Fiat 600 Multipla Four years before the revolutionary BMC Mini was launched, Fiat had released its own series of mini cars, of which the 600 Multipla is by far the most interesting. It was a stretched version of its 600 series 2 door sedan, in which the stretching of the centre section and rearrangement of the front end made it possible possible to add 2 extra seats and doors- making it a genuine six seater 4 door sedan, all within a length of just 3.53 metres! In the years that followed World War II, it became obvious to Fiat management that the future lay in a small car, cheap to manufacture and cheap to buy. Chief technical designer Dante Giacosa set about finding a replacement for the 500 Topolino: Project "100". Much development and testing resulted in a shape enclosing four people with a minimum of sheet metal, powered by a simple, reliable four-cylinder engine mounted at the rear for cost reasons. The resulting Fiat 600 was one of the great success stories of the twentieth century, with some 2.7 million cars produced. The mixed-use station wagon, called 600 Multipla (All Service), was introduced a year later, in 1956. The idea was to multiply the serviceability of the 600 for both family motoring and business use. Drastically underpowered, its tiny 4 cylinder 600cc motor motor struggled to haul its load, especially with six people aboard, but it returned an incredibly miserly fuel consumption and did its job well, if slowly. Incredibly versatile, its rear seats could be removed to reveal carrying space equal to the back of a large station wagon. Alternatively, the seats coulds be layed flat to create a sleeping area just a tad narrower than that of a queen size bed! The multi-place seating was very flexible through a combination of folding seats. Three versions were available: * The 4/5 seater had bench seats front and rear that folded to make a bed. * The 6-seater had a front bench and four individual seats that folded completely flat into the floor to make a roomy load platform. * The Taxi version had a single seat and luggage platform in front, separate folding seats in the middle, and a bench seat in back, together with a division. This amazing little vehicle wasn't the best looking box on wheels and because of that, failed to sell in markets where looks sold cars (America and Australia, to name two). The first series, manufactured between 1955 and 1960, sold 76,871 units worldwide with the 633cc motor. The second series, named the 600D, sold 83,398 units until its manufacture ceased at the end of 1967. A larger motor (767cc) was offered throughout its production period, with 76,871 units being sold in series one mode and 83,389 units badged as the Multipla D between 1960 and 1966.