Which 1936 vehicle is often considered the first modern minivan?

The Stout Scarab is often considered the first modern minivan, appearing in 1936.

Designed by American industrial designer and engineer William Bushnell Stout, the Scarab used a one-box body with the engine at the rear. Its roomy cabin had a flexible interior, including movable seats and a folding table. Those features anticipated the space-efficient layout later associated with minivans and people carriers.

Only a small number of Scarabs were built, so it was not a mass-market success. The vehicle was also expensive and unconventional for its period. Its aerodynamic shape contrasted sharply with the separate-engine-compartment bodies common on many 1930s cars.

The label “first modern minivan” is a historical description rather than a universally formal award. Later vehicles such as the Volkswagen Type 2 popularized the idea commercially, while the 1956 Fiat 600 Multipla brought compact people-moving practicality to a wider audience. The Scarab’s importance lies in its early combination of a single-volume body and adaptable passenger space.