This Alfa Romeo A12 Cabinato is a long-wheelbase truck that was acquired by the seller in 2015 in Parma, Italy. A subsequent refurbishment saw the paint, interior, and suspension refinished, as well as the electrical, cooling, and fuel systems overhauled. The 1,290cc gasoline inline-four and 4-speed manual transaxle were reconditioned and drive the vehicle’s front wheels. The seller is a professional restorer of classic Alfa Romeo vehicles and also installed a drop-side pickup bed. This left-hand-drive A12 is now offered in Suffolk, England with a UK V5C registration.

The cab was reportedly media blasted and sent to a body shop that fabricated and installed new floor panels, as well as a driver-side front corner. An epoxy primer was applied before the original color of Grigio Indaco (735) was used on the roof panel, and period-correct Bluette (327) was applied to the rest of the exterior. The red stripe on the front of the cab is a demarcation for Italian commercial vehicles. Photos from during the refurbishment are provided in the gallery below.

The 16″ steel wheels were media blasted and painted black, and they now wear Alfa Romeo hubcaps and Camac tires sized 6.00-16C. The front brake calipers were stripped, bead blasted, zinc plated, and assembled with new seals and pads. The front discs were skimmed and flexible hoses were renewed, while solid brake lines were remade. The brake master cylinder was bored out and sleeved, and new seals were fitted. The rear drum brakes were freshened with new cylinders.

The seller purchased the truck with nothing installed atop the frame behind the cab, and he notes that these trucks have been used as the basis for car transporters, campers, food trucks, and more. The seller recently fitted an aluminum drop-side bed that is designed to be quickly converted to a flatbed setup. The bed is 5’9″ wide and 13’2″ long. The truck is 18’3″ long overall and 6’6″ high.

The seats were retrimmed in red vinyl, and inertia-reel 3-point seatbelts were installed in both seating positions. A new headliner was fitted, the dashboard was refinished in crackle black, and the driver’s floor mat was repaired. New weatherstripping was installed at the windshield, side, and door glass.

Instrumentation includes a 120-km/h speedometer. The 5-digit odometer shows 78k kilometers (~49k miles), of which the seller has added more than 100 miles. Interior switchgear was stripped, checked, and cleaned during the recent overhaul. The engine is accessible through a doghouse between the seats.

The gasoline-fueled 1,290cc DOHC inline-four is common to other Alfa Romeo products of the period and is paired with a floor-shifted 4-speed manual transaxle that drives the front wheels. During the refurbishment, the cylinder head was reconditioned by Scholar Engines, and new intake valves were fitted and the exhaust valves refaced. The camshafts were shimmed to factory tolerances and the timing set to factory marks. The oil sump and crankshaft seals were replaced. The carburetor was stripped, soda blasted, and assembled with new gaskets. The fuel tank was flushed, and new flexible pipes and an in-line fuel filter were fitted. The radiator was recored, the heater stripped, and new hoses were installed.

The gearbox sump and selector turret were removed, and the gears and synchronizing rings were inspected. The gearbox was fitted with new oil seals, and driveshaft joints were checked for play, regreased, and refitted.

During the refurbishment, the chassis and suspension components were painted satin black. The front lower suspension arms were rebushed, and all steering joints were renewed. The front leaf spring was stripped and reassembled with copper slip grease. The rear torsion bar suspension housing was checked and greased.

A letter from the Alfa Romeo Owners Club Ltd in England indicates that the engine was originally installed in this chassis and the truck was manufactured on February 23, 1971.

A driving video is presented above, along with a tour of the cabin and footage of the engine running.