Marque: Fiat - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand

Making its U.K. debut in the summer of 1967, the Fiat 125 was a spacious five-seater saloon, powered by a twin overhead camshaft 1600 engine. The car had rapid acceleration compared with most family cars of the mid-1960s, and was capable of cruising at high speeds. Included in the mechanical specification were disc brakes on all four wheels – again, unusual for the time.

The Special Saloon was introduced in the spring of 1969, with an uprated version of the 1608cc engine which endowed even more spirited performance. Standard features included a five-speed gearbox, radial tyres and reclining front seats.

Now rarely encountered in Britain, the 125s offer a happy blend of excellent performance and everyday practicality.

A highly significant car for Fiat, the likeable 127 made its UK debut in the autumn of 1971. The neat 127 (effectively replacing the rear-engined 850) provided the Italian with an up to the minute, front-wheel drive compact car which offered lively performance and – especially in hatchback form (from 1973) – versatility. In the summer of 1977 a Brazilian-built overhead camshaft 1050cc engine was introduced (although the overhead valve 903cc unit was still offered) and the range was updated.

The extrovert 127 Sport (identifiable by its matt black grille, air dam and side mouldings) arrived at the end of 1978, and featured an uprated version of the 1050cc power unit. Producing a healthy 70bhp, this propelled the newcomer with vigour, and this ‘semi GTi’ was fun to drive and yet low cost to run.

In 1979, the Limited Edition Palio was launched, featuring alloy wheels, metallic paintwork and a sun roof.

The 127 range was revised in 1981 and again in 1982, now incorporating a new 1300GT version. Sadly rust has decimated the ranks of 127s in Britain, but surviving examples are gaining ground in the classic stakes.

Once a familiar sight on every British road, the 127 is a rare bird even at classic car shows - making the sporting models all the more desirable. The least difficult high powered variant to trace in the UK is the 127 Sport Series 2, which came complete with excellent levels of equipment, a highly potent version of the trusty 1300 engine and rather stylish black coachwork to boot. Sadly it also inherited the notorious corrosion problems of the entire Fiat range of that era. It’s a real blast all the same.

Offering buyers a choice of two or four-door saloon and either a 1.3 or a 1.6-litre overhead valve power units, the new 131 Mirafiori was introduced to Britain in the spring of 1975, with estate car versions following in the summer.

Effectively the newcomer replaced the outgoing 124 with a five-speed gearbox was fitted as standard from mid-1976.

The 1600 Supermirafiori of 1978 was powered by an eager twin-cam 1600 engine, developing 96bhp. The car also featured a luxurious velour-clad cabin.

The two-door, Sport made its U.K. debut in October 1978, and this overtly high performance machine had a front airdam, flared wheel arches and a sporty interior. Not a great looker in the trendy 80s but it was a great performer.

The range was restyled in 1982, and new, overhead camshaft 1.4 and 1.6-litre engines were introduced. The 2000 Supermirafiori was a particularly potent machine for a family car of the time. It was also very well equipped, with central locking, electrically operated windows and many other luxury features.

A roomy ‘Panorama’ estate version was introduced in 1984; all versions were discontinued in the same year.

These boxy but attractive Fiats are already quite rare, but asking prices are usually affordable, and the cars currently represent excellent value.

Replacing the 125, the new rear-wheel drive upmarket 132 saloon arrived in Britain in January 1972.

Powering the new saloon were twin overhead camshaft engines, of either 1.6 or 1.8-litres capacity. The mechanical specification included disc brakes on all wheels, fully independent coil spring suspension at both front and rear, and transmissions which included (depending on the version) four or five-speed manuals or three-speed autos.

The chintzy interiors were opulently furnished, especially on the rangetopping ‘Special’ models, which featured velvet upholstery and pile carpeting.

