The large, blue and distinct 'M' is the logo for parent company, Mackin Inc., owner of Mackin Commerce Center, Ltd., College Park Commerce Center, Ltd., and Piantieri rentals. You'll see more of it in the near future...
The large, blue and distinct 'M' is the logo for parent company, Mackin Inc., owner of Mackin Commerce Center, Ltd., College Park Commerce Center, Ltd., and Piantieri rentals. You'll see more of it in the near future...
At top is Elvira Ruocco and I. She is the Director of the Alfa Romeo Archive in Arese, Italy. Below is Mr. Giannini and I - he's responsible for performance tuning millions of Fiats around the world. We had dinner together (along with Chris and Genny Obert) in Milan several years ago. This was when I had "Big Hair".
I'm always looking to purchase excess quantities or out-of-stock or discontinued inventory, automotive related or not. email me SPiantieri@cfl.rr.com . I'll then give you my cell phone number. I pay a healthy 'referral fee' for passing on information about a collection of literature, boutique items or a parcel of hard mechanical parts that you know is for sale or trade. Tell me about it and we both stand to benefit from it!
The next time you see a "Mom-Bomb" in the parking lot (a Minivan), think of the world's first Minivan - the Fiat Multipla. The name is descriptive of the multitude of abilities that these toaster-shaped vehicles can perform. They have fold-down seats that accommodate large, bulky luggage, will sleep two adults when all the seats are folded down flat, or accept a mixture of passengers/cargo - exactly like their newer cousins that are now all the rage. They have "Cab Forward" design features that any Chrysler engineer would be proud to say that they designed in the mid 1980s. Side cargo doors from the Toyota Previa and Ford Minivans are copied precisely....from the Multipla. The next time someone claims that their Minivan was a Chrysler invention from the 1980s, remind them about Fiat's solution to the American Station Wagon.
I now have cataloged many of the original paint color codes (with samples!) for the late 1950s and early 1960s Fiat Multiplas, Jollys (500 and 600), and 600 Sedans. I own the original "Glasso" and "Glassomax" (later Glasurit) paint chips produced by Fiat/Glasso. I can research your paint colors, for a fee of $25, and provide you with accurate and useful data about the OEM paint for your prized Jolly or Multipla. Often times I can also cross-reference these paint codes to a currently produced Alfa Romeo, PPG, or Sikkens paint code that you can take to your local paint and body shop for exact color matching. I also have, for each year from 1955 to 1985, the first and last chassis numbers for each of the Fiat models made: 500, 600, Multipla, 600D, 850 (Sedan, Coupe, Spider, and Racer), and the X1/9. Included in my database is the chassis types, chassis designations, engine displacement by type, chassis, and engine designation.
A movie, called "Miserable Orphans" was shot here in Orlando in March, 2002. Look for my Multipla, Fiat Jolly and my Alfa Romeo Duetto in it! Note actor's nifty fifty shoes, driver's fedora and green screen.
For all Fiat Multipla Owners After buying a Multipla about 15 years ago, I quickly needed parts and a shoulder to cry on. I cataloged my parts sources (Fiat Plus, Bayless, Fiat Plus, and oh yeah, Fiat Plus) and then found several other Multipla owners. I assembled a small data base and before I knew it I had the rudiments of a Multipla Registry. I now list 60 Multipla owners. Do you know of another one? There are no dues, no newsletter, no meetings. I send to every owner a small pocket- sized registry of all other owners. If someone wishes to submit their car's information but not be listed in it, so be it. I have also listed all
of the Multipla literature that I'm certain of. Surely there are other sales brochures, parts
catalogs, supplements, models, etc. that have reference to the world's first micro-van.
Did you know that there were THREE versions of the Multipla? A sleeper (4/5 seater) was made
in addition to a 6 seat model with individual fold-down seats in the rear. The third version was
a special "taxi" model for the Italian-only market. Including the 600 and the 600D, there are
many variations on a tiny theme based on a simple vehicle for family transportation in the mid
1950s. To me, Multiplas look like a two-tone Toyota Previa going backwards that got stuck in a
hot dryer after being caught in the rain... I've even seen a Multipla-Jolly 600. Talk about an
oddity!
I look forward to your information. Please pass a copy of this along to another Multipla owner!
