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Aggiornato il:
8-11-2015
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THE FIAT 124 SEDAN SIMPLE AND BEAUTIFUL
THE FIAT 124 SEDAN VERSIONS (PART ONE) (FIAT 124’s VERSIONS – PART TWO)
In this account we’ll tell you about the Fiat 124’s (sedan & break) versions sold in Italy and Europe in the last Sixties and the first half of Seventies.
The “124” number was the chronological order of the engine’s project. It was drawn in the far 1963 when the Fiat Chief Staff think to substitute two old models, at that date become obsolete, the “1100D” and the “1300”. The C. in C. thought about a barycentric cubature engine provided – for the first time – with five bench holders coupled with the previous 1300-type gearbox.
This new engine, 124A.000 was designed by Ing. Aurelio Lampredi, a skillfull ex-Ferrari engineer. The engine was a so-called “super-squared” in having about the same pistons bore & stroke’s dimensions and was famous to be ready to take revs.
Not at least the 124 Sedan was known to be a very good runner on the runways. But her engine’s arrangement was very simple, traditional and commonplace. It had the valves put on the head, driven by staffs and rocker levers and the camshaft was located in the cylinder block and driven by a toothed chain. The carburettor, Solex C32 PHH/6 (or Weber 32 DCOF) type had two horizontal barrels with simoultaneous throttles opening.
The car body was quite squared – very modern at that time – simple and functional and was at first available in the 4-doors version only. She had a far better roominess than that of the previous “1300” model and featured new lines.
The car had independent new wheel suspensions featuring wishbones, elical springs and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers acting on upper wishbones; anti-rollbar and torque arms acted lower wishbones on the front . In the rear she had a rigid semi-floating rear axle suspended by the same elical springs and coaxial shock telescopic absorbers, with two longitudinal arms and a Panhard barrel. Four Bendix disc brakes completed the mechanical arrangement and with all these good features the car was switched into production in the early 1966. Then was presented at Geneva’s Show that year and in the next November the Estate version was released, with the same engine.
She had a chromate grille in front of the radiator unit, linear chromate bumpers with little bumper guards and rubber trims, the same “1100R” and “1300” models wheel discs, button-push door handles and new linear lights on the tail, never seen before with little separate reflector elements below. The interiors was built in simple, rational and comfortable manner because the seller’s ultimate target was to keep low the production cost.
There were a pale-grey lightly padded dashboard (being however the first Fiat to do this), a single big and squared clock, seven warning lights and four switches. On the right there was a little gloves compartment lid.
In the big rectangular clock there was the petrol indicator gauge on the left, the speedometer in the middle and the water temperature warning light on the right.
Below there was all the others warning lights (i.e. the petrol-reserve, low oil pressure, dynamo charger, direction lights, phares…etc.).
Two little knobs on the left of the wheel drove the direction lights and the low/high beam lights and the wheel itself was big, thin and – accordingly that era fashion – had a chrome ring to operate the clackson. The seats was quite comfortable and sloping but were flat and didn’t keep the driver’s body in the turning points. But the car was perfectly all right with that time safety laws and sported security body celle, safe handles, internal paddies, safety steering column, ashtry and safety belts points.
The petrol tank was allocated in the rear luggage-room and hold by rubber swabs allowing it to move away to avoid breaking in case of crash. The cockpit ventilation arrangement was carefully studied and worked fine.
Optional included sloping forward seats, a little AM radio, and (little) reverse lights below the reflectors; a Veglia-Borletti aftermarket kit was available to add the water coolant thermometer gauge on the clock (in place of the standard warning light).
So built the car was a big goal and became a best seller, winning the award “Car of the Year 1967”, voted by 55 journalists of 12 Countries jury. In the same year production rate rose to about a thousand units built per day.
Despite thrifty built, after initial theeting problems, the car showed itself being very sturdy and reliable. Her little engine was indefatigable, hold big efforts (with his sealed cooling-system) and her mechanic arrangement with “for life” (no-grease) points was easily and economic to maintain. Very much accurate studies and severe trials were needed to gain these results. Very harsh trial test were conducted both in Arctic Polar regions than in Libya’s desert, as much in the raining German runways as in the terrible Belgian pavè streets and the 124 was the winner at once.
The unique fault to come up was some vapour-lock in the carburettor in very hot days and atrocious conditions. Other faults, common to the other cars of that years was a quite high demand of petrol, little leaks of water from the windows in very wet and raining days and – above all – the terrible rust.
