Fiat

At the October 1972 Salone dell'Automobile di Torino the Fiat 126 was introduced as the successor to the iconic Fiat 500. While mechanically similar, the 126 featured a more modern, boxy design that offered improved interior space and practicality. It retained the rear-mounted, air-cooled two-cylinder engine, initially with a displacement of 594 cc, later increased in various updates. Although it never quite matched the charm or revolutionary status of the 500, the 126 became a common sight in many European cities. Production in Italy gradually wound down in the 1980s, but the model lived on in Poland, where it was built under licence by FSM and became a national icon. The Polish-built 126p remained in production until 2000, making it one of Fiat’s longest-running models.

1973