Fiat 600 Multipla

If you think French manufacturer Renault created the people carrier with the launch of the Espace, then it's time to think again. The idea of creating a car for carrying large families and building it on the platform of a small family car was very much that of Fiat, which used the architecture of the rear-engined 600 saloon to create the truly unique Multipla. The 600 Multipla was a rather odd-looking beast and was more aerodynamic going backwards than it was going forwards, but that didn't stop it capturing the hearts of European buyers, who eagerly snapped up over 160,000 examples between 1956 and 1966. One model could turn its bench seats into a bed, while the taxi version had only one seat up front alongside a luggage space. Handling was unusual - with the engine and drive wheels at the back and a long, narrow cabin, its behavior could be unpredictable from the driver's seat, especially on wet roads.

Fiat 600 Multipla Specifications