It those years painting tecniques were well far to be gaining the today standards. Fiat itself – that had tested a new method of work for this car – prepared the naked bodies, fresh assembled for paint work by sinking them in a chemical bath, in order to fix the primer as better as possible. Than a four layers of primer and high resistance paint were spread for being cooked at high temperatures soon after.
This process should insure the best results and sturdiness against elements and even so the rust menace. Fiat assured her cars can stand outdoors for long time without damage. But sadly, after some years, thing went not so good.
The 124 Estate/Kombi (124AF) sported a different rear body with a fifth door and smaller tail lights. She had a different rear gearbox-ratio and suspension, bigger wheels and petrol tank (45 litres in place of 39 of the Sedan version). She can loaded with 360 Kg (plus the driver) and demanded a little extra petrol than the Sedan, being her average about 9,25 litres/100 Km (8,5 for Sedan version). Max. speed attained 145 Km/h v/s 147,40 of the Sedan.
In the Rallies and Races competitions the 124 Sedan was rising very much, she can run very fast in slope-races, being superseded in this duty only by the superb Alfa-Romeo Giulia 1300TI. She can cover a Kilometre in 36”,2 and in May 1967 she won the Pre-Alpi Venete Rally, being first forward her sister 124 “SportCoupè” and the Fiat 125 altogether!
In the following years, 1966-70 the 124s Sedan and Estate (Ist serie – Mk.I) were continuously improved, both in the engines than in the bodies and equipments. In 1968 the rear suspension was switched to the 124S one, being this far better than the original one and giving her better stability; then a swap of carburettor had place, together internal material and other items. The dashboard became black and the old clacson was replaced by much better trumpets.
This Mk.I version was the main type built and the larger quantity rolled out. She sold very much, in foreign countries also like Spain, Korea, Egypt, Turkey, India, Uruguay, etc. From this basic model another version was developed in 1970, the so-called Russian-type, much strenghtned and with a more advanced engine. The first licence-built Russian version resembled the Italian masterpiece very much.
At the begin of 1970 fashion changed and the 124 followed accordingly. At Turin Car Show, in November 1970, an entire new range of the 124 models appeared. She sported the same engine number (124A.000 type) but with 124A.000/II (Mk.II) body.
The brakes circuit had had a double security circuit with vacuum servo-mechanism and a modern alternator replaced the old dynamo. The radiator grille was added with black trims items, the dashboard had an useful water-cooling thermometer gauge, a double speed whipers arrangement, a lighter and improved pads. In the rear body two small air scoops was added, in the rear an entire change of the tail bulkhead was done and new bigger lights added as well. New bumpers was also fitted with a little reverse light below the numberplate. The wheels were unchanged.
Idem for the Estate version, which retained the previous tail lights. In September 1972 the third serie (Mk.III) was released. At that late stage of her life the 124 had brought great goals and satisfactions to Fiat Company. The car sold very well and won a high percentage of market. She motorised very much people all over the world and this last version was as much as possible matched with her improved sister, the “Special” one. She was fitted with the same doors and wheels, had better tapestry and materials, the dashboard had a wood-type trim and a new black speedometer clock; noteworthy the engine’s improvements with a new camshaft and hemispherical cylinders heads that brought her 5 more HPs. The radiator grille was switched to a new black plastic type with new Fiat logo, the tail lights were unchanged. Optional featured seat-belts, headrests, demisting windscreen and AM/FM radio.
This last version of the Fiat 124 was a very reliable and comfortable car, suitable for very long trips with high performances.
Sadly, like many more types, the 1973 petrol crisis brought her career to the end. Her thirsty engine coupled with the serious rust menace – due also true malfunctions and sabotage in the production lines by the strikers workers in the early ‘70s – lead her career to stop.
Many examples, carefully hold, survived to the second half of 1980s, others were quickly and unceremoniously scrapped after a few years.
Some ex-Italian survivors live in Greece and Aegean isles in poor conditions, drooping off her reliability and sturdiness.
124 Sedan – 1966 | |
Engine: |
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Trasmission: |
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Main body: |
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Performances: |
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Photo
gallery
Fiat 124 Sedan versions |
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A) main dimensions; |
B) performances’ table
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1) presented in May 1966 the Fiat 124 Sedan won a great success quickly |
2) that time publicity |
3)
the 124 interiors and dashboard, simple and functional |
4) the instruments plate |
6) ¾ rear view |
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7) this beautiful transparency shows her general arrangement |
8) the big and useful luggage compartment |
9) engine’s cutaway |
10) the carefully studied cockpit
ventilation |
11) particular view of the 124 Sedan |
12) a beautiful advertising shot |