Italy is famous for its car manufacturers producing some of the best vehicles in the world. Produced from 1966 to 1974, the Fiat 124 is considered a cult car; in the territory of the former USSR and CIS countries, it was the prototype of a “penny” or VAZ-2101.
Story
The company began developing the Fiat 124 car in the early 1960s. The first prototype model was demonstrated to the world in 1964. The presentation of the first generation Fiat 124 sedan was made in 1966 as part of the Paris Motor Show, after some modifications for two years. A year later, the sedan received the title of "Car of the Year" - the model was so successful.
Exterior
Fiat 124 is made in the classic body design: a massive radiator grill, round head optics, large direction indicators, a bumper protruding forward, an almost square-shaped hood and smooth wing lines.
The car profile design is monolithic, discreet and calm. All elements are verified and proportional, do not stand out against the general background. The roof of the Fiat 124 is almost flat.
The rear of the body is modest, rectangular in shape. The boot lid is neat, the shape of the bumper is in many ways similar to the front bumper. The body structure has a large number of chrome elements - a radiator grill, door handles, bumpers, a turn signal trim, headlights, door sills, moldings, wipers and other details.
Fiat 124 engines
The first power unit of the model was distinguished by a longitudinal arrangement under the hood and a four-cylinder in-line design. The engine displacement is 1.2 liters, there was an eight-valve liquid-cooled OHV gas distribution mechanism and a carburetor.
The power characteristics of the Fiat 124 were 60 horsepower, which for those years is a very good indicator. In 1973, the model was modernized, as a result of which the engine was redesigned and received a power of 65 horsepower, which was achieved by increasing the piston stroke and cylinder diameter.
In the 1970s, a limited series of engines with a displacement of 1.4 to 1.6 liters and a capacity of 70 to 95 horsepower was produced.
Transmission
The gearbox was installed classic for that time - a four-speed manual, which is great for the proposed engine.
Interior
Salon Fiat 124 was quite functional and spacious. The dashboard did not have large dimensions and was trimmed with wood. A dashboard with a large speedometer was in front of the driver. On each side there were temperature and fuel level sensors.
The steering wheel is two-spoke with a very thin section. On the left side was the ignition switch, the gearshift lever was quite long and comfortably fit in the palm of your hand. Fiat also featured chrome trimmings.
The car seats did not have the proper lateral support and head restraints: the pillows were often too slippery and flat. The review level of the Fiat 124 Speciale is not bad, despite the fact that the windshield was small in size, as were the side mirrors - the front pillars do not interfere with the driver, and the rear view is not blocked by the head restraints.
Appearance in Russia
When choosing a mass civilian model, the leadership of the Soviet Union settled on the Fiat 124, despite the fact that Renault cars and the domestic hatchback Izh-13 were offered as alternative options, which, incidentally, was significantly superior to the Italian competitor in its characteristics.
A similar choice was made for several reasons:
- Simple and fairly modern car design.
- Support for the Italian Communist Party.
- Spacious lounge.
- Popularity in European countries.
- Cheap production.
- The classic layout.
Car recycling
After tests conducted by us, the Fiat 124, intended for the USSR, underwent significant changes: the total number of adjustments made by designers to the layout of the car exceeded eight hundred.
The rear was almost completely redrawn despite the fact that the spring-link layout was preserved. Disc rear brakes gave way to drum brakes.
An engine with a lower camshaft has been replaced by an analog with an upper arrangement. The clearance increased by 30 millimeters (up to 170 millimeters), the strength of the power elements of the body increased. Salon got a more powerful stove. The Soviet Fiat 124 counterpart received an additional towing eye and two separate jacking places.
Criticism of the model
Many experts already in those days spoke out against the Fiat 124 Coupe, holding the opinion that the rear-wheel drive design is outliving its last days, and in the case of this car, there is no possibility for its further improvement.
