Fiat Polski 126 BIS Luisi

Never knew a Polish product could be this sweet: the Polski Fiat 126 must be the cuddliest car Eastern Europe has ever delivered! Our specific version is extra desirable, given the fact that it’s the latest BIS series with original Luisi details. Besides, it was a beautiful restoration project of an elderly fan before he passed away. His family inherited the little sweetheart and wants to see the Fiat 126 BIS back on the public roads again. That’s why they offered us the classic Italian, hoping someone else will continue to enjoy the ride. A lot has been already done: the bright red exterior got a new paintjob and the engine is overhauled. The charm doesn’t need to be changed though: it lasts a lifetime!

History
The tiny hatchback had some big shoes to fill when it was introduced in 1972 as the successor to the iconic Fiat 500. It couldn’t stop the 126 from surpassing the 500 in terms of production numbers: in 2000 (it has been manufactured that long!) 4,673,655 units were built. That’s almost 800,000 more than its predecessor! One of the latest versions was called BIS Luisi, known for its restyling and technical upgrades. Officially, this car has never been delivered in the Netherlands, which makes it even more desirable for Dutch enthusiasts. Will the Fiat Polski 126 stay here or do you have other plans with it?

Exterior
Technically the Fiat 126 is almost the same as the Fiat 500. However, the evolution of the exterior was less subtle: the 126 proved to be quite modern and sleek for its time. The very much cherished characteristics of the classic were fortunately retained, but the next generation looked a bit more ‘down-to-earth’. The BIS is recognized by its 13-inch wheels to improve the handling and got a set of modified bumpers. Thanks to that, Fiat complied with the latest ECE safety requirements. There are even real fog lights in the front bumper! The Fiat 126 BIS had to close the gap to its successor: the much more conventional Cinquecento from the 90s. Parts like the larger air intakes on the sides refer to some serious technical changes. The black finish stands out even more in combination with the fire red lacquer, which is completely repainted. In short, our little Fiat is huge in terms of distinction.

Interior
Dive into the surprisingly spacious interior and behold some fine details such as the Luisi sports steering wheel. Sporty are also the red trim along the black floor mats. Add to this the Nero leather upholstery and it sounds like the Fiat Polski 126 BIS was way ahead of its time. Turn up the volume of the Blaupunkt radio, listen to the quality of the Pioneer speakers and once again the Polish Italian shows that there’s more music in the characteristic little one.

Technique
Also underneath: especially for the BIS, Fiat provided the 126 with an upgrade including a larger engine capacity of 703 cc. In addition, the 2-cylinder was now water-cooled. The exhaust, carburetor and distributor were new too, increasing the power to 35.4 PS and pushing the top speed to 116 km/h. Nowadays that’s still enough to exceed the speed limits on Dutch highways. Although we guess you might be interested in the Polski Fiat for many other reasons…

Cordiali Saluti,
Prins Classics.