Fiat Cinquecento Pick-Up

The Fiat Cinquecento Pick-Up by Pininfarina was an unconventional experiment that mixed compact city-car proportions with surprising practicality.

Conceived in a small landaulet-style format, it echoed the spirit of lightweight soft-top 4×4s like Suzuki’s, while offering an inventive interior solution: the rear seats folded completely into the floor, instantly turning the car into a usable pickup, an idea later seen on cars such as the Citroën C3 Pluriel.

The concept was developed as part of a group of prototypes created to mark the launch of the Fiat Cinquecento and was unveiled to the public at the 1992 Turin Motor Show.

Despite attracting attention alongside other show cars, the Pick-Up never progressed beyond the concept stage, with the only comparable continuation being a separate proposal from Italdesign.

The project itself was realized under extremely tight budget constraints and was led by Paolo Garella. With little more than basic resources, Garella and a single mechanic built the car without formal design drawings, relying instead on hands-on problem-solving to turn the idea into a working vehicle.

Seeing the finished Cinquecento Pick-Up drive under its own power, with the four-wheel-drive system operating flawlessly, became a defining moment of pride for the team.

Garella’s bond with the car endured long after its debut. In 2007, he personally asked Andrea Pininfarina for permission to buy the prototype, a request that was ultimately approved, underscoring the car’s special place in his career.

Following Andrea Pininfarina’s departure from the company, Pininfarina management confirmed the sale, cementing the Pick-Up’s singular backstory.

A second example of the Cinquecento Pick-Up was later built specifically for the Sultan of Brunei, adding another rare chapter to the history of this unusual concept.