Despite the rather controversial reviews, in the USSR the car was rather highly appreciated by both specialists and ordinary motorists, especially taking into account the fact that the domestic auto industry was not a strong enough competitor for the Italian one.
Model range "Fiat 124"
The production of the large-sized version with improved Fiat 125 configuration began in 1967: the car was almost identical to the 124th model, but was equipped with a spring suspension and an engine with 90 horsepower. At the same time, the improved Fiat 124 Speciale began to be produced, equipped with a top-mounted power unit with a capacity of 70 horsepower. This version was used as a prototype for the VAZ-2103, despite the fact that the domestic car was originally supposed to be created according to the Fiat 125 patterns.
Twin-shaft engines were installed by the Italian concern on the Fiat 124 Sport Spider and Coupe, the development of the body for which was done by the Pininfarina studio. It is difficult to call them direct descendants of the original 124th model: both cars were produced in limited series on special orders.
In the station wagon, a more versatile cargo and passenger version of the car was produced - the Fiat 124 Familiare, which was used as a prototype for the VAZ-2102.
Model Sport Coupe
In 1967, the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe, based on the three-volume model, made a public debut. Serial production of the car was launched in Turin and continued until 1975, giving way to the Fiat 131.
The Fiat 124 sports coupe was a five-seat C-class two-door car. The length of the body was 4115 millimeters with a wheelbase of 2421 millimeters, width - 1669 millimeters, height - 1339 millimeters, clearance - 121 millimeters. Depending on the chosen modification, the weight of the model ranged from 960 to 1070 kilograms.
Specifications
Sport Coupe was equipped with a line of gasoline engines of atmospheric type V4 with in-line cylinders equipped with a central or carburetor fuel injection. The working volume of units varied from 1.4 to 1.8 liters, power - from 90 to 120 horsepower. Engines were equipped with four or five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmissions.
The Italian coupe was built on the basis of a rear-wheel drive platform with a supporting body structure and a power plant with longitudinal placement. The front suspension of the car is independent transverse with double levers, the rear - dependent spring-link type. The steering of the two-door model was rack and pinion, the braking system was represented by disc brakes.
In Russia, the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe is an exclusive car and is extremely rare.
The advantages of this model are a roomy and spacious interior, a reliable and spacious body structure, excellent handling and aesthetic design. Disadvantages - rather high cost without discounts for a decent age, high fuel consumption and expensive maintenance due to the need to order spare parts from the USA or Europe.
Resurrection of the 124th Family
In 2015, Fiat decided to resume production of the 124 family, presenting to the automotive community a new, sports version of the Fiat 124 Spider, developed on the basis of the Mazda ND. The car was produced in a limited edition on special orders.
Before the Fiat 124 Sport Spider roadster debuted, the Italian company demonstrated a special version of the car - the Abarth model, which premiered in 2016 at the Geneva Motor Show.
Unlike the previous Spider model, the new Abarth has acquired significant changes in both the exterior and interior, a retuned suspension aimed at improving the car's behavior on the track and its handling. The developers of the car set themselves the main goal - to create the perfect car with excellent dynamics and excellent handling.
Exterior
Fiat 124 Abarth - a stylish, bright, incredibly aesthetic and even sexy car that attracts attention. If you compare it with the classic Spider, you can see that the front part of the body received a bumper with a more aggressive design, a modified design of a false radiator grille and an air intake, a new design of fog optics and the Abarth logo placed on the hood.
The profile of the car is made in the best traditions of sports cars: the windshield is piled back, the cockpit is shifted to the rear wheels, the elongated hood. Among the innovations in the design include the presence of sports “skirts”, bright red side mirrors, exclusive rims and nameplates with the Abarth logo placed behind the front wheel arches.
The aft of the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth has also undergone changes, receiving a more aggressive bumper, aerodynamic diffuser and integrated exhaust pipes.
The body of the Spider Abarth is made in the following dimensions:
- Length - 4054 mm.
- Height - 1233 mm.
- Width - 1740 millimeters.
