Hello from NZ

[Allan]

Hello from New Zealand.
I have purchased and paid for sight unseen a 1981 126 from our local equivalent of ebay. The car which looks to be in good nick is over 1000km away from where I live so going and collecting it will be the first of many adventures I hope to have in this little orange marvel. Despite the fact that the car has lived all it's life in the South Island and I live in the North Island I have actually driven this car. You see when this car and it's 95 siblings arrived new in NZ I was the Service Manager for the then NZ importers and distributors of Fiat and one of my duties was the unloading and distribution of imported vehicles so I would have driven it for sure. I don't think there are too many of the 96 left on our roads. I haven't seen one for years. We also had a few Nikkis arrive from Australia a few years later and I became involved with them. I also ran into Nikkis on Norflok Island during a couple of holidays I had there but they all seemed to have rusted away last time I was there. So I am quite looking forward to my trip to collect my new toy. I will take my camera and will hopefully get some good pictures of it and my trip. If there is anyone else from NZ who reads this let me know and I will be in touch.

[Rusty's Uncle]

Hi Allan , welcome to the forum . I often wondered how many 126s made it to NZ. My son saw 1 or 2 when he was there for four and a half years plus I saw one that is stuck on top of a big pole outside a car dealers , bit south of Rotorua from what I remember. Did they call them a Niki there same as Oz 
The Fiat 500 Bambino history is pretty well known in NZ but pretty much nothing about the 126 as far as I know. I found 5 Bambinos in the Horopito Car Wreckers on my last visit to NZ.
I look forward to hearing more as it looks like "trade me" has turned you up a little gem  [-/

[Pete126]

Hi Allan  (-* To the forum.

[smallcox]

Just like to welcome you and look forward to hearing about your journey to come

[Allan]

Thanks for your replies. I have been associated with Fiat in NZ in various capacities for nearly 50 years.
The first of the 500s arrived in NZ in the late 1950s. I well remember working on a very early model in 1964/5 that did not have wind up windows. Both the D and F were assembled in NZ from CKD packs with quite a bit of local content. As I said 96 126s arrived in 1981 and some Nikkis about 1987/8 but I think the Nikkis that came here were stock that wouldn't sell in Australia. The Nikkis were all a horrible dark maroon colour and for some reason all needed repainting before sale. My first Fiat was a red 500D purchased second hand in 1963. There is a gentleman in Auckland who owns a large collection of D F and 126 in various states of disrepair whom I know quite well so I will be renewing and old friendship when I get mine home. Kind regards to you all.
Allan

[Rusty's Uncle]

It's a funny old world , even though my little motor is not running quite right I thought I would risk it on a trip to the guy that is working on my cylinder head. turned out to be a 260 kms round trip but made it OK 
Bearing in mind the guy that is doing the work mainly deals with classic racing motor bikes it was not surprising when another guy rocked up with a part stripped bike in the back of his van. Probably a Goldie but not sure.
As we passed he said that it was good to see a Bambina . Are you a Kiwi ? I said , answer was yes !
Fairly weird as I had just been explaining 499 , 594 & 652  ccs cars , Nikkis & Bambinos then this Kiwi Bambina  knowledge