Fiat 600 Familiare - the microvan of the sixties
Car manufacturers might have us believe that minivans and microvans are a modern invention, but in fact Fiat already had a minibus in its range in the 1960s, the Fiat 600 Familiare.
Seven people, ideally not all taller than the European average, could be transported in the Familiare, which was later also available with a larger capacity and engine power. The car was only 3.8 meters long and 1.49 meters wide and weighed just 910 kg. The permissible total weight was specified at 1,550 kg , which meant that the payload could theoretically be 640 kg, i.e. enough "space" for seven real passengers.
With the 600 cc engine, 25 DIN hp were possible, which resulted in a top speed of 98 km/h, but fuel consumption was only 7.5 liters per 100 km. The engine was located in the rear, which was still considered modern at the time, but there was no luggage compartment when fully loaded, although long journeys with luggage would probably have been better avoided.
