![]() 08/12/2018 at 18:25 • Filed to: Fiat 128 | ![]() | ![]() |
Oooh, an exciting day because we can explore the Fiat 128. You may never have heard of it but it was one of the first cars (the actual first was also a Fiat group model) to use the combination of a transversely mounted engine with an end-on gearbox, something you find in the majority of cars today.
Even better, we have a whole cornucopia of different bodies.
Some ordinary ones:
One for the Americans with battering rams and extra lights everywhere:
The factory’s own coupés, first with two doors and then three :
These were the days when independent coachbuilders could still make their own rebodied versions of a car so Moretti did, for a lot more money :
Bertone did one too, but just the one:
![]() 08/12/2018 at 18:38 |
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Michelotti also rebodied one, but only one.
![]() 08/12/2018 at 18:40 |
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Michelotti usually not > Bertone, but is here.
![]() 08/12/2018 at 18:48 |
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There are elements of all kinds of other cars in that, including the Reliant Scimitar SS1.
Looks better than the Moretti though.
PS: Now that I’ve seen it in side view, it doesn’t!
![]() 08/12/2018 at 18:53 |
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That being said, the side profile gives me Triumph TR7 vibes.
Moretti might win at that angle.
![]() 08/13/2018 at 01:26 |
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I remember this thing as a Zastava 101 (and other Zastava varieties). It was a PoS.
![]() 08/13/2018 at 06:14 |
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The Autobianchi/Lancia A112, the 127/147, the Ritmo/Strada, the first-generation Ibiza, the first Regata, the first-generation Palio... they all had more or less the same platform layout and suspensions (McPherson struts at the front, transverse leaf spring at the back).
A couple levels more advanced than the o t h e r w i s e r e v o l u t i o n a r y Primula, which just had a transverse leaf spring at the front , and – similar to t h e old Panda – a beam axle with leaf springs at the back.
![]() 08/13/2018 at 07:29 |
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I’ve always loved the look of the 128, especially the ‘Rallye’ models. I keep forgetting they had an awesome little 2-door Estate version!