| Fiat 126 Polski Fiat 126p | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Fiat (1972–1980)[1] FSM (Polski Fiat 126p, 1973–1992) Fiat Auto Poland (1992–2000) |
| Also called | Zastava 126 (Yugoslavia) Steyr Puch Fiat 126 (Austria) Fiat 126 Maluch (Poland) FSM Niki (Australia) |
| Production | 1972–2000 4,673,655 units |
| Assembly | Cassino, Italy Termini Imerese, Italy Tychy, Poland (Polski Fiat) Kragujevac, Yugoslavia (Zastava) Graz, Austria (Steyr Puch) |
| Designer | Sergio Sartorelli |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | City car (A) |
| Body style | 2-doorsaloon 3-doorhatchback (PF 126 BIS) |
| Layout | RR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 594 ccR2 652 cc R2 704 cc R2 |
| Transmission | 4-speedmanual , 1st gear not sychronized |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 1,840 mm (72.4 in)[2] |
| Length | 3,054 mm (120.2 in)[2] |
| Width | 1,378 mm (54.3 in)[2] |
| Height | 1,302 mm (51.3 in)[2] |
| Curb weight | 580–619 kg (1,279–1,365 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Fiat 500 |
| Successor | Fiat Panda,Fiat Cinquecento |
TheFiat 126 (Type 126) is a four-passenger,rear-engine,city car manufactured and marketed byFiat over a twenty-eight year production run from 1972 until 2000, over a single generation. Introduced by Fiat in October 1972 at theTurin Auto Show,[1] the 126 replaced theFiat 500, using major elements from its design. A subsequent iteration, marketed as the126 Bis, used a horizontally oriented, water-cooled engine, and featured a rear hatchback with additional cargo space.
The majority of 126s (some 3.3 million) were manufactured inTychy andBielsko-Biała plants,Poland and were marketed as thePolski Fiat 126p in many markets. Fiat stopped marketing the 126 in 1993 in favor of its new front-enginedCinquecento. Total production reached approximately 4.7 million units.
In Poland, the car became a people's car,[3] and acultural icon, earning the nicknameMaluch, meaning "The Little One" or "Toddler",[4][5] a name that eventually became official in 1997, when 'Maluch' started appearing, badged on the rear of the car.
In early 2020, the 28-year production run of the Fiat 126 was counted as the twenty-sixth most long-lived single-generation car in history byAutocar magazine.[3]
The 126 shared its wheelbase and much of the mechanical underpinnings and layout with the Fiat 500, featuring a revised, slightly larger bodyshell designed bySergio Sartorelli with improved safety and interior space. The added interior space resulted from moving the starter from the top of the engine bellhousing to the side which permitted shifting the bulkhead/rear seat rearward approximately 10 cm, and the lengthening of the roof for rear-seat headroom.
The engine capacity was increased from 594 cc to 652 cc at the end of 1977 when the cylinder bore was increased from 73.5 to 77 mm.[6] Claimed power output was unchanged at 23 hp (17 kW), but torque was increased from 39 N⋅m (29 lb⋅ft) to 43 newton-metres (32 lb⋅ft).[6] The 594 cc engines were still available in early 1983 production. The 652 cc engine was later also used in theFiat Panda 30, but then positioned in the front and combined with front wheel drive.[7]
A subsequent change in 1987 by FSM was the BIS version that was made until 1991. The 126 BIS gained a hatchback to access an additional cargo space on the rear, which was freed by replacing the air-cooled engine with the water-cooled 704 cc 26 hp (19 kW) flat-twin.
The 126 was manufactured at Fiat'sCassino andTermini Imerese plants until 1979, with an overall production of 1,352,912 manufactured in Italy.
The 126 was also manufactured under license byZastava inYugoslavia. InAustria, it was briefly assembled bySteyr Puch as a successor to the successfulPuch 500, with the assembly of 2,069 cars through 1975.[8] InGreece, there was an attempt to produce a small car namedDIM whose technical layout was primarily based on the 126, but only ten were produced before the project was abandoned.[citation needed]
The 126 did not achieve the popularity of the 500 in Western Europe, as the rear-engined layout was displaced by better packaging and handlingfront-engine, front-wheel drive cars. The 126 became one of the last and longest-production rear-engine small cars manufactured in Europe, survived only by theVW Beetle whose production lasted until 1978 (2003, globally). The 126 was also the last rear-engine small car manufactured in Europe until the advent of theSmart Fortwo.
For a brief period in the early 1990s, a German company called POP also offered convertible versions of the 126 BIS. Two models were offered: a lesser equipped one called the "POP 650" and a more luxurious model called the "POP 2000".
_02.jpg)
_05.jpg)
_07.jpg)
InPoland, the car was produced under license byFabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych (FSM) (En: Small-Displacement Car Factory) inBielsko-Biała andTychy under the brandPolski Fiat 126p (literally in English:Polish Fiat 126p) between 1973 and 2000.
Due to its relatively low price, it was prevalent in Poland and was arguably the most common Polish car in the 1980s. Its tiny size gave it the nicknamemaluch ("the small one", "small child", pronounced[ˈmalux]). The nickname became so popular that in 1997, it was accepted by the manufacturer as the car's official name.
.jpg)
At first, it was almost identical to the basic model: differences included a higher chassis, a modified grille on the back, and the front indicator lenses that were clear white in Italy, but orange in other markets. The letter "p" was added to its name to distinguish it from the original Italian car.
Throughout the 1980s, the 126p was continuously modified. First, it received upgraded brakes and new wheels from Italian Fiat. Hazard warning lights were added to meet new lighting requirements.
