Fiat 600 Multipla

The Fiat 600 Multipla is one of the most interesting economy cars produced in the post-war era. As the first mass-produced minivan, it epitomized the family car in post-war Italy: the “Multipla” could carry everything, including the kitchen sink, while consuming very little fuel; achieving around 15 km/l, which was an impressive feat for its time. You might think there’s nothing particularly innovative about it, but the Multipla was among the very first vehicles to redefine the concept of a car as a space to live in and share.

The Fiat 600 Multipla was unveiled at the 1956 Brussels Motor Show and was derived from the small Fiat 600, the model that had initiated mass motorization in Italy the previous year. The 600 Multipla retained the same 2-meter wheelbase and the same engine as its smaller sibling: a small overhead valve, 633 cc, 22 HP four-cylinder engine mounted at the rear and water-cooled. However, the Multipla offered a completely different architecture: measuring 3.5 meters in length, its first-row seats were positioned forward of the front axle. Thus, the Fiat Multipla can be considered the first European minivan.

A distinctive feature was the spare tire mounted inside the cabin, under the dashboard, right in front of the front passenger. Safety considerations were not a priority in those years. The design of the Fiat 600 Multipla caused a sensation: its flat nose and teardrop-shaped body were unusual stylistic choices for the time. Access to the cabin was provided by four doors, with the front ones being “suicide doors.” Another difference from the 600 was in the front suspension, which was taken from the larger 1100 model. The Multipla was only offered in a two-tone paint scheme, a popular choice among the prestigious cars during the boom years.