Fiat 124
Encyclopedia
The Fiat 124 is a mid-sized
family car
produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat
between 1966 and 1974. It was the replacement of the Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1500
. Today it is perhaps best known as the car used as the basis for the Russian-built Lada
, which continues in production to the present day beyond the 124's discontinuation in 1974.
Thanks in part to the ubiquity of the Lada version in Eastern Europe (and also in Latin America
and the Caribbean
), the 124 has achieved iconic status, and if Lada production is aggregated onto the original Fiat production run, the 124 and its various clones is one of the biggest selling automotive designs of all time with over 15 million units sold worldwide.
award - the fourth winner of the award and the first from Italy.
It was praised for its spacious interior, advanced coil spring rear suspension, disc brakes on all wheels and lightweight construction.
The car was unusual in the extent to which Oscar Montabone, the chief engineer responsible for its development, was able to start with a clean sheet. Only the all-synchromesh gear box came from an existing model, the Fiat 1500
.
, producing 65 hp (49 kW) and 70 ft.lbf (95 Nm). Also 124S with 1438 cc OHV engine and 124 ST with 1438 cc and 1592 cc Twin Cam with 5 speed gearbox.
A slightly stretched and more luxurious version of the 124 sedan known as the 125
was launched in the early part of 1967.
The basic 124 saloon also spawned the Fiat 124 Sport Spider
and the Fiat 124 Coupé
, both sought after 1970s classic cars.
In 1966-1970, Fiat sponsored the building of the AvtoVAZ
car factory in the Soviet Union
. The factory produced an adapted version 124R of the 124 known as the Lada
ВАЗ-2101 / Zhiguli (sold as the Lada 1200 in export markets) until 1982 and 1200s until 1987. These cars are based on the 124 nut modified on more then 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 Lada based on the Fiat 124/ВАЗ-2101 design are made to the present day and are known as the ВАЗ-2104/2105/2107 — marketed as the Lada Riva
or (Lada Classic) in most Western European markets. Production of this line until 2011 has exceeded 16,800,000 cars, and recently they are produced at the Izh car factory, az Izhevsk, Russia, az IZH-2104/2107.
The Fiat 124 was also introduced in India
by Premier Automobiles in 1986 as the Premier 118NE. 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
(1171 cc/52 bhp) powertrain instead of the original Fiat engine along with a Nissan manual gearbox. The car got a tremendous response in the beginning. Auto magazines praised its gearshift as the slickest of all. Rusting was the problem with these cars. At the end of production an improved model called Viceroy was released in collaboration with Peugeot
, France. Later on it was outmoded by other modern cars and production was stopped in 2001. A few well maintained versions are still found today.
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 4-door and station wagon versions.
Also Sport versions were made with 1600 cc (1970–72) , 1800 cc (1972–75) and 2000 cc (1978–79).
in Lovech
, Bulgaria
, on the basis of complete knockdown (CKD) kits between 1967 and 1971.
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.
in South Korea
between 1970 and 1975.
company built at least 9,000 cars in the shell of Lada 2107/Riva (2,200 in 2006), and it continues in 2007.
Mid-size car
A mid-size car is the North American/Australian standard for an automobile with a size equal to or greater than that of a compact...
family car
Family car
A family car is a car classification used in Europe to describe normally-sized cars. The name comes from the suitability of these cars to carry a whole family locally or on vacations. Most family cars are hatchbacks or saloons, although there are MPVs, estates and cabriolets with the same structure...
produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
between 1966 and 1974. It was the replacement of the Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1500
Fiat 1300/1500
The Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1500 are large family cars manufactured by the Italian automaker Fiat Auto from 1961 to 1967, which replaced the Fiat 1200. The 1300 and 1500 were essentially identical except for engine displacement, as indicated by model names...
. Today it is perhaps best known as the car used as the basis for the Russian-built Lada
VAZ-2101
The VAZ-2101 is a compact car, sedan, produced by VAZ and introduced in 1970. VAZ had been founded in the mid-1960s as a collaboration between Fiat and the Soviet government, and the 2101 was its first product...
, which continues in production to the present day beyond the 124's discontinuation in 1974.
Thanks in part to the ubiquity of the Lada version in Eastern Europe (and also in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
), the 124 has achieved iconic status, and if Lada production is aggregated onto the original Fiat production run, the 124 and its various clones is one of the biggest selling automotive designs of all time with over 15 million units sold worldwide.
