Fiat 126 Classic Cars

Put the Fun into Motoring with a Classic Fiat 126

There's a lot of enjoyment to be had when driving a classic car, whether it's in town or on the open road. With a classic Fiat 126, you can rediscover the joys of nipping through city traffic and grabbing really tight parking spots, as well as giving your friends and neighbours something to smile at. You'll find a fine range of affordable Fiat 126 models on eBay, letting you pinpoint the one that's right for you.

If you are a fan of very compact cars, the small size of the 126 will suit you. It's barely three metres long, after all. Check the manufacturer's site for exact size details. The car's engines were designed for short hops and city driving, so they're happier in that environment. Earlier versions have air-cooled engines, while the later water-cooled models are more conventional. The interior is compact as you'd expect, but if there's wear, then inexpensive trim replacements can be found on eBay.

Due to its long production run, the Fiat 126's features changed somewhat over the years. When you're looking, be sure to check eBay listings for things like:

• Battery: Many owners fitted 126s with a more powerful battery than the factory-fitted model, and this is well worth having.
• Engine: A torquier 652 cc engine appeared in 1977, but the original 594 cc unit was still fitted to some cars in 1983.
• Modifications: Many 126p models, especially, feature modified wheels, brakes and lights, so examine photos carefully.
• Fuel: From 1997 onwards, the car featured a catalytic converter, so make sure this is working well.

The original Fiat 126 was launched in 1972 and built in Italy until 1980, but production carried on until 2000 in Poland. These Polish models were made by Polski Fiat under licence and were given the 126p name to mark them out. After Italian production ended, the 126p introduced several changes, such as a hatchback body style and a slightly more powerful engine. Therefore, a Fiat 126p price may be a little higher than the regular 126.

Although the Italian and Polish cars are the versions you're likely to encounter, there are a few others. Zastava built the 126 under licence in Yugoslavia, while another version was briefly produced by Steyr Puch in Austria. One extremely sought-after version was made in Greece under the DIM name; only ten were produced. There's also a convertible version of the Fiat 126, which was made by the German company POP in the early 1990s.