Tag Archives: 127

Brazilian Power – FIAT 127 1050/CL

In 1971 FIAT launched it’s 127 model which was to replace the 850 that was being phased out of production.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

Initially the 127 was only available as a 2 door a, the hatchback was not introduced until 1972, Spanish built variants with 4 and 5 doors were later marketed under the SEAT and FIAT names.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

Unlike the rear engine rear wheel drive 850 model it replaced the 127 had the Dante Giacosa designed 45hp 903 cc FIAT 100 derived engine first seen in the 1955 FIAT 600 mounted in the front with the transmission driving the front wheels.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

European journalists voted the 127 European Car of the Year in 1972 two years after it’s larger sibling the FIAT 128 had won the same accolade.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

FIAT launched it’s restyled second generation 127 with larger window’s and larger tailgate in May 1977 with the a 50hp 1050cc Brazilian developed and built version of the Aurelio Lampredi designed five bearing OHC FIAT 124 engine offered as an option.

FIAT 127 1050/CL, Bristol

The Brazilian powered 127 seen in these photograph’s was first registered in the UK on the 22nd of January 1979.

Thanks for joining me on this “Brazilian Power” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I will be looking at a Formula Junior car. Don’t forget to come back now !

DIY Buckboard – Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed

A couple of years ago while I was on my way to the Morgan Factory I passed through Upton-upon-Severn in the Malvern Hills district of Worcestershire, England when I espied today’s featured FIAT Cinquecento on the verge of a T junction with the B4211.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

The front wheel drive FIAT Cinquecento city car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro to replace the rear engine rear wheel drive FIAT 126 in 1991, they were built at the former FSO works in Poland where the various FIAT derived models had been built and marketed under the Polski FIAT and later FSO brands.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

Despite the Cinquecento, Five Hundred, name the smallest motor for this model was a longitudinally mounted 704 cc / 43 cui two-cylinder unit which was only avaialble in Poland.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

The two other engine options were four cylinder units producing 38 and 53 hp respectively and mounted transversely, today’s featured car is listed as having a 38hp 899cc / 54.8 cui motor that traces it’s origins back to the 1970’s FIAT 127 hatchback.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

Despite being a city car the Cinquecento was equipped with independent suspension all round, side impact bars, crumple zones and could be ordered with central locking, electric window’s sunroof and air conditioning the only notable option missing was power assisted steering.

Fiat Cinquecento Flatbed, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire,

FIAT commissioned a number of concept versions of the Cinquecento before production ceased in 1998, but none included a flatbed behind the passenger cabin like the example seen here which is currently registered as, SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), being kept off the road.

Thanks for joining me on this “DIY Buckboard” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” which concludes this months series of pick ups. I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 1929 Riley with a 6 litre / 366cui four cylinder aero engine.

Wishing all GALPOT readers a relaxing Bank Holiday Monday.

Fully Loaded Rare Breed – Zastava Type 102 / Yugo 65AGLX

Reading through the Zastava history on the zastava-yugo.co.uk website I was surprised to learn that just 83 of all Zastava/Yugo types remain registered on British roads,

which makes today’s featured 1989 Yugo 65AGLX branded Zastava Type 102 a rare breed in Britain, if not it’s homeland and the area surrounding Serbia where it was built.

Today’s featured 1989 model, is the top of the UK range GLX fitted with a 1298 cc / 79 cui motor which could be ordered with either a 5 speed manual or Renault derived 3 speed automatic gearbox.

In the USA where the 65AGLX was known as the GVX (GV = Great Value) along with the spoilers front and rear, side body kit and alloy wheels it was possible to order a GVX with a automatic electro-hydraulic folding/raising cabrio roof. US destined Yugo’s were apparently built on a separate production line manned by an elite staff who were paid a premium wage.

Despite modest acceleration times of 0-60 mph in 13.5 seconds and a top speed of 85 mph, US spec, production of the Zastava Type 102 survived the violent dissolution of Yugoslavia, the factory at Kragujevac in Serbia survived a bombing, and did not end until 2008 with 794,428 examples built.

Thanks for joining me on this “Fully Loaded Rare Breed” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Modern Style, Top Technology – Zastava Type 102 / Yugo 45

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Like the Zastava Type 101 “Stojadin” I looked at last week the Zastava Type 102 is a design unique to Zastava built on a FIAT chassis pan and running gear.

The FIAT chassis and engine designs for the Type 102 are from the FIAT 127 hatchback which was manufactured from 1971 to 1983.

Type 102’s were also marketed with a myriad of different names in different markets, the Yugo 45A seen here in Malta bears no exterior Zastava identification marks at all.

Originally sold with a ‘Modern Style, Top Technology‘ strap line, the first Type 102’s were built in 1980 and appear to have been made available for export the following year. the 45 designation indicates this car has a 903 cc / 55 cui motor with a four speed manual gearbox.

The red ‘GTi’ pin stripe suggests this particular car dates from somewhere around 1989. Like the Type 101 the Type 102 survived the disintegration of Yugoslavia and was manufactured in Serbia under the Zastava Koral until
FIAT took over the Zastava plant in 2008 and immediately halted all Zastava production, bar a few pick ups.

Thanks for joining me on this “Modern Style, Top Technology” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

FIAT Fiorino

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Continuing an occasional series on pick up trucks today’s vehicle is a FIAT Fiorino.

The history of the Fiorino is long and complicated by the fact that at any one time up to 3 different versions of the Fiorino appear to have been in production in plants across Europe, South America and China.

Today’s 1996 model appears to be a second generation model with the first face lift introduced in 1992 that continued in production in Italy until 1996.

The cab and bonnet appear to share some panels with the FIAT Tipo passenger car that was manufactured from 1988 to 1995.

It would appear the platform is a re engineered version of the Brazilian FIAT Uno passenger car which can trace its ancestry back to the FIAT 127 passenger car that was in production from 1971 to 1983.

One advantage of using such a platform would be that the spare wheel was stowed under the bonnet / hood, the added weight of the spare wheel over the front axle would marginally aid traction of this front wheel drive pick up when fully loaded with 500 kgs / 1,100lbs of cargo.

Fiorino, translated Florin, was the currency introduced to Tuscany by Duke Leopold II after the Napoleonic Wars in 1824 to replace the Tuscan Pound at a rate of 1.66 Tuscan Pounds to 1 Florin. In 1859 the Florin was replaced by the Italian Lira at the rate of 1 Florin to 1.4 Italian Lira.

Thanks for joining me on this Tuscan Currency edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !