Fiat 416

The Fiat 416 and 416A is a motorised chassis for a typically urban bus of the midibus type, made by the Italian maker Fiat Bus from 1964. Launched that year, it was a real revolution in public transport because it was the first small urban bus, what would now be called a midibus, with a chassis specially designed for the purpose and no longer derived from a truck's. Its engine sits at the centre of the vehicle, flat under the floor, while keeping a low ground height. It was created for very flexible use in all the towns of Italy, for city centre transport and lightly used lines in historic centres, and had great commercial success, staying in the catalogue for 10 years and in service for nearly 40. It offered power steering and a mechanical gearbox, with the engine in an isolated compartment for passenger comfort, and served as the base for many coachbuilders such as Cansa, De Simon, Mauri and Menarini.