Launch
The 124 was introduced by being dropped by parachute from a plane and instantly won critical acclaim, including that year's European Car of the YearEuropean Car of the Year
The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964 by a collective of automobile magazines from different countries in Europe. The current organisers of the award are Auto , Autocar , Autopista , Autovisie , L'Automobile Magazine , Stern and Vi Bilägare .The voting jury consists of motoring...
award - the fourth winner of the award and the first from Italy.
It was praised for its spacious interior, advanced coil spring rear suspension, disc brakes on all wheels and lightweight construction.
The car was unusual in the extent to which Oscar Montabone, the chief engineer responsible for its development, was able to start with a clean sheet. Only the all-synchromesh gear box came from an existing model, the Fiat 1500
Fiat 1300/1500
The Fiat 1300 and Fiat 1500 are large family cars manufactured by the Italian automaker Fiat Auto from 1961 to 1967, which replaced the Fiat 1200. The 1300 and 1500 were essentially identical except for engine displacement, as indicated by model names...
.
Engine
Power came from a 1.2 L (1197 cc) Fiat OHV straight-4Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, producing 65 hp (49 kW) and 70 ft.lbf (95 Nm). Also 124S with 1438 cc OHV engine and 124 ST with 1438 cc and 1592 cc Twin Cam with 5 speed gearbox.
Variations
A 124 station wagon was introduced in April 1967, featuring most of the same specifications as the saloon but the springs were stiffened and the final drive ratio changed to 4.4:1.A slightly stretched and more luxurious version of the 124 sedan known as the 125
Fiat 125
The Fiat 125 is a large family car introduced by Fiat in 1967 and produced by them until 1972. Derivatives were built under license outside Italy until the 1990s...
was launched in the early part of 1967.
The basic 124 saloon also spawned the Fiat 124 Sport Spider
Fiat 124 Sport Spider
The 124 Sport Spider is a 2+2 convertible marketed by Fiat from 1966 to 1979 – having debuted at the November 1966 Turin Auto Show. Designed and manufactured by Italian carrozzeria Pininfarina, Fiat continued to market the monocoque-bodied car as the 2000 Spider from 1979 to 1982...
and the Fiat 124 Coupé
Fiat 124 Coupe
Fiat 124 Coupé is an Italian car produced between 1967 and 1975 in three generations.The four cylinder, aluminum, twin overhead cam engine was designed by ex-Ferrari engineer Aurelio Lampredi. Originally, the AC or first generation featured an 1,438 cc engine, which grew to 1,608 in the...
, both sought after 1970s classic cars.
The end
Production of the Fiat 124 ceased in 1974, paving the way for the slightly larger but otherwise in most respects similarly configured Fiat 131 Mirafiori.Engines
- 1200 (1197 cc) - 60 PS - 66 PS (1966–1974)
- 1400 (1438 cc) - 70 PS - 75 PS (1968–1974)
- 1400 Special T (1438 cc) TwincamFiat Twin Cam engineDesigned by Aurelio Lampredi the Fiat Twin Cam was an advanced inline-4 automobile engine produced from 1959 through 1994 as a Fiat/Lancia engine until it was replaced by the "family B" series of engines...
- 80 PS (1968–1972) - 1600 Special T (1592 cc) TwincamFiat Twin Cam engineDesigned by Aurelio Lampredi the Fiat Twin Cam was an advanced inline-4 automobile engine produced from 1959 through 1994 as a Fiat/Lancia engine until it was replaced by the "family B" series of engines...
- 95 PS (1973–1974) - Abarth Rally (1756 cc) TwincamFiat Twin Cam engineDesigned by Aurelio Lampredi the Fiat Twin Cam was an advanced inline-4 automobile engine produced from 1959 through 1994 as a Fiat/Lancia engine until it was replaced by the "family B" series of engines...
- 128 PS (1972–1973) - 2000 (1920 cc) TwincamFiat Twin Cam engineDesigned by Aurelio Lampredi the Fiat Twin Cam was an advanced inline-4 automobile engine produced from 1959 through 1994 as a Fiat/Lancia engine until it was replaced by the "family B" series of engines...
