Fiat 124
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| Manufacturer | Fiat |
|---|---|
| Production | 1966–1974 |
| Assembly | Turin, Italy Casablanca, Morocco (Somaca)[1] |
| Predecessor | Fiat 1300/1500 |
| Successor | Fiat 131 |
| Class | Family car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Engine | 1,197 cc ohv I4 1,438 cc ohv I4 1,438 cc dohc I4 1,592 cc dohc I4 1,756 cc dohc I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual[2] 5-speed manual (Special T)[3] |
| Wheelbase | 2,420 mm (95.3 in) (sedan)[4] 2,420 mm (95.3 in) (station wagon)[5] |
| Length | 4,042 mm (159.1 in) (sedan) 4,045 mm (159.3 in) (station wagon) |
| Width | 1,625 mm (64.0 in) (sedan) 1,625 mm (64.0 in) (station wagon) |
| Height | 1,420 mm (55.9 in) (sedan) 1,440 mm (56.7 in) (station wagon) |
| Curb weight | 855–950 kg (1,880–2,100 lb) |
| Related | SEAT 124 VAZ-2101 (Lada 1200) VAZ-2103 (Lada 1500 / 1500 ES) VAZ-2105 / VAZ-2107 (Lada Riva) Murat 124/Tofaş Serçe Premier 118NE |
The Fiat 124 is a mid-sized family car manufactured and marketed by Fiat between 1966 and 1974. The sedan superseded the Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1500 and was complemented by variants including a station wagon (with stiffened springs and a revised final drive ratio changed),[6] four-seater coupé, two-seater spider convertible and a slightly lengthened and more luxurious version, the 125, launched in early 1967.
As the basis for the Russian-manufactured Lada Riva produced until 2012 and other licensed variants manufactured worldwide, the 124's overall production reached nearly 20 million units. The 124 was superseded in its home market by the slightly larger Fiat 131 Mirafiori.
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Launch [edit]
Following its introduction in 1966 with a publicity stunt, with Fiat filming the dropping of the car by parachute from a plane,[7][8] the 124 won the 1967 European Car of the Year.[9] The station wagon variant, as well as the 124 Sport Spider and the 124 Coupé variants debuted at the 1967 Turin Motor show.
As a clean-sheet design by Oscar Montabone, the chief engineer responsible for its development,[10] the 124 used only the all-synchromesh gear box from the Fiat 1500.[10] The 124 featured a spacious interior, advanced coil spring rear suspension, disc brakes on all wheels and lightweight construction.
Engines [edit]
Power came from a 1.2 L (1,197 cc) Fiat OHV inline-four engine. Also, there were the 124 Special with a 1,438 cc OHV engine and the 124 Special T with 1,438 cc and 1,592 cc twin cam engines. The twin cams are connected to a five-speed gearbox.
- 1200 (1,197 cc) – 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp) – 66 PS (49 kW; 65 hp) (1966–1974)
- 1400 (1,438 cc) – 70 PS (51 kW; 69 hp) – 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) (1968–1974)
- 1400 Special T (1,438 cc) Twin cam – 80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp) (1968–1972)
- 1600 Special T (1,592 cc) Twin cam – 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) (1973–1974)
- Abarth Rally (1,756 cc) Twin cam – 128 PS (94 kW; 126 hp) (1972–1973)
- 2000 (1,920 cc) Twin cam – 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) (1979)
Foreign production [edit]
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Fiat sought to extend its worldwide reach by entering into various collaborative agreements with smaller manufacturers (mostly in developing nations) by licensing the 124 design following its discontinuation in mainstream Western European markets, including the widely known variant manufactured by AvtoVAZ in the former Soviet Union, manufacturer of the Lada.
Soviet Union/Russia [edit]
In 1966, Fiat entered into a collaborative agreement with the Soviet government to establish car manufacture in the depressed Samara-Oblast region of Russia. Fiat invested in building the massive VAZ plant in the newly created town of Togliatti, named after the Italian communist leader of the same name. The factory produced an adapted version 124R of the 124, known as the VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" (sold as the Lada 1200 in export markets), until 1982, and 1200s until 1987. These were based on the 124 but modified on more than 800 points, the major modification being an etirely different OHC engine developed by Fiat, hydraulic clutch, drum brakes at the rear, modified suspensions, etc. Early modifications include the VAZ-2102 (station wagon), 2103 (Lada 1500), 2106 (Lada 1600) and 21011 (Lada 1300). The updated versions of the 124-based design were produced to the present day, as the VAZ-2104, 2105 and 2107 – marketed as the Lada Riva (or Lada Classic) in most Western European markets.[citation needed] Production of this line until 2011 has exceeded 16,800,000 cars,[11] and it was lately subcontracted to the IzhAvto plant near Izhevsk.
