Fiat 126

The blog about small and funny car Fiat-126.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

The Fiat 126

The Fiat 126 succeeded the popular cult classic the Fiat 500. (See review). Although many regarded the 500 like so many other cars as a poor continuation of the 500, however this was far from the truth and its long history will certainly prove any critic wrong!!

The fiat 126 started production in Italy, in the year of 72” production of the 500 continued alongside the new retro square car. The 126 or “bambino” as the Italians called them had much more to offer. It was faster, continuing with an identical air-cooled engine to the now pretty ancient 500, but the reliability remained, it maintained the cheekiness like the 500, even with the same chrome bumpers. The engine was now a 594cc. The 126 was also slightly more spacious, and fitted in with the changing shape of cars. The small Fiat was ever fuel economical, reaching MPG of up to 60!!! It was the new peoples car of Italy really, but like the 500 it hit the whole world. The engine could be tuned just like the 500’s, and nearly all parts are manufactured, i.e. sports exhaust, Abarth oil sumps, and loads of other parts.

The 126 arrived in Britain the following year (July 1973), the following year after that small revisions were made, which included the sunroof as standard. However the cute little car was still lacking something…SPEED!! In 76’ the 652cc engine was introduced and was named the de Ville, the 126 were now nearing the 70mph mark. The suspension and syncro-mesh gearbox remained throughout all the models of the 126, the gearbox being a favourite as the double de clutching was removed unlike the 500. Many people today enjoy carving up the last remaining air-cooled 126’s and lumping the better engine into there 500. Needless to say, the 126 air-cooled is becoming more of a rarity than the 500!! (Probably due to this). The prices of 126’s are becoming much greater,

A pivotal point in the history of 126 was made in 1980; production of the 126 was stopped in Italy and transferred to Poland who would manufacture the 126. The company was called FSM (abbreviated), which apparently translates to “Small Car Factory” Without doubt this was an excellent move, this ensured we still had this wonderful car while Fiat could focus on bigger projects. From here on the. Little happened to the car for a while, the compression ratio was increased that was about it. A massive development came in 87” with the launch of the “BIS”; the BIS completely rejected the simplicity and reliability of the good old reliable air-cooled engine. The engine was water-cooled, this was the main difference with an up rated engine of 704cc. Secondly the engine was laid horizontally to make the car a handy hatchback. Giving the 126 enthusiasts the well-deserved boot they had longed for! This design was plagiarised from the Fiat 500 van the Giardiniera, which had the air-cooled layed horizontally, and proved very successful. Although it all went wrong with the car major fatal flaw with this car, as I have experienced, the head gaskets go very easily, and in my view is because the thermostat is no where near the cylinder head in fact in the furthest possible place. Therefore opening too late and cooling the engine too late. The other flaw is the position of the radiator, its small, and tucked away and cooled by an inefficient electric fan!!!

Other than the engine, the car is almost identical to the old air-cooled 126’s, various differences include up rated brake drums. The cars drive the same, and feel the same except for the lovely sound of the air-cooled hum and the massive array of sports

Parts, which are readily available for the 500/and air-cooled 126. The BIS was a fraction heavier than the previous models, but Production of the BIS sadly ended in 92, and subsequently was the last year of the 126 for Britain.

Obviously the BIS is more common than the air-cooled 126’s particularly the Italian 70’s models, unfortunately not many of these are around, probably explaining the price of one which sold in ebay recently for nearly £3000. Production of the air-cooled ran along side production of the BIS,

One major part of the BIS Fiat should of incorporated was better seats, the seats were identical to those used in the Fiat 500, and didn’t come with head rests. So on long journeys your no better off than being in a 500.

Prices are rising steadily for the 126, certainly not depreciating. BIS’s go anything from £200 - £1000, relying heavily on the condition of the car. The air-cooled tend to go for a fraction more, however many people would disagree with me. The extra 50cc does make that difference when driving the car, the engine is also quieter and these minor factors made the BIS a more practical car for today’s roads. Cruising at 70 is not a problem for the BIS so ok for the motorways, in that respect, but like I have and so many others have pointed out, reliability lets the BIS down a little, the fact that sports exhaust are not available for the BIS somewhat upsets many, including myself. The heater matrix instantly warms up the car on those cold mornings much more efficiently than the air-cooled model. All in all the BIS is an excellent model of the 126.

When driving any model of the 126, you will find everybody waving at you or smiling, which is reciprocated by a dinky toot from your horn. I have read somewhere that Sterling moss said he has never been downhill and round corners so quickly than in a 126. I don’t know how true this is but another celebrity racing driver Graham Hill amazingly drove from London to Brighton, on only a single gallon of fuel.

from www.fiat126.co.uk.
by Christopher Lakin

    

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