original ‘89 models had Audi 4000 headlights and the ‘98+ Magnum model has Crown Victoria headlights. Corner lenses, tail lights, door handles, etc where all from other mass produced cars. I’ve been told the original fog lamps are from the Countach, but I think that is incorrect. The ‘89 wheels are gorgeous units made by Speedline. Later models had wheels by HRE and BBS which were both specially made for Laforza. There’s another very rare wheel as well, but not sure of the manufacturer. The body and interior were assembled by Pininfarina. These are based on the Rayton Fissore Magnum, but were branded Laforza by American entrepreneurs and company traded hands a couple times. About 1200 were produced. They have small quirks, but are overall very solid and capable vehicles. There is a forum dedicated to them on Facebook. They weren’t very collectible because they’re obscure and the ill fitting panel gaps and understated styling can throw people off. They’ve aged well and seem timeless to me now. After all, it is a Tom Tjaarda designed SUV when luxury SUVs were just coming in to fashion.

        Like 0
  2. Mike B

    Isuzu looks, Italian reliability?

    Like 8
  3. Nelson C

    Only if you’re paying me.

    Like 0
  4. Big C

    At least with 5.0, you won’t have to be towed home from the car show.

    Like 4
  5. ALKY

    Did you say its a what for ya ! …..no thank you please !

    Like 1
  6. Allen L

    My comment linking to a wiki was deleted.
    The vehicle was made in Italy.

    Like 1
    • Jesse Mortensen Jesse MortensenStaff

      It wasn’t deleted. We manually review every comment with a link in it.

      Like 3
      • Allen L

        My apology, I spoke too soon.

        Like 0
  7. nlpnt

    To Italians, it must’ve looked like someone ran a Fiat Tipo through the photocopier at 250%.

    The logic in offering it in the American market was in those lines, though, since your other luxo-SUV choices were the Range Rover with its’ 1970 styling awkwardly adapted to four doors, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer that was a Broughamified early ’60s design, a Toyota Land Cruiser that was about as plush as a Corolla DX, and optioned-out pickup based models.

    They should’ve upfitted an Italian leather interior to a Land Cruiser.

    Like 2
    • Bob_in_TN Bob_in_TNMember

      “Broughamified”, great word. The average person would have no idea what it meant, but for us Barn Finders who lived through the 60’s-70’s, we know exactly what it means.

      Like 5
  8. Todd Zuercher

    I remember when these were introduced. I liked the Ford engine fitment but knew the vehicle was doomed from the start.

    Like 0
    • Claudio

      Reminds me of the long forgotten nissan multi

      Like 0
      • Joe Elliott

        It’s occurred to me that one is these might make (not really) a lot of sense if I wanted a quirky tow vehicle, as the axles, etc. come from an Iveco medium-duty truck, so it’s theoretically much better suited to doing actual ‘truck stuff’ than other posh SUVs. But I already own a Merc L508D, and don’t actually have a need to tow anything so… when a former neighbor who had one of these passed away and his sister offered it to me, I politely declined.

        Like 0
  9. chrlsful

    unable to push it into the Lambo or Maserati box (both made similar) it stands alone in its own Glorioso

    Like 0
  10. Fernando Diaz

    Doug Demuro did a review on one not long ago. That is a very interesting luxury SUV from back in the day.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqsdTOMF4uE.

    Like 0
  11. PRA4SNW PRA4SNWMember

    SOLD for $6,600.

    Like 0
  12. t-bone bob

    US $6,600.00
    6 bids
    Ended 11/25, 10:02 AM

    Located in: Lindenhurst, New York

    Like 0

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