- Wheelbase - 2310 millimeters.
The exclusive car is equipped with alloy wheels with a unique design and a diameter of 18 inches. The ground clearance of the sports car is 135 millimeters, which is very, very small for Russian roads.
Interior Abarth
The dashboard architecture is almost identical to that of the standard Spider and Mazda MX-5 with the exception of individual elements. The three-spoke multifunction wheel is decorated with the Abarth logo in the center and a zero position mark. The dashboard is divided into three sections and is equipped with a speedometer with a red trim. In the central part of the instrument panel there is a seven-inch display of the multimedia system and an ergonomic climate control unit. The pedals have metal trim, and the interior is made using Alcantara, which is one of the most popular materials in the interiors of supercars.
The range of adjustments of the front seats is huge, which makes it possible for a person of any height and build to comfortably fit them.
The massive central tunnel located between the seats is equipped with a gearshift lever, Fiat Connect 7 controls and a small box. The usual glove compartment in the cabin is missing, and separate pockets and niches are not enough. Interior decoration is made at the highest level using exclusive materials - Alcantara, soft plastic, aluminum and genuine leather.
The luggage compartment offers 140 liters of usable space and is covered with a mechanically folding soft roof along with the passenger compartment.
Technical characteristics of a sports car
The standard Fiat 124 Spider is equipped with a 1.4-liter 140-horsepower turbocharged gasoline engine, which in the exclusive version of Abarth has been replaced by a 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir engine with 170 horsepower. The maximum speed as a result of such a change increased to 230 km / h, and the acceleration time to the first hundred was 6.8 seconds.
Surprisingly, such an increase in power had practically no effect on fuel consumption: in combined mode, a sports car consumes 6-6.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
Paired with a turbocharged engine, a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission is installed. The gear shift of the Sequenziale Sportivo is carried out using paddle shifters.
The high-end version of Abarth is based on the well-known rear-wheel drive trolley used previously in the Mazda MX-5. The curb weight of the car is 1060 kilograms, while a well-thought-out layout made it possible to distribute it along the axes in a ratio of 50:50. The Italian concern Fiat said that the chassis of Abarth was completely reconfigured, which, coupled with the installation of the Bilstein suspension kit, allowed for incredible handling. The charged version of the Spider Abarth is also equipped with a Brembo brake system, a sports exhaust system and a limited-slip differential.
Compared to the Japanese Mazda MX-5, the Fiat's steering is heavier due to an electric power amplifier. As a result, the sports car behaves much more predictably and accurately on the track, giving the driver true pleasure in the driving process. Numerous reviews of car owners confirm this.
Safety system
No major changes to the security plan of the Fiat 124 Abarth were noticed. Despite this, the programmed deformation zones, a large number of assistant systems and a special protective frame provide a high level of protection and safety for both the driver and the passenger. The proposed security systems include:
- Four airbags.
- Cruise control.
- Stabilization system and four-channel ABS system.
- Torque control system.
- Tire pressure sensors.
- Effective Brembo brake system.
- The system of control and distribution of braking force.
- Parking Assistant.
- Running and fog LED lights.
- Rear view camera.
- The system of assistance when moving uphill.
- Three-point seat belts and other systems.
In terms of safety and reliability, the compact sports car Fiat 124 Spider Abarth is practically not inferior to its larger competitors. This is noted by many motorists.
Options and current prices
A special version of the Fiat 124 Spider Abarth in European automobile markets is sold by official dealers at a minimum price of 40 thousand euros (approximately 2.8 million rubles), while for the American markets a sports car is offered at a price of 28.2 thousand dollars.
Unfortunately, in Russia, the Spider Abarth sports car is not officially represented, as is the standard Fiat 124 Spider. The probability of both models entering the domestic market tends to zero, which is explained not only by the extremely high cost, but also by the low popularity of Fiat cars among Russian motorists. However, you can buy an exclusive car from European dealers, followed by its distillation to Russia.