I Might Be Getting A Little Cough - Learn Me Fiat 126

hrmmm.... between the rust hiding in that first pic of the (front?) window, and what's shown in the what looks like rear firewall area of the later pics, this might be more of a polished apple w/ a core that's starting to rot.  I think you're mechanical abilities are much more than you stated earlier in the thread, but you probably want to think hard about messing with this one.  Even just trying to get in there to remove things to try and get at the areas to halt the rust as much as possible might prove problematic for ya. I do say that without ever having worked on one, though, so someone like Trent with more experience should chime in.

Just to clarify, a vehicle needs to be 25 years old from its date of manufacture to become exempt from EPA and DOT requirements when importing to the US.

It is a rolling date, not fixed, and not based on model year.  

i didn't realize these were so small.

Would want the Polski 126 because reasons...

In reply to Cooter :

Good to know.  Manufacturing year was listed as 1997, I didn’t stare at the tag long enough to decipher month/day on the tag. They built them here until 2000, according to the Wikipedia.

which means we’ll be 6 to 18 months short of bringing it back as part of our “household goods” (i.e. free).

Knurled said:

i didn’t realize these were so small.

it’s even smaller in person.  The “Vespa with a roof” comment is barely an exaggeration.  I’m pretty sure you could pull a u-turn in a 2-bay garage with one.

This one’s got manual choke, and I impressed the seller because I had a feel for giving it some gas on start up to get it to light.  (took four tries from cold... but probably only two in the future).

I'm not trying to be negative and I have no first hand experience, but I don't understand the appeal of one of these as an actual daily driver, particularly if you're not able to work on it yourself. As a weekend car, maybe, but they I'm having trouble identifying positive attributes beyond enjoying the style. I have a polish friend who thinks these cars are great, in part due to fond childhood memories. I grew up with a Dodge Colt and it was the first car I drove. I definitely have a soft spot for them, but I know cars have improved so much and are more fun and I have no desire to own one.

There are other, modern small cars that seem like they'd be a lot better. Let's say you want it to be a Fiat. Current gen Fiat 500s are available for a few thousand. Same with Mazda2, Fiesta. Miata?

Want to get retro and really small/light? What about a Geo Metro (1650lbs!)? I don't think that's a great suggestion for you, but you can get parts and I suspect it would hold up better than a 126. It has literally >2x the power and to my knowledge contains no leaf springs.

An old Fiat 500 is the same basic car ,  the 650cc motor and syncro trans out of a 126 is often used as an upgrade  for the 500.

I would love to find a 126 motor and trans to put in my 1961 Fiat 500 but there are not many in the USA.

But it's still going to be dead slow !

I sold my 425cc Citroen 2cv because it was so slow it was dangerous , too many rice rockets doing  45mph and riding on your rear bumper , 

Fun cars for a 7-11 run but not as a commuter car !

In reply to Jumper K Balls (Trent) :

Given your interest in Italian cars have you ever made the long trek to the Italian and French show at Waterfront Park in North Vancouver BC?

I should probably make it explicit, since it's been a while from the first post... and I may have not made it obvious then, but

this would really be a "Brickoman" (hardware store) run car, 'go let off some steam' car, and maybe a "go up to the karting place" car.  One of things about Warsaw is that it's designed to feed people in/out of the city center, but not cross-ways through the suburbs.  There is no such thing as a 'ring road' here.

We're pretty fortunate that our housing is on a direct bus line into town, and so we can do all of our day-to-day / week-to-week... get-around-town stuff without a car.  We fill-in some stuff with ride-hailing and cabs.

Even so, it's less than 2 miles to the sellers house 'direct', and themaps say it's a 45 min walk, or 35minutes by bus.  I think it took me 45mins on the bus-es, three of them total.  It was 15mins back by their "normal car".  In 10+months I haven't made it out to the hardware store at all.  With sleepykid#2 off to school, at least part time, next year... I'll have a chance to stretch my legs some, and the Maluch would add just a bit more to that stretch.

In a number of ways, the Maluch is a way for sleepywife to keep me busy and not 'stir crazy' while here; so that's why she's encouraging of it.  She also knows that I like trying out #allthecars, and this is a pretty easy way to scratch the "small aircooled deathtrap" itch.

I looked around trying to find a replacement for that panel that is obviously 'on it's way out', and it's laughable how cheap replacement panels are... not including shipping.  Which, since I'm here, would be a bunch more affordable.  Outside of labor, and I have a feeling even doing that isn't going to be exhorbident.  And getting this thing fixed up would probably help me get out from hunkering in my shell, and getting to know the city better.

I do appreciate everyone's hesitation, and reservations.  It's helping me to not jump in and swim with the unknown sharks, and go about trying to do some homework.  I've got a little time to make a decision, if anyone swings back by and has opinions.

What did you think of the driving experience?

I'd say that price is in impulse buy territory.  If you like it, do it! You don't get many chances to nab one.