Hello all on the forum.
I'm Uros and I'm coming from Slovenia, currently living in London, UK. 2 years ago I managed to save Fiat 126p from 1985 from one of the Slovenians fields. The story of the car was, that was in a garage for 5 years, than they have birthday party in that garage, put it out and never went back to garage. So it was in the field for few years before I bought it.
When the owner agree to sell the car, we went to pick the car in style
As every "project" start I wash it to see how it really looks.
The story behind why I bought that car is that I wanted to participate in the biggest amateur rally in world, called Budapest - Bamako 2018. Because to the finish line of the rally is around 8600km I had to "fix" the car before I start with the rally. I found brand new engine in Poland, sitting in the attic of the house from 1987. When I get the engine with 0km on the clock, we open it, change all seals and anything that was "need" to be changed after so years and kick to start it.
Because I had to remove my back seats for travelling material, I installed some isolation to prevent noise from back of the car.
After we fit the engine in the car, change all the bearings and everything need to be changed around suspension, my friend polished car for me for my friends wedding.
Because I didn't want to go to rally with 0km on the clock, me and my girlfriend decided to make a quick trip around Dolomites and the sea. The whole trip was Slovenia - Austria - Italy - Switzerland - Liechtenstein - Switzerland- France- Italy - Slovenia. We did together 4117km in 15 days with a lot of 2000m+ mount passing and nice routes. Breakdowns? Both brand new rear tyres were worn because of new back suspension - the position of the car was to high.
So meanwhile we got some sponsors and had to "decorate" car with the stickers before we start the rally.
In 12. January 2018 we started from Slovenia, the goal was Banjul in Gambia.
We reach the finish line on 28. January and we did 8395 KM. Because I didn't want to sell the car in Gambia, and I didn't want to spend money on the boat shipping I decided to drive it back home.
I reach back home in Slovenia 17. February 2018. Me and my car did together 17.200km in 36 days. I spend around 1135L of fuel had to change front right bulb and 2 tyre tubes (they were a little bit to big
).
Engine in rally
Engine back home
The car is still running good, but now my father is driving it, because I'm currently in London.
And that on last picture is me
Facebook page of the car and trips:
https://www.facebook.com/Fiat126pGoesToAfrica/Webpage about rally:
http://www.fiat126p.si/en/