Your morning dose of useless FIAT 126 info!

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
07/29/2017 at 08:02 • Filed to: Fiat 126

That means unnecessary FIAT 126 tidbits of information! :D

This is the toolkit that came with every FIAT 126:

These are special-order seats you could have fitted in your FSO Polonez or FIAT 126 - Inter Groclin! Quite rare and sought after, although being tall, and where the seats in the 126 flip forward with a hinge at the front of the seat....they’ll just hit the roof if you try to get into the back and leave you no space to slip past :P

There is little room for big feet in the driver’s footwell, and the pedals (as in the classic 500) have an odd layout.

These holes are SUPPOSED to be in the front spare tire well - they are to let water / moisture drain out if any were to get in!

I’ll leave you with a 126 in fine company...and this video I found, which is amusing! :)

DISCUSSION (10)

pip bip - choose Corrour > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/29/2017 at 08:12

only thing missing from the toolkit is a big hammer

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/29/2017 at 08:37

Borsuq (who stopped visiting oppo) recently completed his toolkit I think, as he posted a picture of it in the europpo chatgroup. His wasn’t this clean, though.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/29/2017 at 08:45

I actually still talk to Borsuq on a regular basis...he’s been a tremendous help in random FIAT 126 knowledge / pics / information, etc!

This toolkit pic? :P The toolkit in Borsuq’s 1999 126p ELX is actually from his dad’s long-gone, earlier 126p FL as Bosuq’s car didn’t have one when he got it! :D

Kinja'd!!!

AuthiCooper1300 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/29/2017 at 09:04

The box does look brand spanking new, but the tools seem to have been carefully sandblasted and galvanised. I wonder whether originally they were also passivated. Difficult to tell with Borsuq’s set.

Such a pity he doesn’t come around these shores anymore. He was fun.

One question, if you don’t mind: do you actually own a 126? I never had it very clear.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/29/2017 at 09:49

Yes, that pic haha. And you’re right, it’s made of left overs from his dad’s old 126.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AuthiCooper1300
07/29/2017 at 10:47

I do not own a 126, sadly, but love them very much and have been saving to import one from Poland to Canada for the last 4 years...and before that, as I was saving up for a classic FIAT 500, bit I switched that plan over to a 126 as they are cheaper, and even less people would know what it is over here....

Long story short, no....don’t own one...YET. Hoping in the next year or two. I have enough saved now, but I need better a better living situation and a permanent full-time job first :(

AuthiCooper1300 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/29/2017 at 11:19

Thanks for your reply. Nice project then! I have no doubt you’ll end up owning a 126 and, who knows, maybe even a 500! But first things first.

You are doing it the right way, worry not.

I also love the 126 – and the 500. Different kind of love, but they are both fantastic. I think I have already mentioned I’d love to buy some day a 126 and fit a Steyr-Puch engine to it, for laughs (they did exist, sold in Austria for a while).

Fortunately (or unfortunately?) I have a sizable amount of non-mobile, slowly rusting projects (mostly FWD BL and Alfa Romeo transaxle stuff) so that idea will have to wait a few years.

Also thinking sometimes of fitting a Mazda Wankel engine to a 124. I don’t think there are many RWD Wankel-engined Ladas left, let alone in proper condition or with a reasonable price.

I suppose you’ve heard about the VFTS, by the way?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > AuthiCooper1300
07/29/2017 at 11:28

A smaller sized wankel may even fit in the back of the 126 - they are not large engines! :D

Good luck with your projects as well...I do like any Alfa, really...we never got any here since the 80s until now, so they are all forbidden fruit to me! :D

BL? British Leyland? You have my sympathy! :P

Never knew the ST engines were ever placed in the 126 from the factory anywhere - neat info! As for the VFTS Ladas....yup, awesome cars! :D

AuthiCooper1300 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/29/2017 at 11:50

Never thought of Wankel-engined 126. You are right, it could fit very nicely indeed. I wonder if someone in Poland has already tried, I wouldn’t be at all surprised.

Minis and Metros. Engines and gearboxes are basically the same or pretty much interchangeable. I have it so bad I have two MG Metro Turbos, a Mk1 and a Mk2.

I kept using one of the 75s until very recently, but it was getting very ropey so I drive around in an 1.1 Uno. There is also an Alfetta GTV somewhere, plus assorted mechanicals and a GT body, and a Méhari chassis.

There were very few Fiat-Steyr 126 made, a little over 2,000 between 1974 and 1975. It seems Steyr bought engine-less CKD kits from Fiat and fitted their own 643cc flat-twin (the cars are otherwise identical).

InFierority Complex > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/29/2017 at 12:01

I think the toolkit in the x1/9 is the same, which would make sense now that I think of it.