Even at 52 HP & Suicide Doors, the 1959 Fiat 600 Multipla Shocked Everyone Seating Six Persons

With just 52 horsepower, rear-hinged suicide doors, and a footprint smaller than most modern hatchbacks, the 1959 Fiat 600 Multipla looked wildly impractical on paper. Yet this unconventional vehicle stunned the automotive world by comfortably seating six people, decades before the minivan was even a concept. Built by Fiat, the Multipla used radical packaging, clever interior design, and simplicity to redefine what small cars could do. This video explores how it worked, why it shocked engineers, and why it’s now considered one of the most innovative cars of its era.