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1968 Fiat 124 S
| The double headlights loosen up the front. |
In-line four-cylinder, displacement (bore * stroke), 1,438 cm3 (80.0 mm * 71.5 mm), compression 9.1:1, register carburettor, 52/59 kW (70/80 hp) at 5400/5600 rpm, torque, 110/112 Nm at 3200/4000 rpm,
front engine with rear-wheel drive, four-speed, later five-speed, automatic, disc brakes front/rear, floating caliper, brake booster, brake force limiter, wheelbase 2,420 mm, front suspension, double wishbone, Coil springs,
rigid rear axle, 155 SR 13, four-door body, length 4,053/4,059 mm, width 1,610 mm, height 1,420 mm, luggage compartment, approx. 410 liters, tank capacity, 40 liters, empty weight 925/950 kg + driver, max. speed,
approx. 150/160 km/h, construction period, 1968 - 1974, purchase price, from approx. DM 6,800 (1968), electrics, 12V three-phase generator.
Yes, I loved it. It was the first new car I bought, and that was in 1968. It had just come out. My future father-in-law gave me the idea. He had just bought a 124, surprisingly away from the VW Beetle.
In fact, the Fiat 124 was incomparable to the Beetle. What stood out in particular was the low beltline, which not only gave a better overview of the traffic, but also a lighter interior. The space in the back and the luggage
compartment were also incomparable.
And the performance comparison? The VW lost that too, even though it had just been increased to 29 kW (40 hp), and not just on points. My Fiat even had 7 kW (10 hp) more than the 124. But that wasn't the main reason. It
was the further developed version.
Not only did the car pull better with roughly the same fuel consumption, it was also considerably quieter, not least because you didn't have to rev it as high to make progress. The interior fittings, including the dashboard,
were also much more solid. Thanks to the register carburetor, you could determine exactly the point where the fuel consumption increased.
The dashboard and the steering wheel with horn ring had become much more pleasing. Instead of the boring speedometer, there were now two pretty round displays for the speedometer, but unfortunately no tachometer.
But there was an interval switch on the windshield wiper. The seats, which still had no headrests, had reclining seat fittings. Unfortunately, the lateral support was quite poor. The car felt like the comfort version of the 124.
Of course, it wasn't a paragon of aerodynamics, but the Beetle had long since lost its advantages in this regard. But that wasn't a priority in the age of trapezoidal shapes. Even if the angular body shape could not be fully
translated into a much higher top speed, the acceleration was still more than sufficient.
Maintenance work was relatively easy to carry out. The valve train could be adjusted using the rocker arms. There were no longer any grease nipples. The brakes required a little more attention. Since their calipers are
floating, the wedges between the caliper and the holder should be made operable and lubricated frequently. All other work, e.g. on the ignition breaker contacts, was routine.
Yes, I maintained it, every Saturday. Unfortunately, after only 1.5 years, I noticed a rust spot on the inside corner of the door. That was the end of our relationship. At least the Fiat dealer helped me to sell the car and and he
arranged for me to give a few special lessons on the car for the new buyer (and a colleague).
| Facelift 1970, double camshafts, 59 kW (80 hp) |
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