Author Topic: Hello from New Zealand!  (Read 5800 times)

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BenNZ

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Hello from New Zealand!
« on: December 17, 2015, 11:14:09 AM »
I cannot remember where I first saw a 126, but then and there I decided I needed one, I didn't actually see one in person until I purchased mine about two months ago off the internet after a lifetime of waiting, I'm lead to believe only 80 came to New Zealand (I don't know if this includes the 126P's that were sold new here as FSM Niki's). My car is a 1978 Italian import Personal4. It was located about an hours drive away and made for an interesting drive home, The ignition liked to cut out occasionally and I had to make several stops to let it cool down (I've learned not to bother downshifting for hills now). The body was restored about 10 years ago and apart from one rust spot is mint as, I assume the interior is original but is still very mint apart from a crack on the centre console thingy. Everything else was the same as the day it left Italy except with 30+ years of wear. First thing was new plugs and leads. If I accelerated hard enough the airflow would actually lift the lead off of one of the plugs. After a week the fuel pump decided it was no longer and I've just replaced it. I managed to stop the ignition cutting out but in the process killed the radio, headlights, horn and screen washer pump after wiggling too many wires ???. My to do list keeps getting longer! I'm in the middle of restoring an old school roof rack and would love to import some of the older chrome bumpers. I'm loving my new car and man did I almost poo myself when I first got it sideways unintentionally on a wet round about! It's certainly different than driving my '61 land rover on 35 inch mud tires. I love pulling up next to v8s at stop lights and seeing them try and do a burnout in response to seeing my 126, It's like my 650cc of 2 cylinder fury is threatening their v8 manhood. :P

Pete126

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2015, 10:04:03 PM »
Hi BenNZ,  Welcome to the Club not many 126's in New Zealand good that enjoy your 126 :D One of our reprobates (Rusty's Uncle) is in Rotorua at the moment ;D
Pete.      il cavallo piccolo

AvB

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2015, 02:06:01 AM »
:welcome :welcome !!

BenNZ

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2015, 07:48:22 AM »
I hope Rusty's Uncle packed a peg!  :P Rottenrua reeks of Sulfur

mintex

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2015, 09:59:26 AM »
 Hi and  :welcome
 
Dave

stuey

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2015, 10:46:10 AM »
welcome to the forum!  ;D
one resprayed and another arrives- double trouble BIS style!!

DeVilleChris

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2015, 09:12:03 PM »
Welcome to the forums! :)
1979 Fiat 126 DeVille
1979 Fiat 900T Amigo

Rusty's Uncle

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2015, 08:14:10 AM »
Smells lovely here in the cool night breeze. Ben it is great to see a rare 126 surviving in NZ. Off the top of my head according to Allan Cameron only 97 126s were officially imported into NZ . You can check that out by doing a forum search. Allan also drive every car off the boat so he will have driven your car.


I hope Rusty's Uncle packed a peg!  :P Rottenrua reeks of Sulfur

BenNZ

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2015, 12:29:16 PM »
Yep I found the post, 96 personal4s were imported, who knows how many nikis? Given that I've never seen a fiat 500 in person that didn't have a 126 engine, gearbox and brakes a lot of them must have been scrapped after being donor cars. Hell, that might make mine one of the best examples in the county  ;D
Or at least the best looking? I just found this Niki for sale and it's probably a bit minter than mine but I'm not liking the 80s Polish interior or colour much, far tidier looking engine bay, and the electrics probably function XD https://trademe.co.nz/998527626

124cso

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2016, 01:19:18 PM »
Obviously you have not seen many 500's then ?  Lots are still standard and non synchro box is part of the charm. I know of one or two with period adaptation to VW barrels to boost the CCs and there was a full Nardi kit in the window of the Wellington dealer's premises in the 70s.
 If your car is the one off the lot in Palmy, then you need to stop running down the Polish componentry as it's in yours too.
Some reports indicate possibly 90 ish(?) 126s came in as Fiats, probably between about 75 & early 80s? and 40 ish (?) as FSM Nikis during 85/86 and lasted (or lingered ?) til late 88 ? Nothing compared to the five thousand  500s they built here (after they stopped bringing in fully assembled stock.)

I suspect that many of them went thru Manchester Fiat in Chch, perhaps they suited the flat city streets ?

stevooonz

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2016, 11:27:37 PM »
Hi Ben, Stevoo from Auckland, good to know another has been saved and is being used. there are a few about. mine is awaiting re registering so may be a few months from the road yet!

BenNZ

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2016, 11:39:33 PM »
Yea cso mine is the car from the palmy yard.  So you know some of its history then? All I know atm from the dealer is the body was restod circa 2005, first re registered in masterton and a mate of mine knew a guy by the name of Bernie in Carterton that owned it aroun 2009. The dealer said they had a logbook for it and where going to courier it to me but that's yet to happen. Between you and steevo do you know of any other road worthy 126s In NZ?

124cso

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2016, 01:24:48 AM »
Will PM you

Rusty's Uncle

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2016, 05:23:31 PM »
Back in the UK now, snow rain & cold but beer that comes in pints and proper sausages and cheese  :)
There is a thread on the 500 section of the Fiat Forum about a 500 that is located on Stewart Island. The car has a 650 engine and 126 running gear & wheels. So maybe there might be a part stripped 126 down that way.

124cso

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Re: Hello from New Zealand!
« Reply #14 on: February 08, 2016, 02:17:56 AM »
Yes, i know of that car as I know / am aquainted with the previous owner. Probably best that I make no comment re the modifications that took place.
Certainly the new owner must have been keen to get it with what he paid and the distance he was away from the seller - 1500Km and 2 ferry trips - one way!