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Forum 43
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Topic starter
15/02/2023 11:23 am
The ‘50’s saw an increase in the number of European cars imported to the States. Among them was Fiat with their popular 500, 600, and 1100 models. The 600 series offered both a 2 door sedan and a 5 passenger people hauler called the Multipla. As an eleven year old boy I was fascinated by this rather odd looking car. The first one I ever saw was at a local Chrysler-Plymouth dealer that had taken on a Fiat franchise. Then one appeared on an estate down the road from our house I remember it was an attractive brown/ivory one.
Some years ago the Italian firm, Brumm did a series of ‘50’s Fiats in 1:43. Nicely done these models were also reasonably priced. Shown here is my 1956 Multipla
David Knight
Richmond, Virginia. USA
15/02/2023 11:34 am
There were a fair number of these odd looking (at the time) cars in my home town back in the day, along with the 500 series car. Usually they were pushing a cloud of blue oil smoke unfortunately and had a bad reputation for unreliability.
15/02/2023 12:18 pm
Wonderful pics David. Funny, I don't ever recall seeing one in person. Maybe I saw one in a museum (once???).... certainly never on the road. I really like the tu-tone paint on yours.
15/02/2023 1:50 pm
Checking my inventory I have one of these in single tone grey by Spot On. A local shop here did, a number of years ago, a full ground up restoration on one since they have become quite collectible. I recall seeing them on the streets when I was young.
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
Karl Schnelle reacted
15/02/2023 2:39 pm
I had a friend that owned one of these in 1967. It was light blue with a white top. He use to drive it to San Francisco to Bill Graham's Fillmore West. The thing couldn't get out of its own way. Going up a hill it was worthless. An installation of a VW engine fixed that. A perfect weird hippy car at the time!
Jack Dodds reacted
15/02/2023 3:11 pm
Very cool model. I've never seen one of these. Great colors.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
Jack Dodds reacted
15/02/2023 3:26 pm
Short video of a real Multipla arriving at a Portuguese car museum. A people carrier indeed! (wheelbase was 79 inches, overall length 140 inches)
Chegada da Fiat 600 Multipla (1958) ao Museu do Caramulo - YouTube
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
Karl Schnelle reacted
Topic starter
15/02/2023 10:59 pm
And here is a comparison in black and white
David Knight
Richmond, Virginia. USA
Karl Schnelle reacted
16/02/2023 9:54 am
I have models of the Multipla and the 500. A friend owns a 500 with it's mighty 18 HP engine. I have driven the 500 and was actually able to get it up to 41 MPH going down a slight grade.
Jack Dodds and John Kuvakas reacted
16/02/2023 1:01 pm
I have models of the Multipla and the 500. A friend owns a 500 with it's mighty 18 HP engine. I have driven the 500 and was actually able to get it up to 41 MPH going down a slight grade.
LOL! It must have been a windy day Bob!
16/02/2023 1:06 pm
Short video of a real Multipla arriving at a Portuguese car museum. A people carrier indeed! (wheelbase was 79 inches, overall length 140 inches)
Chegada da Fiat 600 Multipla (1958) ao Museu do Caramulo - YouTube
It's a cute little bugger in a way but the clip reminds me of just how terribly unsafe they would be in even a minor front end crash. Same goes for the VW van of the 50s and 60s and their American flat front equivalents too I suppose.