- 115 PS (1979)
Soviet Union/Russia
AvtoVAZ
AvtoVAZ is the Russian automobile manufacturer formerly known as VAZ: Volzhsky Avtomobilny Zavod , but better known to the world under the trade name Lada. The company was established in the late 1960s in collaboration with Fiat...
car factory in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. The factory produced an adapted version 124R of the 124 known as the Lada
Lada
Lada is a trademark of AvtoVAZ, a Russian car manufacturer in Tolyatti, Samara Oblast. All AvtoVAZ vehicles are currently sold under the Lada brand, though this was not always so; Lada was originally AvtoVAZ's export brand for models it sold under the Zhiguli name in the domestic Soviet market...
ВАЗ-2101 / Zhiguli (sold as the Lada 1200 in export markets) until 1982 and 1200s until 1987. These cars are based on the 124 nut modified on more then 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 Lada based on the Fiat 124/ВАЗ-2101 design are made to the present day and are known as the ВАЗ-2104/2105/2107 — marketed as the Lada Riva
Lada Riva
The VAZ-2105, VAZ-2104 and VAZ-2107 are a series of medium-sized family cars built by Russian car manufacturer AvtoVAZ, introduced in 1980 in the Soviet Union, and progressively in other European markets through the early 1980s and sold in both saloon and estate versions...
or (Lada Classic) in most Western European markets. Production of this line until 2011 has exceeded 16,800,000 cars, and recently they are produced at the Izh car factory, az Izhevsk, Russia, az IZH-2104/2107.
Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
by Premier Automobiles in 1986 as the Premier 118NE. 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
Nissan A engine
The Nissan A series of internal combustion gasoline engines have been used in Datsun, Nissan and Premier brand vehicles. Displacements of this four-stroke engine family ranged from 1.0 liter to 1.5 liter and have been produced from 1967 to the present. It is a small-displacement four...
(1171 cc/52 bhp) powertrain instead of the original Fiat engine along with a Nissan manual gearbox. The car got a tremendous response in the beginning. Auto magazines praised its gearshift as the slickest of all. Rusting was the problem with these cars. At the end of production an improved model called Viceroy was released in collaboration with Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
, France. Later on it was outmoded by other modern cars and production was stopped in 2001. A few well maintained versions are still found today.
Spanish
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
and Fiat, it was produced and sold in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with the name SEAT 124 from 1968 to 1980. The car was very successful in Spain, and was sold in both the 4-door and station wagon versions.
Also Sport versions were made with 1600 cc (1970–72) , 1800 cc (1972–75) and 2000 cc (1978–79).
Bulgarian
The Fiat 124 was also produced under the name Pirin-FiatPirin-Fiat
Pirin-Fiat was the trademark of several passenger automobiles produced in Lovech, Bulgaria, and the result of a collaboration between Fiat and SPC Balkankar...
in Lovech
Lovech
Lovech is a town in north-central Bulgaria with a population of 36,296 as of February 2011. It is the administrative centre of the Lovech Province and of the subordinate Lovech Municipality. The town is located about 150 km northeast from the capital city of Sofia...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, on the basis of complete knockdown (CKD) kits between 1967 and 1971.
Turkish
The Fiat 124 was also produced under the name Murat 124, aka. Serçe ("sparrow") in Bursa, TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
by Tofaş
Tofas
Tofaş is a Turkish automaker, based in Bursa, Turkey, where also a plant of the company is located. It builds Fiat models under license and also some locally-designed vehicles...
. 134,867 Murat 124s were produced between 1971 and 1994. TOFAŞ
Tofas
Tofaş is a Turkish automaker, based in Bursa, Turkey, where also a plant of the company is located. It builds Fiat models under license and also some locally-designed vehicles...
concurrently produced the Fiat 131 series under the name Murat 131 between 1976 and 2002. Today, the company manufactures bona fide Fiat models.
Korean
The Fiat 124 was also produced under the name Fiat-KIA 124 by Asia MotorsAsia Motors, Ltd
Asia Motors Co. Ltd., founded in 1965, was a South Korean motor vehicle manufacturer of large and medium duty trucks, special military vehicles, lightweight cars, civilian jeeps , motor vehicle components, to include engines, and buses and mini-buses. Kia owned 28.28% of issued stock...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
between 1970 and 1975.
Egypt
From 2002 to 2007 Lada-EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
company built at least 9,000 cars in the shell of Lada 2107/Riva (2,200 in 2006), and it continues in 2007.