The range designations were changed in 1974 to GL (1.6-litre) and GLS (1.6 and 1.8), also the engines and running gear were amended. A marginally smaller engine (1585cc instead of 1592cc) was installed in the 1.6 cars from early in 1976, and at the same time the more popular 1.8 motors were uprated to 109bhp.

In the summer of 1977 a new twolitre GLS version ousted the smaller capacity models. The new car featured electronic ignition, a standard-fit fivespeed gearbox, a higher final drive ratio and many other technical refinements, as well as numerous interior improvements.

Two-litre 132s were sold in Britain until 1982. Good cheap motoring that’s different is your prize now but you try and find one that’s not riddled with rust or been run on a shoestring!

With its rear-mounted, air-cooled twin-cylinder 479cc engine, the ‘new’ (Nuova) Fiat 500 was introduced in Britain in late 1957. This attractive, tiny machine was a four-seater (just about!) and provided good performance, in relation to its engine capacity of under 500cc. Fuel consumption was particularly frugal too, and the car was particularly easy to use and cheap to run for urban driving. An attractive feature was the full-length sunroof.

In 1958 the ‘Standard’ Convertible version was introduced to the UK with winding side windows (earlier cars had quite effective sliding windows). In 1960 a revised 500D, with a slightly larger (499cc) engine made its debut. Saloon, Convertible and Giardiniera estate car versions of the 500 and 500D were imported to Britain. The estates were equipped with a fulllength sun roof, and their rear load floors were above the power unit. In 1965 the revised 500F featured front-hinged doors (they were previously hinged at the rear). Luxury ‘L’ versions of the 500 arrived in Britain in the summer of 1969, and buyers enjoyed full carpeting, reclining front seats, pockets in the doors, new instrumentation (including a fuel gauge!), a centre console, a sun roof, bumper ‘nudge bars’ and other standard-fit features.

The 500 was discontinued for U.K. sales in 1973, but the model has remained much-loved, and has many loyal British devotees. Although rust can be a serious concern, the cars are generally easy to own and to live with, and they still make a great deal of sense for daily running (unless you have a great deal of long distance motoring to do).

Fiat was always adept at producing cars with small engines that delivered excellent performance and fuel consumption. The 850, which made its U.K. debut in 1964, is a case in point.

The car was initially sold as a rearengined two-door, four-seater, powered by a four-cylinder overhead valve engine with a capacity of just 843cc. Fixed-head ‘fastback’ coupé versions followed in 1965, with more power (courtesy of a higher compression ratio and a twin choke carburettor).

A well-equipped, high performance ‘Special’ version of the saloon was introduced in the U.K. in September 1968, together with the new 850 ‘Sport Coupé’. This perky little car was powered by a free-revving 903cc engine.

Variations on the 850 theme included the left-hand drive only Spider (convertible) and a Multipla with the 843cc engine (903cc from 1970).

The 850 was also built in Barcelona (as the Seat 850) for world markets, and from 1973 until 1976 this car was sold in Britain. In the summer of 1975 the Seat 133 was introduced to the U.K., with a combination of the 126 type body shell and the 843cc engine.

Fiat’s thoroughly modern hatchback for the 1980s, the Uno, arrived in the U.K. during the hot the summer of 1983, and these newcomers were practical, economical superminis that put the Metro to shame.

Lively in standard guise, but, for those seeking thrills, the Uno Turbo ie (sold in the U.K. from 1985) was the answer…

The 1300cc turbocharged ‘pocket rocket’ was no shrinking violet when it came to looks; those ‘Turbo’ graphics on the body sides, side skirts, aluminium alloy wheels, rear spoiler saw to that but with a lowered suspension there was no doubting that this Fiat meant business.

Driving didn’t disappoint; this Uno had with passion and along with the Golf GTi and Peugeot 205 GTi it was the pocket rocket to die for. A facelift arrived in ‘90, with a larger (1.4-litre) engine and multi-point fuel injection.

The Uno Turbo was discontinued in 1994, but had already become a classic in its own time. They are fast, fun, and still affordable at the moment.