In the early 1970-ies the party and state leadership of the Polish people’s Republic approved the program of production people’s car. To this end, in 1971 FIAT signed a contract for the production under license of the FIAT-126. Because only in that time in Poland large FSО factory (Fabrika Samochodow Osobowich) has already been downloaded by more solid release licensed Italian FIАТ-125 (car, almost no different from FIАТ-124 prototype Soviet car VAZ-2101 “Zhiguli”), it was decided to manufacture the people’s car to build in Bielsko-Biala plant called FSМ (Fabrika Samochodow Malolitrazowych), designed to produce 200 thousand cars a year.
The compact car, dubbed FIАТ Polski 126 p, was launched in 1973. By this time in the well-fed Western Europe, sales of low-power cramped cars fell substantially, well, in socialist countries, not spoiled by indiscriminate motorization, compact, economical and inexpensive cars are lined up a lot of turns. So in 1976 production FIАТ-126, a grandnephew of the great Тороlinо, was fully transferred to Poland. It is interesting that in the future this state has become one of the world leaders in the production of compact cars. There are several reasons: historical traditions, low level of incomes, problems with Parking on the Central streets of big cities and, in the end, expensive fuel.
Despite more than modest dimensions (length 3,054 m, width 1,378 m), at 126 th was quite roomy body, designed to carry four people. Маluch (with the Polish boy, a nickname he received Роlski FIАТ 126 R) became a really popular car. In recent years, the production cost was only $ 2,500. For many Маluch became the first machine, and in some families it was purchased as a second car.
The front panel of the car Роlsкі FІАТ R. 126 at the Top of the instrument cluster (speedometer, tachometer, oil temperature and fuel gauge)
![By linking FIAT-126 (below) did not differ from its predecessor FIAT 500 Nuova (at the top)]()
By linking FIAT-126 (below) did not differ from its predecessor FIAT 500 Nuova (top)
FIАТ Polski 126 p released until September 2000, just with Polish, rolled off the 3.32 million of these machines. Over the years, the production model has been repeatedly upgraded. Since 1977, produced a version with a more powerful engine capacity 652 cm3 (24 HP). In 1984 the car was equipped with plastic bumpers and a new dashboard. In 1987, at 126 FIАТ R appeared in the back door, which made two-door coupe in three-door hatchback. On sale there is machine with 0.7-liter 26 HP engine, liquid cooling. And since 1997, in accordance with the norms of Euro-2, FIАТ 126 R was produced with a fuel-injected engine and catalytic Converter.
In addition to Italy and Poland, the 126th was produced in Yugoslavia (Serbia) under the name Zastava 126.
Production FIАТ 126 R was discontinued in October 2000. Total production of the model was 4 670 000 units.
Today Poland has become a leader in the production of mini-cars in Europe. Now here begins the production of cars FIАТ 500 is a new-generation Ford Ka, created on the same platform.
Compact car Polski FIAT 126 p. The present publication, we complete the story of the glorious cohort of Italian runabout, initiated by FIAT-500 Nuova, designed by the famous avtodizayner Dante Giacosa. Ideologically, the car became the successor of pre-war double minicar FIAT-500 Topolino, but structurally, it was a completely different car.