1988 Fiat 126 BiS....another project

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Introducing yet another project vehicle, my 1988 Fiat 126 BiS that i bought off Ebay earlier in the week. The chap bought it as a project 10 yrs ago, to restore once he gets his Fiat 500 done. The 500 restoration hasn't started yet so he decided to sell the little 126.

It had been sat in his garage for the last 9 yrs, had flat tyres and was parked tight up against the wall. We blew the 2 tyres up that we could, but the car wouldn't roll, luckily it had been left with the handbrake off. We ended up picking the back of the car up, and moving it away from the wall, then doing the same with the front end, so we could blow the other 2 tyres up.

Once the tyres were blown up, she rolled out the garage.

Here's the pics of the car once home, taken this morning.












Plans are to get it checked over and get it on the road asap, and hopefully bring along to Retro Rides show.

[qwerty]

I love these little things!! But what are they like? People seem to prefer the air-cooled ones.

[Marc]

I've got so many memories of these little cars! My aunt in Italy had one, I remember riding in the back of it as a kid on family holidays in the '80s. Not sure if it was the air cooled one or not, but I always like to see that theres some still about.

Good luck with it, keep us up to date! You've really made my day posting this up!

[bstardchild]

I learnt to drive in one many years ago - right cute little car

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Had a play with the car today, after putting a new battery on it, some fresh fuel in the tank and a little adjustment on the points, a few spins over and she whirred into life. ;D

Took her for a little spin around the block and everything seems ok after 9 yrs in storage. Engine is nice and revvy, accelerator cable is a little stiff, but gear change feels fine, and the clutch seems ok, all electrics work, even the radio cassette which i think is original.

Seeing as it was such a nice day, i gave it a wash, a bit of T cut and a polish.










Next on the agenda will be a thorough check over, a good service and probably an MoT.

When my sister saw it her first words were " How the bloody hell are you gonna fit in that ". Bear in mind in 6ft 4in and 19 stone.

[grizz]

Absolutey stoked with that outcome.

You did really well.

Nice one.

[daverapid]

8-)Awwww...what a sweet little car, and SOOOOO cool! Must feel rather different to the bus that you drive during the day!

[skoda_norman]

polishing up well!

i've long since wanted to do something with one of these -so much potential.

i'd guess it is quite tight in the cabin?

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skodanorman said:

i'd guess it is quite tight in the cabin?

What you trying to say Rob???

More room inside than you think.

[skoda_norman]

havefunskomad said:

skodanorman said:

i'd guess it is quite tight in the cabin?

What you trying to say Rob???

More room inside than you think.

nor, nothing like that. I've seen them in Poland and they always look tiny. What are they really like?
I once saw one in Poland and there was two lads driving it. the driver sat in the normal position, but the passenger, had removed the front seat and was actually sitting on the rear bench! ;D
Does it make that whine that they all make?
fun cars I reckon. Can I have a go some day?

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Here's the worst bit of rust i've found so far



and here's 1 for Rob (skoda_norman)


More room in there than you think, just got to shorten the gear lever as reverse is under my leg.

[Darrel]

Kenton how is the exhaust? They are hard to get hold of. That offer of the Manual for it is still open if you want it.

[gtd2000]

Seeing this car reminds me of my dad trading in his Mark 1 Cortina for a brand new Fiat 126 (Reg No NSG 916 M). I kept looking at all of the other Fiats and asking if were were getting this one or that one?

Eventually, I was shown (much to my dismay) a wonderfully non-descript beige Fiat 126 with nauseating pvc seats and a tiny cramped interior...I was expecting the Fiat 131 Supermirafiore (or whatever it was called?).

The car was pretty curse word from my memory of it to be honest. It had a hell of a time starting most days in Scotland during winter. I remember endless cans of "damp-start" being squirted up its rear end on frosty mornings and blankets being draped over the engine the night before etc.

I was very happy to see the curse word off in 1976 when my dad traded it in for a Ford Escort estate! (KKS 429 P).

I can still recall the waves of nausea travelling down to the lake district with the smell of fresh Ziebart anti-rust treatment (you gotta be kidding me right?) and PVC seats while mum and dad puffed there lungs out without any consideration back in the day!