This Adorable Home on Wheels Is a Stylishly Restored Alfa Romeo T10 "Autotutto" Camper Van

With their charming design characterized by soft lines, panoramic windows, and beautiful interiors, old-school campers are a growing trend for outdoor fun. This stylishly restored 1955 Alfa Romeo T10 "Autotutto" is a retro camper van that brings to mind images of camping in the woods and listening to music or the surrounding nature around a dancing fire and would certainly win the hearts of those steeped in nostalgia.

The Alfa Romeo T10 Autotutto ("all purpose" from Italian) series of minibuses, pickups, and vans, also known as the Alfa Romeo Romeo, was introduced in 1954 at the Turin Motor Show. Featuring a design that was rather advanced for its time, these were front-wheel drive vans with four-wheel independent suspension and powered by either an advanced twin cam inline four or a supercharged two-stroke diesel engine.

At the time of this series' introduction, Alfa Romeo was state-owned, so the company found a ready market with the military, police, and other government bodies. It also quickly became popular among regular folks who needed a reliable, all-purpose commercial vehicle. This meant the compact Autotutto became a common sight on the streets of Italy, as they were used for various applications such as hauling cargo or people. Some owners even converted them into camper vans and used them to explore the outdoors.

Most vans of the era had rear-wheel drive, so Alfa Romeo went against the grain with their van design. And it was precisely this change that facilitated their use as a platform for van conversions. The front-wheel drive meant that the T10 had a low, flat floor, which created plenty of cargo space in the back and made loading and unloading loads easy. Another benefit is that it allowed the wheelbase to be extended relatively easily.

It was based on a steel chassis with transverse leaf spring suspension in the front and transverse torsion bars in the rear, and it also featured drum brakes at all four corners.

As mentioned, it was offered with a choice of either gas or diesel engine. The gas engine was the tried and tested 4-cylinder line with two chain-driven, overhead camshafts, and a peak power of 37 hp at 3,500 rpm. It was the same engine family used in the sporty Giulietta series and enabled the van to reach a top speed of 94 kph (58 mph).

The diesel alternative was a compact twin-cylinder, two-stroke engine with a Roots compressor. It outputted 31 hp at 2,800 rpm and gave the vehicle a maximum speed of 75 kph (47 mph). The engine and the four-speed manual transmission, which were mounted up front, were accessible from the van's cab.

Due to their versatile design, the vans in the Alfa Romeo Romeo family, built in the Pomigliano d'Arco factory near Naples, had a significant impact on commercial van design in the subsequent years and remained in production over three major generations until 1983.

The beyond-cute 1955 Alfa Romeo T10 "Autotutto" in question here is a camper van conversion that was beautifully restored to vintage specification. It has a distinctive rounded body that differs dramatically from the square-bodied RVs you see on the roads nowadays, complemented by an eye-catching and functional interior fitted with a dinette, a double bed, a compact kitchenette, and various storage options.

Color is an important factor when it comes to vintage campers. This van boasts an eye-pleasing dual-tone exterior with a combination of green and creamy white body paint. It boasts chrome bumpers front and back, rides on color-matched green wheels featuring chrome hub caps, and, remarkably, is still powered by its original supercharged diesel two-stroke engine.

An elevated roof maximizes headroom inside the van and makes the interior seem more spacious, and access to the living space is made through the front cab, from the side door, or through the large rear door.

The minimalist cabin has two single seats wrapped in green upholstery, and some curtains create a sense of separation between the cab and the accommodation area. On the driver's side, there is a large green sofa that folds into a double bed, while the folding dining table and the kitchen block with a sink with running water, a gas cooktop, and plenty of cupboard space occupy the opposite side of the van.

Most Alfa Romeo T10 Autotutto vans were used extensively as workhorses, so few of the surviving units are in good condition. This explains why they're becoming increasingly coveted by collectors, especially those with a knack for vintage campers.

This 1955 restored model is one of the nicest retro campers we've seen and is set to roll across the auction block on February 1 with a price guide of €90,000 – €110,000, which is about $97,200 to $118,800 at today's exchange rates.