Fiat 126 has won a special place in the Polish automotive industry. It has been present on our market since half 1973 year, i.e., since the start of its assembly at the Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych in Bielsko-Biała, This model belongs to the A segment. It is safe to say, that he motorized our country. Its production was completed in September 2000 year.
On the Italian market Fiat 126 appeared in 1972 year. Technically, it was a development of Fiat's design 500 Nuova. The overall concept of the rear-wheel drive vehicle has been retained, introducing a new body and modernizing most of the mechanical assemblies. Fiat 126 elx only seemingly does not differ from its older o 28 brother's years.
BODY
Fiat 126 received a body more modern than 500 Nuova, not very rounded, with clearly marked edges. Two-block compact silhouette with calm and harmonious features has acquired a timeless character, and its modernity was tried to emphasize with bent side windows, rectangular headlights and cassette door handles. The shape of the body and the small length of the vehicle caused, that the aerodynamic properties were not the best. The Cx-factor was 0,47, however, this was of secondary importance for a vehicle with a relatively low top speed and intended mainly for urban use..
Fiat 126 took over the floor plate from the model 500 Nuova with a wheelbase of just 1840 mm, which made it impossible to significantly increase the dimensions of the interior. However, the front track widths have been increased by 22 mm and rear o 68 mm. The interior with Spartan equipment is designed for four people. Front seats with tubular design had only longitudinal adjustment. They were covered with skaj, just like the instrument panel. In the instrument cluster there was only a speedometer, fuel level indicator, odometer and several indicators. Warm air from the engine cooling system was used to heat the interior, supplied by a channel running in the central part of the floor. In the front part of the body there was a small trunk, in which the spare wheel is positioned vertically, in the recess, just behind the front belt. The luggage space limited by wheel arches and a high floor had a capacity of about 100 dm3. Fuel tank 0 Capacity 23 dm3 placed differently than in the model 500 – under the floor of the left rear seat, and not in the trunk.