In an ordinary courtyard in Lutsk, a car was spotted that is hard to recognize even for an experienced car enthusiast. The Rayton-Fissore Magnum is an Italian luxury SUV that appeared in the mid-80s and was produced until 2003 in small batches, with a total run of about six thousand vehicles.
Initially, the project was planned for police and military use, but later the company changed its vector and decided to create a competitor to the then leaders of the premium SUV segment – the Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz W460. The Italians bet on comfort and equipment: natural materials in the interior trim, climate control, electric package, central locking, power steering, and in some versions even a radar detector built into the dashboard.
At the same time, the Magnum remained a true off-roader. A ladder frame construction, four-wheel drive, significant ground clearance, and a wide choice of powertrains ensured decent off-road capability. The engines are a separate exotic feature. Engines from Alfa Romeo, BMW, Abarth, Ford Windsor, Chevrolet Vortec, as well as several turbo diesels were installed on the same model range.
It seemed the potential was there: striking design, rich equipment, prestigious positioning, Italian charisma. But the high price, lack of a dealer network, and the brand’s modest popularity played their role. The model became niche and remained little-known even in Europe.
That’s why it’s even more interesting that such a specimen has been preserved and is driving in Ukraine. At a time when the market values unified and predictable models, the Magnum looks like a true artifact of its era – a bold, but poorly realized idea to create an alternative to British and German premium SUVs.
Over the years, this rare SUV has been attracting more and more attention from enthusiasts, and prices for living specimens are slowly but steadily rising. Stories like this one about the Magnum from Lutsk remind us that the pages of the automotive world often hide interesting surprises, even in ordinary Ukrainian courtyards.