Author Topic: Our 1983 Fiat 126 (Read 1601 times)

TT · « **on:** 20-Jan-2008, 23:54:30 »

"Our" because I share this car with dad. I try to steal it as often as possible, but it is always quite hard to jump down form the Ducati

Anyway, this is really a car that can put a smile on your face no matter how many times you look at it or how long you drive it.

Today we went to St. Moritz to test it in real winter conditions and on long trips and I can assure you, we both had the biggest grin from 8 am to 7 pm. It's just sweet to listen to that small 650cc running so smooth, catching the right revs and just glinding in such a nice way when the road is flat. It has 4 gears and with some 24 hp or so, you can't expect miracles on mountain passes going uphill. It won't go beyond 2nd gear, but you'll still be able to kick the tail out in any hairpin. Very hard to control as you have no power and the car is too short, but it's a joy! The new Yokohama winter tires grip like hell and the brakes can cope with any downhill road pretty well. The absence of ABS can cause some hairy moments if you're not used to it.

Reliability on old Italian cars being an issue? Once again, I beg to differ. We drove 10 hours straight today, with some pauses to eat, to take pics and so on, but it never missed a beat and felt like it could go on forever actually. This was its longest trip so far, with two mountain passes thrown in (Maloja and Bernina) and it was a big success!

danidmas · « **Reply #1 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:07:39 »

LMAO!!!!

This car is brilliant Matteo, I really like it... and I'd really like to have it in my garage - cars like the Fiat Nuova 500, the Seat 600, your 126... they're really funky, and I know I would also have a silly grin in my face all day long if I had to drive this car through mountain passes and all LOL!

Love the sound system with that speaker... and why the hell is the CH sticker turned upside down?

Will you take this beauty to the Ring? I bet it cannot lap the Ring in less than 20 minutes.......

ARMAN · « **Reply #2 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:08:49 »

Its Polski Fiat!

Great pics it looks like it in a mint condition.

That succer is rwd

I'd love to have one just for fun, they are(polski fiat) about 300-500€ here

I was thinking for a while to be it my first car

TT · « **Reply #3 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:14:05 »

LOL, wait a sec, this is "real" Fiat, not a Maluc

And yes, the RR layout (Porsche-like) is great fun! BTW, this one was 600 € in Italy...

Quote from: danidmas on 21-Jan-2008, 00:07:39

LMAO!!!!

This car is brilliant Matteo, I really like it... and I'd really like to have it in my garage - cars like the Fiat Nuova 500, the Seat 600, your 126... they're really funky, and I know I would also have a silly grin in my face all day long if I had to drive this car through mountain passes and all LOL!

Love the sound system with that speaker... and why the hell is the CH sticker turned upside down?

Will you take this beauty to the Ring? I bet it cannot lap the Ring in less than 20 minutes.......

One day when you'll come to Lugano and have some time, I'll take you for a spin, as I doubt I'm gonna take it to the Ring this year

I'll never reach Nurburg

. I am still looking around to find a new car to take me there, but so far, nothing to add to the garage, but it definitely has to grow even more. Once you start having more than two cars, you can't stop anymore

The CH sticker was glued like that as some sort of childish protest

and of course the radio/CD and loudspeakers are aftermarket items installed a couple of weeks ago

danidmas · « **Reply #4 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:19:41 »

Well... my plan for the Rebel Run 2008 is to leave Barcelona thusday morning, stop in Monaco for some car hunting, stay overnight in Lugano, and from there drive to Stuttgart on friday so we can meet the rest of guys there... I guess thursday night could be a nice moment to have a ride in tha beast LOL!

TT · « **Reply #5 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:20:29 »

Oh yes, if you'll be here Thursday night I can take you for a spin for sure

ARMAN · « **Reply #6 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:25:02 »

Quote from: TT on 21-Jan-2008, 00:14:05

LOL, wait a sec, this is "real" Fiat, not a Maluc

I know I am just joking

TT · « **Reply #7 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:35:23 »

LOL, but I found a "tuner" up there...
http://www.126group2.com/

The simple color combo is

IMO. And for some 10k € you can have the whole car, prepped to top at 160 km/h

must be really evil!!!

MIHALS · « **Reply #8 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:46:00 »

awesome little pocket machine

my work mate had one in red and black leather interior. when he was coming to and from work I used to listen the air-cooled angine sound which sounds soooo cool

awesome little car you have TT, but damn it's so tiny from the inside as I got a ride few times so I know

I would vote SubZero anytime

TT · « **Reply #9 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 00:51:44 »

I am looking for a free muffler BTW, but it ain't easy around here

stmoritzer · « **Reply #10 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 01:04:07 »

Cool new car as said in pm, me likes

You were only one week late, there was the "Winter Raid" the other weekend in the Engadin - you could have been a participant there chasing a Stratos and Co.

TT · « **Reply #11 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 01:05:42 »

LOL, too bad, but last WE I had too many things to do down here to go up there

everso · « **Reply #12 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 16:52:05 »

HOTness.i

mrmojo77 · « **Reply #13 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 19:49:39 »

How the hell have you managed to keep it in such good shape? It looks lovely! I'd love to have one anyday

TT · « **Reply #14 on:** 21-Jan-2008, 21:26:58 »

Well, it is in such good shape thanks to the two previous owners. We didn't spend lot of money in it so far apart from what needed to pass the inspection in Switzerland.

The plan is to respray it as it has some minor dents here and there...

mrmojo77 · « **Reply #15 on:** 22-Jan-2008, 07:21:41 »

If you ever get bored driving it, you can contact my friend and maybe drop a bigger engine and a turbo in the car

If there's a question about an older Fiat, I'm pretty sure he has the answer

http://www.netikka.net/ville.vieri/e127t.htm

TT · « **Reply #16 on:** 22-Jan-2008, 08:19:35 »

Thanks. You never know indeed

The original plan was to swap the original engine with some Abarth stuff, so we could still have the original intact instead of tuning it. We did some quick searches and were unable to find one, so we gave up for now.

But definitely the idea to give it some more oomph is tempting. These day I'm gonna take a look online if I can find at least a muffler to improve the soundtrack a bit

MartinR · « **Reply #17 on:** 22-Jan-2008, 12:24:30 »

Very possibly the coolest car in the TAU garage.

danidmas · « **Reply #18 on:** 22-Jan-2008, 14:03:50 »

Quote from: TT on 22-Jan-2008, 08:19:35

Thanks. You never know indeed

The original plan was to swap the original engine with some Abarth stuff, so we could still have the original intact instead of tuning it. We did some quick searches and were unable to find one, so we gave up for now.

But definitely the idea to give it some more oomph is tempting. These day I'm gonna take a look online if I can find at least a muffler to improve the soundtrack a bit

To give you a rough idea... here there's a Seat/Fiat 600 specialist that converts your old 35hp 600 to a 120hp Abarth 1000 TCR, with a top speed of over 200kmh

The price? 35,000.- €... donor car apart

pzgren · « **Reply #19 on:** 22-Jan-2008, 14:15:54 »

pretty cool car, looks great in white. and indeed a rare car, i can't remember when i've seen the last one on the road.

what about technical issues, no problems at all with the car? do you have to do the regular maintenance stuff and that was it?