The FNM 180 was a heavy truck introduced by Fábrica Nacional de Motores in 1972. Its mechanics were basically those of the older FNM D-11.000, but it had a more modern cab. The 180 descended from the Alfa Romeo Mille, whose production licence FNM had acquired in 1956, and it remained in production until 1980.
FNM 180 at a glance
| Maker | Fábrica Nacional de Motores (FNM), Xerém, Brazil |
|---|---|
| Production | 1972–1980 |
| Type | heavy truck, forward control |
| Ancestor | Alfa Romeo Mille (1958–1964) |
| Mechanics | basically those of the FNM D-11.000 |
| Engine | 11,050 cc inline-six diesel, 163–174 hp (Mille figures) |
| Gearbox | eight forward speeds (Mille) |
| Layout | 4×2, rear-wheel drive |
| Payload | 8 tonnes (Mille) |
| Cab | more modern than the D-11.000 |
| Same line | FNM 210 |
The 180 is described in the Portuguese Wikipedia article on FNM and in the English article on the Alfa Romeo Mille it was derived from. The sources differ slightly on the end of production: 1980 in English, two years after 1977 in Portuguese.
History of the FNM 180
From the Mille to Xerém
Alfa Romeo built the Mille, an eight-tonne forward-control lorry, between 1958 and 1964. It was the company’s last heavy commercial vehicle: an 11,050 cc inline-six diesel producing 163–174 hp, an eight-speed gearbox and rear-wheel drive in 4×2 form. The Mille could carry eight tonnes and tow up to 18 tonnes, and a tractor unit was rated for 26.2 tonnes. In 1956 the production licence had been acquired by FNM, which continued building Alfa-derived heavy trucks under its own brand.
The 180 of 1972
The FNM 180 arrived in 1972 as a new heavy truck. Its mechanics were basically those of the old D-11.000 — the 1958 heavy truck derived from the Alfa Romeo designs, with an all-aluminium six-cylinder diesel — but the cab was more modern. Alongside it FNM created the FNM 210 in the same line.
End of production
Alfa Romeo had sold its commercial vehicle operations in Italy in the 1960s, and in 1973 the FNM commercial vehicle business passed to Fiat’s industrial vehicle division. In 1977 Alfa Romeo itself was sold to Fiat, which continued to build the 180 for two more years before closing the Xerém works. FNM’s commercial vehicles were later absorbed into Fiat’s Brazilian Iveco business.
Design and features
- D-11.000 mechanicals: the heavy-truck chassis and six-cylinder diesel of the 1958 FNM truck.
- Modern cab: the main advance over the D-11.000.
- Alfa Romeo Mille ancestry: FNM had built the Italian lorry under licence since 1956.
- Long life: produced from 1972 to 1980, the last years under Fiat.
FNM 180 versions
- FNM 180 (1972): the standard heavy truck.
- FNM 210: a related model created in the same line.
- Late Fiat-built trucks: production continued for two more years after Fiat took over Alfa Romeo in 1977.
The company’s passenger cars are described in the FNM 2000 and FNM Onça articles. More vehicles of the marque are in the FNM collection.
Video: FNM 180 do Alceu Viero, carga de pedrisco
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Alfa Romeo Mille, English Wikipedia: truck layout, engine, payload, FNM production
- Fábrica Nacional de Motores, Portuguese Wikipedia: the 180 of 1972, its mechanicals, the end of production
- Fábrica Nacional de Motores, English Wikipedia: commercial vehicle history, Iveco
