Moretti Minimaxi

The Minimaxi was a small open utility car that Moretti built on the mechanics of the Fiat 500, first shown in 1970. It belonged to the group of stripped down, jeep-like fun cars of the period, alongside the Volkswagen Thing, the Citroen Mehari and the Mini Moke. It was one of the mini-offroaders and beach cars that Moretti turned to in the 1970s. Lane Motor Museum dates production to 1971 through 1974 and counts fewer than 200 built, while an auction house describes one example as believed to be one of only 90 made. When the Fiat 126 arrived, Moretti adapted the Minimaxi to its underpinnings. It filled one of the narrow niches Fiat itself left vacant.