India [edit]
The Fiat 124 was also introduced in India by Premier Automobiles Limited in the autumn of 1985, as the Premier 118NE.[12] The car was very similar to the 1966 version except for a few cosmetic changes to the front and rear. However, Premier incorporated the Nissan A12 (1,171 cc and 52 bhp) powertrain instead of the original Fiat engine along with a Nissan manual gearbox. Added in 1996, there was also a version called the 137D which sported a diesel engine, built under license from Fratelli Negri Machine Sud, Italy.
At the end of production an improved model called Viceroy was released in collaboration with Peugeot. Production ended in 2001.
Spain [edit]
In the frame of the licence agreement between SEAT and Fiat, it was produced and sold in Spain with the name SEAT 124 from 1968 to 1980. The car was very successful in Spain, and was sold in both the four-door and station wagon versions.
Also Sport versions were made with 1,600 cc (1970–72), 1,800 cc (1972–75) and 2,000 cc (1978–79). These were branded as SEAT 1430 until 1975.
Bulgaria [edit]
The Fiat 124 was also produced under the name Pirin-Fiat in Lovech, Bulgaria, on the basis of complete knockdown (CKD) kits between 1967 and 1971.
Turkey [edit]
The Fiat 124 was also produced under the name Murat 124, also known as Serçe ("sparrow"), in Bursa, Turkey by Tofaş. 134,867 Murat 124s were produced between 1971 and 1994. Tofaş concurrently produced the Fiat 131 series under the name Murat 131 between 1976 and 2002. Today, the company manufactures bona fide Fiat models.
Korea [edit]
The Fiat 124 was also produced under the name Fiat-KIA 124 by Asia Motors in South Korea, between 1970 and 1975.
Egypt [edit]
From 2002 to 2007, Lada-Egypt company built at least 9,000 cars (2,200 in 2006) in the shell of VAZ-2107 (Riva), and it continues in 2012.[13]
124 Cabriolet [edit]
At Salone dell'Automobile of Torino in 1966, Carrozzeria Touring presented a convertible version of Fiat 124 salon. It was the last car built by Touring. Only one example was made. While it was positively accepted, Fiat CEO terminated this project in favour of Pininfarina-styled 124 Sport Spider.
References [edit]
- ^ "Historique de la SOMACA". Somaca Casablanca. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
- ^ Cardew, Basil (1966). Daily Express Review of the 1966 Motor Show. London: Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd.
- ^ "Fiat 124 Special T". ScorpioCars.net. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
- ^ "Fiat 124 Berlina / Saloon dimensions". CarsfromItaly.net. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
- ^ "Fiat 124 Station Wagon dimensions". CarsfromItaly.net. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
- ^ "News and views". Autocar. 126 (nbr 3712): p. 61. 6 April 1967.
- ^ "1966 Fiat 124 Images, Information and History". Conceptcarz.com. June 2006.
- ^ "Spot Fiat 124 fine collaudi, del 1966.". PathfinderArthec. youtube.com. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ "Previous winners". Caroftheyear.org. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
- ^ a b "Fiat 124". Autocar. 124 (nbr 3664): p. 915–919. 6 May 1966.
- ^ "Sentra: One of the Best Selling Cars in Automotive History". Nissan Motor Philippines. Retrieved 24 February 2008.
- ^ Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed. (March 5, 1987). Automobil Revue 1987 (in German/French) 82. Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag AG. pp. 480–481. ISBN 3-444-00458-3.
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/9018675/Lada-has-the-last-laugh.html
Further reading [edit]
- James T Crow, ed. (1968). "Fiat 124". Road & Track Road Test Annual: p. 50–53.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fiat 124 |
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| Type | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| City car | 500 | 126 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 600 | 133 | Panda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | 850 | 127 | Uno | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | 1100 | 128 | Ritmo | Tipo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1300 | 124 | 131 | Regata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | 1500 | 125 | 132 | Argenta | Croma I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | 1800/2100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2300 | 130 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé / Roadster | Dino / 124 Sport Spider | 124 Sport Spider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 124 Coupé | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports car | 850 Spider | X1/9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panel van | Fiorino I | Fiorino II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | 600 Multipla | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | 600 T | 850 T | 900 T | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1100 BLR / ELR / I / T | 238 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 241 | 242 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daily | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ducato I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Off-road | Campagnola (1101) | Campagnola (1107) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
