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600 Styling
The Multipla's family lineage is obvious because the lower half of the rear body is identical to the Fiat 600 sedan. The rear egine lid is also the same. However, the body is some 8 inches taller overall and 2 inches wider.

Forward Control
To maximize interior space, the driver is seated at the very front of the car. This posed problems for the steering, which had to have a right angle joint between the driver's legs.

Specifications. 1957 Fiat 600 Multipla

ENGINE

Type: In-line four-cylinder Construction: Cast-iron block and aluminum cylinder head Valve gear: Two valves per cylinder operated by single camshaft Bore and stroke: 2.36in x 2.20in Displacement: 633cc Compression ratio: 7.0:1 Induction system: Single Weber carburetor Maximum power: 22 bhp at 4,600 rpm Maximum torque: 29 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm

TRANSMISSION

Four speed manual

BODY/CHASSIS

Unitary monocoque construction with steel four door minivan body

RUNNING GEAR

Steering: Worm-and-roller Front suspension: Wishbones with coil springs, telescopic shocks and anti-roll bar Rear suspension: Semi-trailing arms with coil springs and telescopic shocks Brakes: Drum (front and rear) Wheels: Steel, 12-in. diameter Tires: 5.20x12 in.

DIMENSIONS

Length: 140.8 in Width: 57.0 in Height: 62.3 in Wheelbase: 78.75 in Track: 48.3 in (front), 45.5 in (rear) Weight: 1,624 lbs.

Milestones

1956 A little behind schedule, the Fiat Multipla makes its debut at the Brussels Motor Show. It is based on the 600 sedan and can seat six people. A taxi and 4/5-seater version are also available.

1960 A larger 767cc engine is installed along with improved and more efficient brakes.

1966 As a victim of new safety rules concerning the rear-hinged doors, the Multipla reaches a premature demise. The 600 sedan had changed to conventional doors two years earlier. About 160,000 Multiplas have been built during its 10-year production run.

So, what is a Fiat Multipla, you ask? Well, it's a utility vehicle, a variant of the Fiat 600, which is, itself, the Fiat 500's big (well, bigger) brother.
The Multipla was available in several configurations and bodies from at least a couple of manufacturers. This one is an early model with the 600cc engine. It has a four speed transmission and locks the transmission when the parking brake is engaged. The 600D models had a couple of additional changes including a brake that engages the rear brakes instead of the transmission.

The van is about 4'6" wide and a little over 5' tall. It's a bit over 11' long. Very much like the VW bus, the driver sits over the front tires, but because of the steering configuration and the short length to the front of the car, the driver has to straddle the steering gear. I'll post some pictures of this soon. In the meantime, check out this info I got from a Cutting Edge article.

Fiat 600 Multipla
Italy 1956-1966

Vital Statistics

Top speed 62 mph 0-60mph 54.0 sec. Engine type In-line four Displacement 633cc Max power 22 bhp at 4,600 rpm Max torque 29 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm Weight 1,624 lbs Gas mileage 40 mpg Price $1,598

It is generally accepted that the 1983 Dodge Caravan was the original minivan, but almost 30 years earlier Fiat had introduced the granddaddy of them all. In a masterstroke of packaging, the 600 Multipla could squeeze six passengers into a body that measured under 12 feet.

The best way to describe the Multipla is idiosyncratic. It's like no other vehicle. The driving position is similar to a VW bus - you sit upright with the wheel horizontal in front of you. The Multipla is no hare in action, and when fully loaded, the progress is slow. While roadholding is good, the handling can be tail hapy if the little van is driven too fast. For all that, driving a Multipla can be great fun because it is so unique.

MY MULTIPLA . Notice the 13" rims that it's running on. It's suppossed to make the ride smoother, though I've only been able to test such when steering the car around the driveway as it was being pulled onto the flatbed truck. I have the 12" wheels, which I may opt for at some point. Not sure yet. - more pictures of my Multipla coming soon.

Value Guide

Original price 1957: $1,598

Current value: $2,000-$8,000

Production Total: 160,260

Forward Control
The Fiat 600 replaced the old "Topolino" Fiat in 1955, but a station wagon version was almost impossible to engineer around the rear-mounted engine. The solution was to move everything forward. The Multipla's platform is virtually identical to the 600 sedan; it has the same tiny wheelbase, but is 10 inches longer and has slightly wider front and rear treads. Naturaly, there are some differences, notably to the steering gear.

Its cab-forward design makes driving the Multipla feel like driving a tiny bus.

The Power Pack - Pint-pot Motor The Multipla uses the same 633cc rear-mounted engine as the Fiat 600 sedan. This means a water-cooled four-cylinder unit that is compact and returns good gas mileage. The cast-iron cylinder block has an integral upper crankcase and an aluminum cylinder head. The whole engine/transmission unit weighs a mere 238 lbs. With a 7.0:1 compression ratio an d a single Weber carburetor, it produces 22 bhp. In 1960, the engine was enlarged to 767cc and power went up to 32 bhp.

Cult Minivan
It would not be unique to say that the Multipla has a cult following. It's a historic machine in one way - as the very first of the minivans - but it also has a design cuteness and a practicality that puts rivals in the shade. It's rare today, too, making it more valuable than the straight 600 sedan.

In Italy, the Multipla became an icon, a jack-of-all-trades that could act as a people carrier, small truck, taxi, camper, or regular sedan. Its styling and layout may look odd but it worked well - and at a bargain price!

'Suicide' front doors

Like many European small car designs of this area, the front doors hinge at the rear to provide better access for the driver and front passenger. The obvious safety implications of this setup led to the nickname 'suicide' doors.

Rear-mounted engine

The small four-cylinder powerplant sits at the rear of the car and is easily accessible for servicing. It is unusual in that it incorporates the transmission within it as a single unit, saving weight and complexity.

600 chassis

It may look like a mini truck, but the Multipla is based on the platform of a Fiat 600 sedan. The wheelbase and rear engine/suspension are identical, although the steering, track and front suspension are altered.

Fiat 1100 front suspension

To cope with the extra weight over the front axle, the transverse leaf spring suspension of the 600 was substituted by the coil springs and anti-roll bar from the larger 1100 sedan.