Please send all correspondence to:
Steven Piantieri
2040 N. Rio Grande Ave.
Orlando, FL 32804
or e-mail me at: SPiantieri@cfl.rr.com
Information about your Multipla
Motore (engine #) _____. _____ * ________ * (Look for 3+3+6 digits)
Year of manufacture _________ Titled? Yes---No
Autotelaio-chassis _____ * _____ * ________ * (stamped above the exhaust, in the firewall
Color _______ Is it two tone? Yes---No. Which color is on top? _______
Original color(s) if known __________________
Interior color(s) _________________ Interior condition ______________
Is yours a 4/5(sleeper) or the 6 person (w/individual fold-down seats?)
Does it have a grab handle on passenger's side?
Present engine # if not original _____ . _____ * ________ * (look for 3+3+6 digits on the engine block)
Tag # __________ State Licensed _________ Is it running? Yes---No
Unusual features _______________________________________________________
Condition: poor/fair/good/excellent/fully restored
Mileage: ___________Is the odometer in Km or in miles?
Previous owners, dates of ownership, city/address, etc.:
Do you know of another Multipla? Where? Who owns it?
Please list any parts for sale or parts wanted:
Do you have any literature not listed below? Look for the date code and publication code
("stampato No." or "Pubblic. #") on the reverse or at fold.
Here's a list of all literature relating to the Fiat Multipla that I know of:
I can take digital photos of them...
Light blue on white 1 pg. undated sales brochure from Ghia, in It/Fr/Eng, of the
Jolly Multipla and 500 Jolly on terrace.
#1278 bifold, purple and black/white.
#1354 AM (lady at newsstand, light blue 600 sedan on cover).
#1354 AM (couple at the shore, medium blue 600 on cover).
#1585 single sheet, orange and white.
#1354/U.S.A. single sheet, red and white.
#1520 6 small pages, accordion-folded 1100 and 600 w/2 women on cover.
#1440 5 small pages, accordion-folded 1100 and 600 w/2 women on cover.
#2375 mustard colored cover, in Italian. 600D
#1824 green cover. 600D. 8 pages.
Fiat full range brochure in French, large format, 4 folds.
Misc. other items that mention the Multipla
Fiat Salesman Guide. 54 pages, a goofy promo item.
Spare parts catalog -bodywork- Type 100.141 Stampato #110.224 (2 part) dated 9/58 2nd edition.
Instruction book 4th Edition dated 4/59 Stampato # 300.770 green cover.
Instruction book 5th Edition dated 9/60 Print No. 300.1039 1500
Road and Track Road test of Multipla - October, 1957.
Hoffman Motors postcard. Yacht basin w/couple at Multipla. $1598.
Popular Mechanics July 1958. Cover photo of Multipla.
Multipla Newsletters Vol 1 #4,5 1982, Vol 2 #1 1983, by Bill Becker, Maryland.
"Specifications Body" 10pgs. "Print SAT -N 1242 January 1957 Norm. 501150"
Postcard of Multipla "Eden Roc" Yacht Tender Henry Austin Clark Jr.
Autocar article about the Multipla 13 May 1955.
Bowers Imports/E. Fronteras/Esserman's one pg full line black and white advertisement. 9 x 12".
Eko brand Multipla model. Red plastic 1:87 scale.
Giocher brand 1:43 Multipla models in a variety of colors, styles.
Brumm brand 1:43 Multipla models in a variety of colors, styles.
Series of Italian-made postcards of one-off Multiplas:delivery vehicles, rabbit-painted, oddities.
Multipla Abarth reference made on pgs 54-5 of Abarth by Braden and Schmidt.
24" wooden model of a Multipla Jolly. I have a photo of it from the Torino Pininfarina studio.
"Fiat and Abarth 500-600" by M. Bobbitt, Veloce Publ. pgs. 27,46-7,69,113-6
International Auto Parade, 1960 pg. 128 Published by Chilton, printed in Germany. (via G.S.)
Book documenting the 37,000 km trip of a Multipla to the North Pole! "Sulle Orme di Marco Polo"
1991
Fiat 600 Club -Luigi Aratari- Viale dei Mille 20, 20129 Milan, Italy. 2/70129081
All the Fiats, Editoriale Domus 5th edition 1996 pgs 352-3, 392-5.
Information about you:
Name _____________________
Address _____________________
_____________________
Phone: ( ___ ) ________ fax: ( ___ ) _________
Your e-mail address: _______________________
Your website address: ________________________
How long have you owned your Multipla? A bit about its history or purchase: ---------Return the above to me ----------------
FIAT MULTIPLA INFORMATION
Here are images of several very rare Multipla-Jolly in Idaho and of a Cisitalia built 'Multipla Weekend' that I saw a brochure of ! Have you ever seen either one?