In 1984, the 126 received a facelift, giving it plastic bumpers (for all versions) and a new dashboard. This model was named the Fiat 126p FL. In 1985, a single rear fog light and reversing light (on opposite sides) were added to the standard plastic bumpers; an electronic ignition system andalternator replaced the undersized generator around 1987. In 1994, the 126p received another facelift and some parts from theFiat Cinquecento; this version was named 126 EL. The 126 ELX introduced a catalytic converter.
In 1987, the 126 BIS began production, featuring a water-cooled 704 cc engine of Polish construction. However, the original model continued to be produced for the Polish market. BIS used some parts from theFiat Cinquecento.
The factory battery in 126p had a 35-amp hour capacity, which, combined with the undersized generator, the car had a fully charged battery only if driven for an extended time. Upgrading a 45-amp hour battery from the Fiat 125p (1.5 Litre engine) improved the cold start reliability.
The 126p was exported to manyEastern Bloc countries, and for several years, it was one of the most popular cars inPoland and inHungary as well. It also found a minor market in Australia between 1989 and 1992 under the nameFSM Niki. During that period, it was Australia's cheapest car.[9] There was a convertible version developed for the Australian market.[10] It was also successful inCuba where it was one of the best-selling cars of its time and an estimated 10,000 are still registered today.[11]
The 126p also has a history inChina: In the early 1980s, it became one of the first passenger cars to be imported to the country. The government initially bought 10,000, mainly used as taxis, but later, the 126p became available for private buyers - a rarity in the country then. In the 1980s, it was one of the best-selling cars in China, selling around 30,000 units per year.[12]
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, several experimental prototypes were developed in Poland. A cargo version was designed in 1974 called "Bombel" (literally "bubble", but also a colloquial term for "small child") because of its fiberglass bubble-shaped cargo area; an off-road version propelled by caterpillar tracks and a front-wheel drive, front-engined model, with a longer front end and a flat cargo area in the rear where the original 126 had its engine.[13] The rear of this prototype was similar to the 126 Bis which also had a rear hatch for accessing a cargo space created by mounting its flat water-cooled engine under the floor.
There was also an attempt at installing a small diesel engine (due to gasoline rationing) in the classic 126p body. It is also a popular platform for electric motor and motorcycle engine swaps.
The car's global production was 4,673,655 units: 1,352,912 in Italy, 2,069 in Austria by Fiat-Steyr, and 3,318,674 in Poland.
The PF 126p has a special meaning for Poles, and its story is connected to Polish politics during the communist period (Polish People's Republic, up to 1989). During the absolute rule of thePZPR, a private car was considered a luxury item due to limited availability and low salaries. In 1971, there were only 556,000 passenger cars in Poland.[15] In a top-downplanned economy, decisions on whether a state-owned factory could produce a car were taken on political and not just economic grounds. The authorities themselves initially did not find the idea of private cars attractive. The first relatively cheap Polish car was theSyrena, but it needed to be updated, and its production was low. Limited numbers of cars were also imported from other Eastern Bloc countries. It was challenging to buy a Western car because thePolish złoty, like other currencies in communist states, was not convertible to Western funds, and the country had no free market.
Thus, the PF 126p was intended to be the first real, popular, and affordable car to provide mobility for ordinary families. The license was bought after the rise to power of a newPZPR leader,Edward Gierek, who wanted to gain popularity by increasingconsumer spending after the austerity period underWładysław Gomułka. Even though it was a tinycity car, it was the only choice for most families, filling the role of afamily car. During holidays, it was common to see families of four driving PF-126s abroad with huge suitcases on aroof rack; sightings of PF-126s towing a smallNiewiadów N126 caravan especially designed for the PF 126 were also occasionally reported.[16] PF 126p production, however, was not sufficient and the PF 126p was on sale with a waiting list. Usually, families had to wait a few years to buy a car.[16] The authorities could also give a coupon to purchase a car based on merit or relationship.
InPolish it is calledMaluch, which literally means "small one" or toddler (and was an official name since 1997),[17] as well asmały Fiat ("small Fiat"), in contrast toFiat 125p, calledduży Fiat ("big Fiat").[18] In some regions, it is also calledKaszlak,[19] literally "cougher" (derived fromkaszel, "cough", as its engine's sound resembles a cough when it is started).
InAlbanian it is known asKikirez, meaning a "little rooster".[20]
InSerbian,Croatian andBosnian it is known asPeglica (meaning "littleiron").,[21] or, occasionally, as "klompa" (meaning "clog")
InSlovene the 126 is also calledBolha ("flea"),[22] Piči-poki (loosely translated as "fast-and-loud") orKalimero onSlovenian coast after a cartoon characterCalimero.[23]
InHungarian, it is known askispolszki ("Little Polish", while the125p is thenagypolszki, meaning "Big Polish"),kispolák ("LittlePole") orkispók ("Little spider"); also, the car was nicknamedegérkamion, meaning "mouse truck".[24]
InGerman, the Fiat 126 was known as theBambino, the Italian word for child.[25]
InCubanSpanish it is known as the "Polqi" or "Polaquito", meaning "LittlePole" or "Little Polish man", and inChilean Spanish as "Bototo".[26][27]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Established 2007 – A marque ofStellantis | ||||||||||||
| Related companies |
|  | ||||||||||
| Current models |
| |||||||||||
| Historic models (List) |
| |||||||||||
| Concept models | ||||||||||||
| Racing cars | ||||||||||||
| Modified Racing cars | ||||||||||||
| Abarth cars | ||||||||||||
| Armored vehicles | ||||||||||||
| People | ||||||||||||
