Author Topic: What Made You Buy a 126?  (Read 11559 times)

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ChrisRLewis

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #15 on: May 17, 2005, 10:50:11 PM »
Not sure on the quality on the polish versions? But I was told once that the Italian engines were better than the polish ones!


Quote from: "Chris Lakin"
yes there is somthing about the 126's retro design, i have heard the FSM made polish 126's are of better quality than the italian. what does everyone think i have a polish BIS, i love the look of this 126



but lowerd

Chris

fiatfsm

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #16 on: May 18, 2005, 10:34:59 AM »
I have it on good authority from someone who used to work for Fiat, that the Polish built cars are tougher and more durable than the Italian ones. Thing is, the Italians made them from 1972 up to 1984, the Poles made them from 1973 to 2000, so they got more practice. I know the Italian carb is way better though!
1987 Fiat 126 FSM, alloys, clear lights, Polish tat accessories... love it!

Chris Lakin

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #17 on: May 18, 2005, 11:36:46 AM »
thanks for that Fiatfsm, we should have a historical timeline page on the website, if any one has any time to do a write up or a timeline that would be great. i have one fiat history book but it focusses on the 500,600 and seicento. I cant believe that the poles made them untill 2000???

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Chris Lakin

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #18 on: May 18, 2005, 11:38:41 AM »
My brother said to me the other day, could you imagine if you got hold of the moulds and designs, we would have 126's on the road for centuries.

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

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fiatfsm

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #19 on: May 18, 2005, 05:45:00 PM »
Trouble with a timeline is the Polish built cars are a bit confusing and the language doesnt help!!!
But its something like this... I think!
 
1972 126 with 600cc engine, chrome bumpers, 500 style wheels/hubs.
1976 Gets 650cc engine, chrome bumpers on low spec cars, 126 Deville
        has black plastic bumpers, new wheels and hubs. Basically carries on
        with special editions and the like up till end of Italian production in 1984 Now all UK cars are Polish made FSMs, bigger bumpers, new interiors
        and at last a steering rack!
1987 Aircooled ends in UK and replaced by the BIS, aircooled still
        sold in Eastern Europe as 126p.
1991 Bis ends production.
1995 New bodypanels for wings and doors, smoothed off look.
1998 I think... cars get catalytic convertors and emmission stuff.
2000 Last 126s made all badged happy end!! 400 in total.
        Cars still in dealer network for a time, I saw one in December  
        2004 with no miles on for 3.5k!

 Thats not exhaustive but a rough guide.
1987 Fiat 126 FSM, alloys, clear lights, Polish tat accessories... love it!

Chris Lakin

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #20 on: May 18, 2005, 07:13:09 PM »
Blimey thats brilliant, i had no idea they were made up untill 2000 im so shocked at that! did they look much different??

thanks for that time line, i might try and get that on the website in some format.

Chris
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fiatfsm

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #21 on: May 19, 2005, 04:55:49 PM »
Yeah, they smoothed out the sides, losing the scolloped out bit! I have a few photos of them but they are all normal pics, not digital! You must do Poland before too long, as they are everywhere, its amazing![/img]
1987 Fiat 126 FSM, alloys, clear lights, Polish tat accessories... love it!

slater

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #22 on: May 19, 2005, 06:03:39 PM »
Like that?




ChrisRLewis

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #23 on: May 19, 2005, 06:25:20 PM »
did the last ones still have the aircooled motor?

fiatfsm

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #24 on: May 19, 2005, 06:32:02 PM »
Thats the bunny! Yep, all the cars had aircooled motors, very late they had cats and emission stuff too. Trouble was, the cat wasnt to western european standards, but in the late 90s a swedish company made a 3 way cat for them and.... one enterprising German company called Petra started importing them into West Germany and modifying them for TUV standards (german MOT). They were around ?3000 and I tried to get one in 2000, but the DVLA wanted to test the car for drive by noise etc.... would have cost a bomb. The last ones were available in broom yellow like the cinq sportings! The very last 126 made is in a museum in Turin apparently. However, this was number 400 of the happy end model, but, when in Poland I saw a higher numbered one.....
1987 Fiat 126 FSM, alloys, clear lights, Polish tat accessories... love it!

ChrisRLewis

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #25 on: May 19, 2005, 06:41:44 PM »
Thats very interesting information!
So I guess that they run on unleaded with no problem?
If so any idea if the cylinder heads are interchangeable with the older aircooled versions?
Sounds like an easy way for an unleaded conversion :roll:

fiatfsm

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What Made You Buy a 126?
« Reply #26 on: May 19, 2005, 07:00:03 PM »
Ah! Thats asking a bit much! An unleaded conversion wont cost much anyway, my mate had his Triumph Dolomite done for ?90 all in. Just you try talking to a Polish dealer and asking for a head!!! Im lucky, local to me is a garage selling the real leaded stuff at... ?1.23 a litre! Its not LRP, just real leaded fuel, I only do a few miles in the 126 so use it once every 3 or 4 fill ups.
1987 Fiat 126 FSM, alloys, clear lights, Polish tat accessories... love it!