Bertone Freeclimber

The Bertone Freeclimber is a little-known four-wheel-drive vehicle produced from 1989 that started life as the Japanese Daihatsu Rugger SUV before the Italian coachbuilder Bertone modified it with BMW engines and upgraded styling. It is one of very few series production cars Bertone ever offered under its own name. Buyers could choose a 2.4 litre BMW turbodiesel or 2.0 litre and 2.7 litre BMW M20 petrol engines, all with a five-speed manual gearbox and dual-range transfer case, while the Daihatsu steel ladder frame and live axles were kept. Exterior changes included a redesigned grille, quad headlights and a stepped removable roof section, and the interior gained leather seats and Veglia gauges. It sold mainly in southern Europe, with few reaching the United States.