Fiat 125

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The Fiat 125 was an executive car introduced by Fiat in 1967. The chassis was based on that of the outgoing model, the Fiat 1300/1500 (the longer variant), the body was a further (lengthened) development of the Fiat 124 - both had the same passenger compartment and doors, whilst the engine was derived from that in the 124, a 1608 cc dohc with 90 bhp. In the following year the 125S (Special) was added to the range, with 100 bhp (from a modified cylinder head, camshaft and inlet manifold) and a five speed gearbox. A variety of other improvements were made including improved trim and styling.

The 125 renowned at the time for its handling, and general dynamic brilliance, due to its 1608 ccm OHC and DOHC engines giving 90 to 100 hp.

Production of Fiat 125p in FSO factory (before 1973)

The ‘Special’ was facelifted in 1970 when a more cosmetic rework improved trim and some styling details. A three-speed automatic transmission also became available as an option.

Production ceased in 1973 when the Fiat 132 was introduced, a total of 603,877 cars having been built. Elsewhere around the globe the 125 continued to be produced. These included South America, where production continued until the 1980’s and included estate and coupe versions, Poland (under the FSO name were developed also estate and pick-up versions and later a five door coupe, the Polonez) and Egypt (though the production line was stopped in 1983, Fiat 125 remain one of the most wanted cars in Egypt due to its strength and reliability).

Polski-Fiat/FSO 1300 & 1500

Polski Fiat 125p (after 1975)

A licence copy was also produced in Poland as Polski Fiat 125p, later FSO 1500 or FSO 1300, also known as FSO 125p. However, it was a simplified model of Fiat 125, with outdated engines 1300 (1295 ccm, 60 hp) or 1500 (1481 ccm, 75 hp) and mechanicals from the Fiat 1300/1500. In 1967 a small series of Polski Fiats was assembled from Italian parts, model 1300 entered production in 1968 and model 1500 in 1969. Model 1300 went off production in the 1980s. Polish cars also differed in details from Italian ones, most visible were four round headlights instead of square ones. One of few advantages of Polski Fiat was a flat fuel tank above the rear axle, instead of a vertical tank on a right rear side. Unlike the Fiat 125, this model was also available as a station wagon (PF 125p Kombi) and a pickup. Small series was made with original Italian 1600 ccm (PF 125p Monte Carlo) and 1800 ccm (PF 125p Akropolis) engines, meant mostly for racing. Unusual variant built in a small series was a lengthened cabriolet with three rows of seats, used by touristic bureaus in Warsaw.

This Polish version was produced (from 1983 as an FSO 125p 1500/1300) until June 1991, by which time the design was 24 years old and its mechanicals were 30 years old, with minor improvements. During this period it only underwent a small restyling in 1973, when a chrome front grill was replaced with black plastic one, and in 1975, when it was given new plastic grill, signal lights, big rear lamps instead of pairs of thin vertical ones and an interior was modernized a bit. In the UK & Ireland (where it was available in right-hand-drive form since 1975) it had been the cheapest car on the market for some time (just over £3000 in 1991). It was well known for its 1960's styling, comfortable leatherette seats and cavernous levels of space. Mechanically, the 125p was rugged and virtually unbreakable. The car's bodywork, however, was assembled from very low quality steel to keep prices and production costs down. The cars therefore rusted at an alarming rate (Between Ireland and England there are roughly 100 left running). Also, the car's performance was hardly on a par with that of the Italian 125, and its handling capabilities came nowhere close to those of the original design. It also suffered from a very rough ride due to the leaf-sprung rear suspension layout.

Argentina

A slightly modified version of the 125 was also produced in Argentina up to 1982, including a coupe.

An interesting variant was made by dealers in New Zealand for motorsport which had larger valves, two twin 40DHLA carburettors, different camshafts and a higher compression ratio to produce about 125 bhp. Unfortunately only 84 were modified before Fiat headquarters found out and stopped this venture.

Other versions were built by Moretti, who made the 125GS 1.6 with styling similar to the Fiat Dino Spider, Zagato, the 125Z, Savio, who produced a 125 Coupe and Station Wagon, Pininfarina, who designed a 125 Executive and Vignale who produced the Samantha, a two door coupe with pop-up headlights.

External links

• [Polski Fiat 125p] - a history in Polish, with photos.

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