Highlights
- Only four owners from new, all documented
- Amazing mileage reading of under 40,000 miles believed genuine
- Remarkably good, original condition
- MoT until 23rd March 2023
- Ideal for the Festival of the Unexceptional
The Appeal
Some cars have special qualities which make them very well loved. Ferraris, Porsches and Aston Martins are just a few examples. So, too, are the Citroën 2CV, Volkswagen Beetle and Fiat 126. Half of those cars cost an arm and a leg, and half of them don’t. Half of them only want to be garaged and brought out on special occasions, while others will happily drive you to the shops, and put a big smile on your face at sub-30mph speeds. In short, why daydream about exotica when you can extract far more enjoyment from this little Fiat 126?
Introduced by Fiat in 1972, the remarkably compact four-seater saloon was essentially an upgrade of the outgoing Fiat 500, sharing much the same underpinnings but with improved safety and a more spacious interior. Although Italian production only lasted until 1980, from 1973 126s were assembled by FSM (later Fiat Auto Poland) in Poland until as recently as 2000, giving the 126 an impressive 28-year production run.
Just as the Volkswagen Type 1 became known as the Käfer (Beetle), and the original Fiat 500 was nicknamed Topolino (Mouse), the 126 became so ubiquitous and well-loved across Poland that it was affectionately christened the Maluch (Little One), and is now an enduring symbol of Polish automotive culture.
The 126 was marketed elsewhere, of course, and this tidy little British-market specimen is a truly remarkable survivor. Benefitting from the 650cc engine upgrade of 1977, it’s only had four owners (all documented) and covered under 40,000 miles from new. We were amazed by just how much fun it is. It pulls away in first gear with an exceptional keenness, but then it is almost weightless. You can keep saving for that Ferrari if you must, but why deny yourself the pleasure of 126 ownership? It put a huge grin on our faces, and we’re still smiling just thinking about it.
The 126 was marketed elsewhere, of course, and this tidy little British-market specimen is a truly remarkable survivor. Benefitting from the 650cc engine upgrade of 1977, it’s only had four owners (all documented) and covered under 40,000 miles from new. We were amazed by just how much fun it is. It pulls away in first gear with an exceptional keenness, but then it is almost weightless. You can keep saving for that Ferrari if you must, but why deny yourself the pleasure of 126 ownership? It put a huge grin on our faces, and we’re still smiling just thinking about it.
The History and Paperwork
- Registered in February 1982 in London South-East and bought new by Mrs. Jean Hawkins of Swanley, Kent
- In 1995, ownership passed to Mr. Derek Hawkins of the same address
- It has subsequently had two owners in Essex
- Off the road for many years until 2017, when the most recent change of ownership occurred
- Paperwork includes the most recent V5 and copies of two historic ones, the original Fiat 126 Owner Handbook, a vast collection of MoT certificates from the 1980s and 1990s, plus a few more recent ones, and a 2017 invoice for sunroof parts
The Interior
- Extremely original condition
- Simple and functional, but comfortable
- Complete with furry seat covers!
On stepping into this Fiat, it’s pretty hard not to be charmed by its simplicity. It’s a good lesson in minimalist design, with everything you need conveniently arranged, and nothing to clutter up what is a very tidy arrangement. The padded dash contains just a few switches, the speedometer and nothing else, while the chunky steering wheel is basic but pleasingly solid; it doesn’t suffer from the hollow feeling which makes many newer cars feel so cheap.
Because the interior is so simple, there’s little that can go wrong with it. The dash and steering wheel are in excellent condition, the floor mats are lovely and clean, the door cards are superb and all the little fittings show little to no evidence of wear. There is a lovely light patina visible across some of the parts, which looks very nice to us. Considering how prone plastic interior trim often is to exhibiting scratches and scrapes, the condition of the trim in this car almost defies belief; one does not usually encounter anything so good.
The only obvious deterioration which we should draw attention to affects the seats. It may be observed that the fabric of the front seats has a few marks and stains, and the panels of the driver’s seat are coming apart at the seams, although it may be possible for them to be sympathetically restitched and repaired.
