Fiat 128

Manufacturer	Fiat
Production	1969-1985
Predecessor	Fiat 1100
Successor	Fiat Ritmo
Class	Small family car
Body style(s)	2-door saloon 4-door saloon 3-door estate 5-door estate (Argentina market) 3-door coupé
Layout	FF layout
Engine(s)	128 Series 1116 cc straight-4 1290 cc straight-4
Wheelbase	2,445 mm (96.3 in)
Length	3,850 mm (151.6 in)
Width	1,590 mm (62.6 in)
Height	1,340 mm (52.8 in)
Curb weight	750-770 kg (1653-1697 lb)
Fuel capacity	37.5 L (9.9 US gal; 8.2 imp gal)[1]
Related	Fiat X1/9 Zastava Skala 101 Autobianchi A111 Zastava 128 SEAT 128 Nasr 128 GLS 1300[2]

The Fiat 128 is a small family car manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1969 to 1985.

Although the styling was similar to the 124 and 125, the 128 was an advanced and influential design that pioneered the front-wheel-drive revolution at Fiat. Like the Mini, the 128 has a transverse-mounted engine, however, the significant breakthrough with the 128 was the use of unequal length drive shafts which allowed the engine and gearbox to be located side by side, a layout which has since become ubiquitous for small cars.

The 128 was voted European Car of the Year for 1970^[3], and continued to be acclaimed by the press throughout its lifetime: the magazine Road & Track placed the 128 above the Datsun B210, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 808, and Subaru DL but behind the VW Golf (which was launched in 1974 some five years after the 128) and Honda Civic in a comparison test, praising it as a "driver's car" with "excellent" brakes and "outstanding handling".

The 128 was the first car to feature the all-new Fiat SOHC engine, an engine design which was considerably advanced for its time, featuring an aluminium alloy cylinder head with a direct overhead camshaft driven by a rubber toothed belt. This type of engine design became commonly adopted by most manufacturers of small cars at the beginning of the 1980s, but in the late 60s was unusual.

Second series (1976-) 128 with new rectangular headlights.

Initially, the 128 was available as a two door sedan, four door sedan or station wagon. The car was only available with a 1116 cc engine on launch, though the 2-door-only 128 Rally edition launched in 1971 used a 1290 cc unit. Also in 1971, the Sport Coupe, an all-new coupe body on a shortened 128 platform, was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show. On launch it was available with both existing 128 engines. The 128 range underwent a revamp in 1972, featuring a range of minor changes inside and out; pre- and post-revamp cars can be distinguished by their differing radiator grilles. 1974 saw the launch of the 128 Special, which used the Rally engine in a four-door sedan body. In 1975 the 128 3P (3-door) Berlinetta replaced the Sport Coupe. The range was overhauled in 1976 with an array of exterior and interior changes including new bumpers and rectangular headlights as well as modifications to the engines.

Production of all 128s except that of the base 1100 cc powered model ceased in 1979 after the introduction of the Fiat Ritmo/Strada in 1978, whilst in 1980 a small three-door station wagon Panorama was dropped from the range. Production finally ceased in 1985.

The 128 running gear and engine was used for the Fiat X1/9 sports car, where the entire front-wheel drive train, suspension and engine was moved to the rear of the car to provide a mid-engined layout.

[edit] Road test

The British "Motor" magazine tested a Fiat 128 in April 1970, shortly after its UK launch. The car had a top speed of 85.4 mph (137.4 km/h) and accelerated from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 15.5 seconds. An "overall" fuel consumption of 27.5 miles per imperial gallon (10.3 L/100 km; 22.9 mpg_-US) was recorded. This put it fractionally behind the contemporary Morris 1300 on maximum speed but usefully ahead on acceleration. The two were closely matched on fuel economy, where both were outrun by the Ford Escort 1300 Super also included in the comparison, here in its four door version. The Fiat's £876 manufacturer's recommended price was not too far above the Morris 1300's £830 and the Escort's £838. The testers commended the Fiat's interior space and excellent performance. Wind and road noise were low, but engine noise was not.^[4]

[edit] 128 models

Fiat 128 Familiare (station wagon)

Fiat 128 Rally (1972)

Fiat 128 Sport Coupé SL 1100 (1972)

Fiat 128 3P

[edit] Foreign production

Zastava 128

Fiat 128 Súper Europa was made between 1983 -1990 by Sevel Argentina S.A.

The 128 formed the basis of the Zastava 128 (four-door sedan) and Zastava 101 (three-door and five-door hatchbacks) ranges of cars made by the "Zastava Automobili" company in Serbia. The 128-based Zastavas were available throughout Europe in the '70s. In Britain, three variants were offered: a three-door hatchback (Zastava Yugo 311/313), four-door saloon (Zastava Yugo 411/413) and a five-door hatchback (Zastava Yugo 511/513).

Today, Zastava continues to produce the five-door hatchback model as the Zastava Skala 55. It is the Serbian automaker's most affordable model and, at a price of approximately 3,750 euros, it is also among the most affordable cars in the world. Spare parts are particularly cheap.

Rumor has it that production of the Skala 55 will cease in 2010.

Zastava also produces the 128 in its original, four-door sedan form, but as of 2001 no longer sells the car as a whole. Rather, CKD kits are sent to Egypt's Nasr car company, who assemble and sell the cars under the Nasr marque as the Nasr 128.^[2] The 128 remains the Nasr's most popular model.

Among other 128-based cars, a 5-door wagon (Fiat 128 Rural) was also produced in Argentina for that market, as no 2-door 128s were made there. In Spain, SEAT manufactured its own version of 128 3P model (31,893 copies).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Fiat 128 Corral: A place to gather all the 128s left in the world
• Dutch Fiat 128 website
• Zastava Skala 55 presentation (in Serbian)
• Italian Fiat 128 Club Forum