Description
1994 Fiat 126 (Abarth-Upgraded)Year: 1994MOT: May 2027The Story & Provenance..I bought this Fiat 126 in 2020 on a bit of a whim. After falling in love with them during a trip to Cuba, I started casually browsing eBay. Before I knew it, this exact car popped up in my recommendations, and I couldn't resist. The previous owner was a Polish mechanic living here in the UK. He had personally driven the car over from Poland and completed a comprehensive restoration. His work included new wheels, upgraded headlights, electric windows, and a fresh interior with seats frim an Audi TT.. plus a full respray—pretty much exactly how the car presents today. The restoration was completed in 2018, and I have a large collection of photos documenting all the work he carried out. It was his absolute pride and joy, and he only reluctantly sold it to me in 2020 for £3, 200 to support his growing family.The Abarth Engine Upgrade..Shortly after buying the car, I was hunting for parts on eBay with the intention of upgrading the engine. I managed to find a completely restored, crated Abarth engine ready on a pallet, which had been built by a specialist company. I purchased the engine for £2, 200 and commissioned a classic car specialist to handle the installation and completely sort the car mechanically.Bodywork & Condition.. Please note that while the car presents beautifully as a fun, usable classic, it is a driver's car rather than a concours show winner.The respray carried out back in 2018 wasn't a top-tier professional job; there is some orange peel texture in places if you look closely. I have also personally caught and patched up a couple of small, minor rust spots over the years to keep them at bay. The body looks perfectly respectable and turns heads everywhere it goes, but the paintwork will eventually want a bit of cosmetic attention if you want to take it to the next level. The price completely reflects this, leaving plenty of room for the next owner to tidy up the cosmetics while enjoying a mechanically rock-solid little car from day one.Mechanical Restoration & Maintenance..Since owning the car, I have invested heavily in mechanical upgrades, structural integrity, and preventative maintenance using a classic car specialist. I have over £4, 000 in receipts to prove all of the following work:Engine Fit, Wheels & Chassis Work (Total: £1, 965)Engine & Powertrain: Installation of the upgraded Abarth engine.Wheels & Tyres: Full refurbishment and custom painting of the wheels, fitted with brand-new Nankang tyres.Brakes: Replaced both rear wheel cylinders.Electrical & Compliance: Tracked down and resolved various electrical issues, followed by a fresh MOT.Gearbox Overhaul & Linkage Refurbishment (Total: £750)Upgraded Gearbox: Fitted a reconditioned synchromesh gearbox (a massive upgrade over the standard crash-gearbox, making it much smoother and friendlier to drive).Clutch & Drivetrain: Fitted a brand-new clutch kit, new differential unit and shafts, new gearbox mounts, and a new boot gaiter seal. Fresh gear oil added.Cables & Controls: Replaced the clutch cable. Removed the seats and interior to gain full access to the throttle assembly—fully repaired the throttle linkage, pedal, and installed a brand-new gear stick and gear knob before neatly refitting the interior. Structural Welding (Total: £1, 177)Brakes: Installed a brand-new brake master cylinder, 4 new flexible brake hoses, and entirely new copper brake lines throughout.Suspension & Chassis: Replaced the Near Side Rear (NSR) rear wishbone and a new bump stop. Carried out structural welding to the NSR spring seat/ bump stop mount to ensure the rear suspension area is completely solid.Drivetrain: Fitted a new starter motor and new drive shaft gaiters. Additional New Parts Sourced & Fitted:New alternator (£256)New battery (£55)New wing mirrors (£53)New ignition switch (£40)I know you can buy cheaper, standard Fiat 126s out there, but this car has had all the expensive, difficult heavy-lifting taken care of by professionals. It is ready to be driven, loved, and enjoyed immediately. All receipts and original restoration photos are included in the sale. If you don’t like talking to strangers, this is definitely not the car for you! Driving this little Fiat is like being famous—it gets absolute non-stop attention, smiles, and waves everywhere it goes. It might not break any land-speed records, but what it lacks in miles per hour, it more than makes up for in smiles per hour.Price: £6, 750 (Sensible offers considered)If you don’t like talking to strangers, this is definitely not the car for you! Driving this little Fiat is like being famous—it gets absolute non-stop attention, smiles, and waves everywhere it goes. It might not break any land-speed records, but what it lacks in miles per hour, it more than makes up for in smiles per hour.Price: £6, 750 (Sensible offers considered)
