The model 42 Desert car originated the Italian Army on the basis of the framework and mechanics about the AB 41 armoured car. During the period of the operations regarding African front side, the necessity arose for a reconnaissance car particularly adjusted toward backwoods conditions, in which driving in sand required particular features (big size tyres at low anxiety, height through the ground, extensive autonomy) which were not current in available automobiles. The engineers eliminated the twin running method typical from the AB 41 as well as the four-wheel drive. The vehicle had been manufactured in two armament designs: one with 20 mm cannon/machine tool therefore the other with 47/32 anti-tank cannon. A few dozen of the cars was in fact produced
