The Italian Corrispondente # 2: Fiat 126

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The Italian correspondent spotted this nifty Fiat 126 - or, as it's often referred to, Fiat Niki - in Italy.  It's probably fair to say that the 126 is more of a spiritual descendant of the classic 500 than today's 500s are.   


Why?, you ask.  Unlike contemporary front-engined, front-wheel drive 500s, the 126 maintained the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive set-up of the classic 500 and, as such , was effectively the end of the line for Fiats that also included the 600, 850 and 850 Sports.  It also shared its progenitor's diminutive wheel-base. 

126s were manufactured in Italy, Poland, Yugoslavia and Austria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_126).  However, the majority of them were actually built in Poland, where they attained almost cult-status and were nick-named the Maluch, meaning 'small one' or 'toddler' (ibid.).





U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

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