Road Trip Advise!

[Abiella]

So I am planning on moving to France for a couple of months in the summer and working in Vineyards. I will be living in the Loire Valley near Tours, and I am pretty confident that my 126 Will make it to this destination. If there are any failures on the way I know enough French to get problems sorted.

However In August I am planning on leaving the wine and Driving from Tours, France to Idanha-A-Nova, Portugal.
Google thinks it will take approx 13 hours but that is probably in a modern car and I would take my time and drive this over 4 or 5 days. Then I will stay in Portugal until I start missing Blighty and hopefully return with my Fiat 126. ! (most likely on a ferry from Santander to Plymouth)

Has anyone els made any long road trips like this in their 126's? I know some people who did it in the 70's.
As my Fiat 126 is a Polski Air cooled I was wondering if there would be big problems with it over heating in Spanish and Portuguese heat.

Any advise would be much appreciated!

A lot of people are saying I'm crazy to suggest this.

[nrg19uk]

Sounds like fun  there's plenty of Australians that drive in hotter temperatures and clock up some serious miles
they will hopefully give you a few pointers.

[DEYAN IYI]

If everything is fine with your car, you will need only a bit ticker oil (more heat-resistant one) 20W50.

You can use the special rod that holds the tail hood a bit opened.

The other things like bigger oil sump and radiator are kind of spendy (and complicated if we talk about the oil cooler) and not really needed in you case, but those are things that each ride would love.

[Darrell]

I envy you, the roads down that way are so smooth and make for a real pleasant drive with hardly any other traffic.

I have done that trip with the Passat, but I cannot see why a 126 would not do it as long as you obey rule No1 of 126 driving - drive with a bit of mechanical sympathy 

[Allan]

You are not crazy. With the modern car with all it's bits and pieces road trips like this are no longer a pleasure. It will be an adventure and no matter what ever happens you will remember it for a long time. Enjoy

[edsaysyes]

I always try and watch the travel channel Budapest to Bamako in Mali trip Think it was Jan 2010 one of the cars was a Fiat126p They had a few problems but got there My 126 Has been all over Germany up and down the autobahns so wish you all the best on your plans and it will be a great drive as I have driven many times from UK to all parts of Portugal when I used to do a lot of business there.

[popik81]

I come from TYCHY in Poland and I had a trip to Bulgaria, and few times over polish bałtyk and was fine:)

You can use the special rod that holds the tail hood a bit opened.

The other things like bigger oil sump and radiator are kind of spendy (and complicated if we talk about the oil cooler) and not really needed in you case, but those are things that each ride would love.

open hood isnt better... first think take down that plastic covers from tail hood... they are good for winter... i was in italy(not in my bambino) and no one had open hood....

[Abiella]

Thanks for the info guys.
I took him for a spin over Dartmoor and cant wait for my summer trip!

[Bar Vitelli]

Good luck with your road trip, Abiella...be sure to post loads of pictures!