I've purchased a shoebox

". ." (xllx) 01/20/2015 at 17:14 • Filed to: shoebox, blue torpedo

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Ayup...

Except not really, but the dimensions of my new toy aren't too far off.

It's from 1999, it wasn't very expensive and it has a good engine and gearbox. No rust either, which is very unusual. It does need a lot of work though. First up are the brakes. The previous owner kept it stored for too long and the brakes were the first victim. With four unassisted drums I'm not going to be taking chances and have already ordered a full replacement kit. I also bought a new windshield (the current one is scratched to all hell), new indicator lenses (current ones are mismatched), new headlight mounts, new upholstery clips, new fuel lines, door locks and loads of other bits and bobs. Parts are ridiculously cheap so it's not a big deal (a new door is 30 bucks, a new floor is 70, an indicator lens is about 5, brake kits cost something like 15 dollars per corner, a new windshield set me back 30 dollars; I think I also saw a new steering box for $12). I'll also have to wash the upholstery at some point since it's proper manky. Installing a 12V outlet (it was an option this car didn't come with) and a radio are also somewhere on my to-do list. Looking into the gear linkage couldn't hurt either.

It's mainly going to be a project for me and my dad and this "blue torpedo" seems like a perfect choice. It's very simple and if we lose our enthusiasm and have to cut our losses it's going to be easy to swallow because of how cheap it is.

At the moment, the car is registered, MOT'd, insured, perfectly driveable and really fun. Initially I wanted a much earlier 126p, but once my dad spotted this one for sale I took the plunge. While I don't like some parts of those late models (1999 was the penultimate year of production), especially that ugly Cinquecento gauge cluster, there are some good sides to them. They run on unleaded fuel, have halogen headlamps and were fitted with an electronic ignition system. The fact that they share many bits with Cinquecentos drives part prices down as well. One thing I really hate is that goddamn beeper. It's getting disabled ASAP.

The two initial startup attempts from the video were done with no choke (and it almost started in -2*C). Then at one point i needlessly cut choke in half, that's why it didn't sound great. You can hear it with no choke at all around the end.

Dogapult > . . 01/20/2015 at 17:56

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Well, that's awesome. color me jealous.

. . > Dogapult 01/20/2015 at 17:58

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Thanks! I bought it on Saturday and I'm still excited about it.

desertdog5051 > . . 01/20/2015 at 23:47

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What a sweet little car. A manual choke!!! Even more in love with it. Curiosity makes me ask what a car like that would cost in USD, if you can.

. . > desertdog5051 01/21/2015 at 12:09

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There are people who import those to the US. There's even some guy who did a Youtube video series about using one Stateside, unfortunately it's in Polish.

This is the first video in the series. I found it hilarious that it barely fit on that trailer.

Here's part 2:

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > . . 01/21/2015 at 15:41

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Very cool! I wish you luck.

In Croatia we call them 'peglica' - little iron.

As for the mods - I vote for wider wheels and overfenders. Bosozoku style.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > . . 06/07/2015 at 10:47

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Love the video! I like “walkaround” videos, but it’s much nicer when you do what you did in yours and actually show all the controls and how they work, etc...even the defrost switches and whatnot! :) You even got into the back seat - thanks for letting those of us haven’t had a chance to see these cars in real life (yet!) :D

. . > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/07/2015 at 11:15

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I’ll do a much more detailed tour once I have the interior together.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > . . 06/07/2015 at 11:21

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Awesome, looking foward to it mate! :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > . . 06/07/2015 at 22:43

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Random question - around 1:30 in the video above of your car, you’re playing with defrost sliders, but there are two...are they BOTH for defrost to the front windshield? What’s the one marked with the “O” left of the lower defrost control that you fiddled with first? :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > . . 06/07/2015 at 23:07

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Random question - around 1:30 in the video above of your car, you’re playing with defrost sliders, but there are two...are they BOTH for defrost to the front windshield? What’s the one marked with the “O” left of the lower defrost control that you fiddled with first? :)

Also the two floor controls by the handbrake lever - the left one is the choke, and in the classic 500, the right one is for the starter....but your key activates the starter in your 126, so what is the right-side lever for near the choke (I can’t make out the symbol)? thanks! :P

. . > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/08/2015 at 07:52

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Those 2 sliders are for directing ventilation airflow. The one with the circle opens up a flap that lets fresh air from the outside come into the car, while the one to the right directs airflow either to the front footwells (pushed in) or to the dash (pulled out). Then you can use the lever between the vents to either have the air come out through the front of the dash or towards the windshield. That lever between the seats on the right opens the heating flap and directs hot air from the engine into the cabin. It got moved where the ignition lever was originally once the cable operated starter was phased out. The symbol is a red arrow pointing towards the front of the car.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > . . 06/08/2015 at 11:39

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Ah, cool, thanks for the info! Now that it’s explained, it all makes perfect sense! The fact that I was seeing the same (or at least it looks it in the video!) defrost symbol down below AND on that slider on the dash was what was confusing me...also had no idea what the circle meant. :P

I see, they moved the ventilation flap that allows hot air into the cabin further forward....I know on the older 500s, it was a handle you rotated that was directly in front of the bottom edge of the rear seats....it’s in a much more convenient place on the 126 - you can reach it from the drivers’ seat, whereas it would’ve been incredibly difficult, if not impossible to open it or close it while driving the old 500 with it being way back there...

How well does the heater work? I’ve heard they aren’t great in some air-cooled cars....I’d never be driving mine in the all-out Canadian winter as we have a lot of salt on the roads here, but chilly fall cruises wouldn’t be out of the question! :)

(Sorry for all the questions! ;) )

. . > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 06/08/2015 at 13:30

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No problem, keep firing. :D

If it’s really cold the engine can take a while to warm up properly, but once you get the motor nice and hot the heater will melt your face off. The heater flap lever only got moved between the seats in 1984 when the key start was introduced. In ST 126p’s you still operate the flap from the back. Still, the car’s so small everything is easily within reach. :]