If that’s the bad news about the seats, this is the good news: they come with a full set of furry covers! These are a fantastic, period-correct addition which really lend the Fiat a touch of c.1992 car accessory shop chic. Often, it’s the little details which can really make or break a car, and you can believe us when we say that those seat covers really enhance its personality and charm.
Lifting the bonnet reveals limited space for a few small bags, but it’s mainly taken up by the spare wheel and jack. Again, this all appears in good condition, but with a rich patina setting it off nicely.
The Exterior
- Paint believed to be original
- Exceptionally good wheels
- Sunroof renewed in 2017
Frugal and utilitarian it may have been, but this 126 still perfectly captures the crisp Italian Modernist æsthetic, and the cleanness and compactness of its design make it a very cool car for an urban environment.
You’ll be wanting to know about its condition, though, and we can pretty much sum it up in one word: superb. We believe the paint to be original, and its condition suggests as much. There are a few very small chips and very close examination reveals some very slight discolouration in places (you really do have to look hard to see it), but otherwise it’s hard to fault. It’s still the same vibrant red that it was originally, and we couldn’t see any scratches or anything else the matter besides what we have already described.
In all probability, we think the car has been garaged for most of its life, and this shows in the wheels. From a distance, you’d think they must have been refurbished, but the light patina they exhibit under closer examination suggests that they probably sport their original finish, too. For a car like this, they are exceptional.
Even the plastic parts, which are usually so prone to showing scratches, remain almost entirely unmarked. There are some very light scrapes at the corners of the bumpers, but plastic in such good general condition as this is at 40 years old is almost unheard of.
All the glass, too, is excellent, but the real showpiece is the sunroof, which appears in like-new condition because it is still almost new. It was completely renewed in 2017 along with the seal and catch, and since the car has barely been used since then, it hasn’t acquired anything in the way of wear.
Underneath, everything looks satisfyingly solid, although it may be time for a new coat of underseal to be applied.
The Mechanics
- Starts, runs and drives beautifully
- Only 125 miles covered since April 2017
- MoT valid until March 2023
Given the general condition of the car, and the fact we know it was off the road for over 10 years prior to 2017, we are very strongly inclined to believe that the mileage reading of 39,310 miles is genuine. In April 2017, its mileage stood at 39,185 miles, so it has only covered 125 miles in the last 5½ years.
Since 2017, it has been MoTed most years without any advisories, although at the 2022 test the tester did observe ‘play in nearside steering rack inner joints’, and we do not know if that has been resolved. Even so, that is only a small job and in every other respect the car appears fully roadworthy.
If you’re not familiar with the 126, you may not think it an exciting car, but a short drive in it is enough to dispel all such erroneous preconceptions. The engine, a rear-mounted 650cc straight twin, seems in remarkably good health. We turn the ignition key and pull the diminutive starter lever, and it springs into life.
The clutch is sensitive but easy to get a feel for, and as you disengage it and tickle the throttle, the 126 pulls away without hesitation, as eager as a puppy after a stick. Acceleration in first gear is supremely quick, and we really are sorry that we don’t get to drive this car around town every day. The brakes work very nicely but the pièce de résistance is the turning circle, which the Fiat will do on the proverbial sixpence.
A high-powered GT car may be best for motoring along sinuous Alpine passes, but if, like most of us, you have to drive to work or the shops, there’s really nothing to beat this 126.
The Summary
Considering that the 126 was originally conceived as a cheap and cheerful, ultra-utilitarian car to mobilise the impecunious city-dwellers of Italy and Poland, to stumble across such a well-preserved example in England is far from an everyday occurrence. What was originally sold as day-to-day transport for a frugal lady in a provincial town just beyond the M25 is now a rare artefact of great historical value.
Believed to be in totally original condition apart from the sunroof, this low-mileage car is a true survivor. It may not be typical concours fayre, but there is now a growing appreciation for everyday cars of the ’80s and ’90s, and we believe this car is worthy of the strangely prestigious Festival of the Unexceptional, where it could be in with a real chance of scooping a preservation prize.
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