Moretti Minimaxi History

The Minimaxi debuted in 1970 as Moretti's take on the open leisure car craze that also produced the Citroën Méhari and the Fiat Jolly. Built on the rear-engined Fiat 500 floorpan, it retained the 500's 652 cc two-cylinder air-cooled engine (approximately 25 hp) but wore a new open body with a folding windshield, open sides, and a simple rollbar — designed for beaches and resort towns.

The floor-mounted four-speed gearbox and rear-wheel drive were carried over from the donor Fiat 500. Top speed was around 95 km/h (60 mph). Sources vary, but only about 80–90 examples of the 500-based car were built across roughly 1970–1973, making the Minimaxi one of the rarer Moretti specials. The design was then adapted to the Fiat 126 chassis, and the 126-based Minimaxi continued into the early 1980s as the 500's successor platform took over.