Didn't Fiat invent the 124?

[BonzoDog]

As some of us more mature members may remember the 124 heralded a new line of Fiats

They were quite an advance at the time and can't have bene that bad as Russia bought a lot of the equipment and produced the Lada. Any car that could withstand Russian condtions in those times was a well built car.

There were also a number of sporting variations on it.

 

[Ted]

and IIRC a number of rusty variations!

My favourite fiat was the 130

And of course the Dino!

 

[IBIZA]

The 130 as a saloon looked a bit of a beast - but the coupe looked good.

However the Lancia Gamma Coupe could pass as a later sleeker version of it as it looked like a later generation of the same.

Applying the same to the Gamma - its replacement could have been a Ferarri 365 GT4 2+2

 

[neilrr]

Fiat 130 Coupes are beautiful. Rare as rocking horse poo nowadays. The 124 Spyder was a lovely car too. Never officially sold here, there are two within a couple of miles of me.

All Pininfarina.

 

[Vlad]

The 124 also became "the" car in Turkey in the 1970's where it was built under licence by Tofas and called the Murat

 

[grober]

Lada

As some of us more mature members may remember the 124 heralded a new line of Fiats

They were quite an advance at the time and can't have bene that bad as Russia bought a lot of the equipment and produced the Lada. Any car that could withstand Russian condtions in those times was a well built car.

There were also a number of sporting variations on it.

The Russians made several improvements to the original Fiat design to accomodate their colder climate. The engine was a complete redesign with large water passages to accomodate semi frozen coolant and very robust-e.g. timing chain instead of belt. They had a substantial battery to assist sub zero starting. When very cold conditions were experienced the handbook advocated turning on the headlights so that the current would warm up the electrolyte first. This would then allow the battery to produce enough current to drive the starter! They were so robust and easy to service-- 100-200k miles easy ( you got a comprehensive tool kit including a tyre pump) a whole generation of taxi drivers cut their teeth on them. There used to be lots around but after "Perestroika" they were all re-exported back to Russia on the decks and holds of Russian Fish factory ships at the end of their season. Most will have been refurbished/rebuilt and will still be running around the "Motherland" or at least bits of them will. The 4x4 derivative Lada NIVA although crude by todays standards was handy bit of kit off road and has a small loyal bunch of fans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada_Niva

 

[television]

I turned down a 130 2 years old as it was so rusty, they were nice though, the asking price was £600

 

[grober]

nostalgia

While researching the LADA Niva I came across this pdf with superb coloured exploded diagrams of the Niva. http://www.ladaniva.co.uk/lada/colour.pdf Made me quite nostalgic for the days when you could literally rebuild your car yourself.
Its interesting as a piece of "retro-art" if nothing else.
There is also a detailed description of an offroad niva rebuild with pictures here. http://www.turbo-nutter.com/
Hope all you DIY petrolheads enjoy it.

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

I recall that the FIAT 124 was European Car of the Year 1966.

 

[stwat]

How about one of these beuts

Stu

 

[Dieselman]

One of my teachers bought a brand new Mirafiori 130TC and took us out for blast down some country lanes.

It was great.

 

[Vlad]

Talking of Fiats and Mirafiori 130's....I used to have a Fiat Strada 130...what a blast that was...seriously rorty engine with big Webers stuck on the side of it.

 

[neilrr]

RHD Fiat 130 Coupe being auctioned.

http://www.barons-auctions.com/details.php?lotpath=lots/WFE101M.htm

 

[janner]

RHD Fiat 130 Coupe being auctioned.

http://www.barons-auctions.com/details.php?lotpath=lots/WFE101M.htm

I like the look of this..
http://www.barons-auctions.com/details.php?lotpath=lots/FYY208H.htm

 

[Vlad]

I know of one for sale, if anybody is seriously interested....was featured in Classic and Sportscar many years ago

 

[BonzoDog]

And of course the biggest 124, the Antonov;
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/1706330.jpg