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Fiat 126 Chat => Fiat 126 Chat => Topic started by: danthemanic on July 07, 2015, 02:03:31 PM

Title: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: danthemanic on July 07, 2015, 02:03:31 PM
After a number of week of listening to my friends and family telling me I'm crazy, I finally brought my Fiat 126p back to the UK!

I flew into Poznan on Saturday night and my brother-in-law picked me up.  On Sunday morning I was ready to set off.  After moving the car out to the garage, the engine had been running for around 30 seconds.  I switched it off to check the oil and burnt my hand on the exhaust.  Not a good start.

Five minutes after leaving the heavens opened.

(http://i.imgur.com/mhcH4ep.jpg)

By around 11:30 I made my first stop at a rest area close to Berlin.

In the parking area were around 20 Polish guys who had been travelling in a minibus convoy.  They all crowd around and start taking photos and asking questions.  I tell them I'm driving to England and they all think I'm crazy too.

(http://i.imgur.com/uFJigNm.jpg)

The temperature outside is now around 35 degrees C.  I'm driving at a maximum of 80kph and I've turned on the heater to keep the hot air off the engine, windows down full.  All good so far.

I spend a few more hours on the Autobahn waving at everyone who looks and beeps for me. Lots of love for this little car on the continent.  At one point a guy is fully leaning out of the passenger window filming me with his phone and waving.

Finally I make it to Bielefeld, half way between Hanover and Dortmund after 9 hours of driving.  Ibis Budget 41 Euros.

(http://i.imgur.com/wzZcvzF.jpg)

I'd kept my options open at this point.  I wasn't sure if the French could be trusted at Calais.  I decided to take the more expensive ferry from Hook of Holland to Harwich.  Google traffic also suggest that this would be an easier route.

A quick pit stop somewhere near Gouda / Rotterdam - sounds cheesy.  Currently getting around 350km to a full tank.

(http://i.imgur.com/tsBFUwa.jpg)
 
And I make it to the ferry at around 1pm.  Passport control and Stenaline staff all very complimentary.

(http://i.imgur.com/nXTy8yp.jpg)

Arrive in England and the roads are a nightmare.  A12 was shut last night, as was the M3, as was the A31.  I finally arrive home at 2am waking the neighbours dog.  I moved the misses's Yaris in behind over night and the Yaris feels like a monster truck by comparison.

(http://i.imgur.com/QP5Js9x.jpg)

I've taken it to my usual mechanic this morning, he's going to sort an MOT for me next week.  I'll keep you posted.
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: michaelodonnell500 on July 07, 2015, 03:42:15 PM
Good effort and well done!
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: Gadge on July 07, 2015, 05:42:31 PM
Great work!  :D ild love to take my 126 to the Italian lakes one day but I fear it would brake lol. Glad you got back safety
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: dadandlad on July 07, 2015, 07:36:54 PM
Great adventure well done

Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: laners99 on July 07, 2015, 07:40:26 PM
That's amazing, always wanted to do something like this.  Can 100% see why you chose this one. Looks excellent!
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: Bar Vitelli on July 07, 2015, 07:48:18 PM
Respect! Great, pictures, great story and at a great journey!  ;D
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: Rusty's Uncle on July 07, 2015, 09:04:24 PM
Fancy , waking that dog you cruel man  :P
But nice one Dan & nice one  :)
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: 1973/126 on July 08, 2015, 08:35:07 AM
 I think you are crazy too ;D. Well done on getting it back though. The pictures are great :thumbup
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: mintex on July 12, 2015, 11:09:33 AM
Nice one, what a great test for the car that was and i'm happy it made it with no issues  :wave
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: Craig126 on July 18, 2015, 11:50:34 AM
Haha epic road trip, bet it was great fun. Car looks super clean too.
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: danthemanic on July 22, 2015, 04:35:57 PM
Thanks guys.  It was indeed an adventure.

I also learnt that a Fiat 126 was built for neither speed nor comfort, but I still like it.

Happy to say that the MOT was no problem, just the rear fog light was needed.

Also happy that the V5C arrived today from the DVLA.  Big thanks to those that posted instructions in the past, it was a big help.
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: Peter777 on July 30, 2015, 02:51:48 PM
Well done. I just purchased a 126 in Wroclaw and was contemplating driving it back to the UK.
As you mentioned everyone advised not to and having thought about it i ended up getting it sent over here. Picking it up tonight  ;D
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: Peter777 on July 30, 2015, 03:26:04 PM
Im just about to go through the process of getting an MOT, V5c etc.. you couldn't give me some info on how you went about this?
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: pietschokkenbroek on July 31, 2015, 09:35:23 AM
Great story  :thumbup, great trip  :yahoo:, great car  :beer:!! like it!!  :good:
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: max on August 04, 2015, 11:15:19 PM
The previous owner of my 126, drove it all the way from Poland back to UK in the middle of winter without any problems.

Its a sign of good car!
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: danthemanic on July 17, 2016, 09:17:59 AM
Images fixed.
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: eddietebus on August 18, 2016, 10:44:08 AM
My first post :)

Great story, one I was hoping to find as i'm planning a similar trip in November when the easyjet flights open from here to Krakow!

glad you made it back safe and sound :)
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: stuey on August 18, 2016, 12:15:51 PM
love how cool! thats a great colour!
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: danthemanic on August 18, 2016, 12:32:32 PM
My first post :)

Great story, one I was hoping to find as i'm planning a similar trip in November when the easyjet flights open from here to Krakow!

glad you made it back safe and sound :)

Go for it! Just plan for the worst and hope for the best.  Mine didn't miss a beat the whole journey.  There isn't mechanically much to go wrong on an aircooled.  Drive slowly, keep an eye on the oil, have breakdown cover.
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: eddietebus on August 18, 2016, 04:52:39 PM
yeah, its the breakdown cover that's the problem.  French cover mostly covers getting you to a local garage and then giving you a loan car for a week so breaking down in Poland wont be much fun.

i'll make sure I've got a suitcase full of spare parts with me though  :)
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: dmck126fsm on January 14, 2019, 05:24:01 PM
Well done. I just purchased a 126 in Wroclaw and was contemplating driving it back to the UK.
As you mentioned everyone advised not to and having thought about it i ended up getting it sent over here. Picking it up tonight  ;D

" Hi Peter do you remember how much it was to ship over. thanks
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: dmck126fsm on January 15, 2019, 01:17:26 PM
hi guys,

i've spent 2 days trying to find a polish english speaking company to insure a maluch so i can do the same journey. every one i call don't speak any english can anyone please recommend a polish based company to do european insurance so i can drive to get a ferry to dover or harwich, from which it will be transported.

any help will be great or i might drive myself mad ... ha ha ha
Title: Re: Journey Complete - Poland to UK
Post by: Pete126 on January 15, 2019, 03:36:10 PM
Adrian Flux insure cars on the Vin Number give them a ring and tell them you want to drive it over from Poland.