RE: SOTW: Fiat 126 BIS
Discussion
rockystarr said:
Twincam16 said:
There's a guy who lives near me with an absolutely pristine red one he's had for as long as I can remember. Looks good as new.
I bet they're an absolute hoot to drive, and if the engine's basically the same as the 500, all the Abarth mods will work too.
Could end up with the most bonkers track day machine.
failing that, a turboed bike engine in the back. I bet they're an absolute hoot to drive, and if the engine's basically the same as the 500, all the Abarth mods will work too.
Could end up with the most bonkers track day machine.
I think the earlier, air-cooled cars are a better bet. IIRC the water-cooled 702cc engine in the Bis (which means "encore") had head gasket problems.
I had a 652cc air-cooled 126 as my very first car and I can think of few better ways to start a driving career. You get handling that's nippy with very quick steering. The driving position is quite sporty with bucket seats on the floor and a small, chunky steering wheel. Yes it is slow but it doesn't feel slow and in any case experienced 126 pilots know that once you are up to speed you NEVER slow down until you get where you are going. It may mean performing some hair-raising overtakes but remember it is small and it will fit through the gap.
I miss mine and I will have another one day. I just wish prices weren't going up so remember; it is slow, uncomfortable and rubbish - if you buy one no-one will sleep with you (maybe that'll bring prices down to a more realistic level
)
I had a 652cc air-cooled 126 as my very first car and I can think of few better ways to start a driving career. You get handling that's nippy with very quick steering. The driving position is quite sporty with bucket seats on the floor and a small, chunky steering wheel. Yes it is slow but it doesn't feel slow and in any case experienced 126 pilots know that once you are up to speed you NEVER slow down until you get where you are going. It may mean performing some hair-raising overtakes but remember it is small and it will fit through the gap.
I miss mine and I will have another one day. I just wish prices weren't going up so remember; it is slow, uncomfortable and rubbish - if you buy one no-one will sleep with you (maybe that'll bring prices down to a more realistic level
)pigeondave said:
In Poland the kids do a Z-Cars type conversion.
I believe this one is a 1.1 turbo engine with MK1 golf running gear. Hence the width.
Either way it looks like fun.
http://www.futi.pl/filmy/zobacz,904.html
That looks hysterical... Want one! Or one of the Z cars Minis- http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/730278.htmI believe this one is a 1.1 turbo engine with MK1 golf running gear. Hence the width.
Either way it looks like fun.
http://www.futi.pl/filmy/zobacz,904.html
fourwheelsteer said:
I think the earlier, air-cooled cars are a better bet. IIRC the water-cooled 702cc engine in the Bis (which means "encore") had head gasket problems.
Remember reading an Autocar article on Gordon Murray and Peter Stevens' 126-based Barchetta kit (now there's another idea...), that the BIS model was only good for around 30,000 miles - is there any truth in that?Friend of mine had one of these about 5 or 6 years ago, I used to take the mick then but now I realise the error of my ways... Would love one now! They seem to be more sort after now, pretty sure they were very cheap back then.
Anyone know if they're that cheap in Poland? Just had a look on Polish ebay and couldn't find any... Ryanair do cheap flights to a load of Polish cities after all...
Anyone know if they're that cheap in Poland? Just had a look on Polish ebay and couldn't find any... Ryanair do cheap flights to a load of Polish cities after all...
Edited by norman156 on Friday 6th March 15:28
Love them.
Definitely prefer the air-cooled, though you lose the boot, the engines are so easy to work on and so many more tuning parts available. I have a 126 and an old tuned 500. Though neither are very quick, they totally make up for in both driving pleasure and the amount of attention you get on the roads. You get let out of pretty much every junction (Then overtaken soon after!)
Parts are so cheap and readily available (thanks to them being produced in Poland until well into the 90s.)
Go buy one now.
Definitely prefer the air-cooled, though you lose the boot, the engines are so easy to work on and so many more tuning parts available. I have a 126 and an old tuned 500. Though neither are very quick, they totally make up for in both driving pleasure and the amount of attention you get on the roads. You get let out of pretty much every junction (Then overtaken soon after!)
Parts are so cheap and readily available (thanks to them being produced in Poland until well into the 90s.)
Go buy one now.
These were about the worst car available in the late 70s unless you bought from the Eastern block ! They sounded dreadful, barely moved faster than walking pace and were very embarrassing for the kids whose parents had bought them. The only redeeming feature was the lack of weight. Our Scout master had one and soon found that he could never find it as four 14 year olds could pick it up and pop it in the nearest walled garden provided the walls were not too high 
Oli S said:
It's not very often I have an overwhelming, irrational desire for a car, but this is one of them. I'm 6' 2 so probably wouldn't even drive it but I want it bad. I never even liked them that much a few years ago. What's going on? 
You should. But be warned as you will become addicted! They are so easy to work on and entice you in to have a fiddle here and there, leading to a full scale love affair. You only need to go on http://club126uk.co.uk/smf/index.php to see how nutty we can be about such a simple piece of machinery! Dom
My mum had one in yellow, with the fabric roof option. I don't think I could ever describe it as a rwd, rear engined, Italian cabriolet... rusty box more like.
That said, it was a resilient rusty box, and once got us home on 1 cylinder, giving us a top speed of 2mph up hill (people walked by) and 10mph down hill. Scary then, hilarious now looking back.
That said, it was a resilient rusty box, and once got us home on 1 cylinder, giving us a top speed of 2mph up hill (people walked by) and 10mph down hill. Scary then, hilarious now looking back.
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