Fiat 600 Multipla Sabrina

The Fiat 600 Multipla Sabrina is a limited-production variant of the Fiat 600 Multipla, constructed between 1960 and 1963 by Carrozzeria Fissore. Designed as a bespoke interpretation of Fiat’s utilitarian MPV, the Sabrina diverged from the standard Multipla both aesthetically and functionally, embodying a more angular and modernist design language. The vehicle reflects the post-war Italian tradition of coachbuilt adaptations applied to mass-market platforms, often serving commercial or semi-institutional purposes. Built upon the Fiat 600 D Multipla chassis, the Sabrina retained the original’s rear-mounted, water-cooled inline-four engine of 633 cubic centimeters, coupled to a four-speed manual gearbox. This drivetrain configuration offered modest performance, sufficient for the urban and light-duty commercial tasks for which the vehicle was intended. Mechanical components were otherwise unchanged from the donor model, preserving the reliability and serviceability associated with Fiat’s production vehicles of the era. The most evident departures from the base model are found in the Sabrina’s exterior styling. Carrozzeria Fissore introduced a squared-off front end with an integrated grille, flush-mounted headlamps within reshaped front fenders, and smooth, planar body panels that eschewed the curvilinear forms of the original Fiat Multipla. The Sabrina’s profile adopted a more upright, architectural silhouette, enhancing internal volume and visual coherence. Variants were configured for a range of uses, including six-passenger taxis with driver partition, two-door commercial vans, and family-oriented models with foldable rear seating. Production numbers remain exceptionally low, with fewer than five complete vehicles known to exist. Among the surviving examples is a promotional model constructed for the Italian feed company Pan-Provimi, distinguished by branding elements and period-specific livery. Chassis number data is incomplete, though records indicate that vehicles were constructed on standard Multipla underpinnings, often re-bodied post-production by Fissore in Savigliano. The Fiat 600 Multipla Sabrina occupies a marginal yet significant position within the history of Italian automotive coachbuilding. It represents a rare convergence of utility and design experimentation during a period in which carrozzerie engaged in creative adaptation of otherwise modest industrial products. As a result of its rarity and the distinctiveness of its form, the Sabrina is regarded as a collectible artifact of mid-century Italian vehicular culture.