‘World’s ugliest car’ finds love at last

In 1998, contemporary reviewers hailed the multi-purpose Fiat’s flexibility, the visibility from the driver’s seat and its three seats in the front row, allowing parents to shuttle one more than the usual maximum of three kids. Photos: dpa/Fiat

The Fiat Multipla has the dubious honour of being the world’s ugliest car, yet 25 years after its bulging, bug-eyed front end jolted the automotive world, fans are rallying round.

What was once the butt of jokes from the showroom floor to the scrapyard is on the way to becoming a cult classic. It seems the Multipla has gotten better with age, like so many once- maligned models.