Fiat 127

Series I

Production	1971—1977
Wheelbase	2,225 mm (87.6 in)
Length	3,595 mm (141.5 in)
Width	1,525 mm (60.0 in)
Height	1,360 mm (54 in)

Series II

Production	1977—1981
Wheelbase	2,225 mm (87.6 in)[1]
Length	3,645 mm (143.5 in)[1]
Width	1,527 mm (60.1 in)[1]
Height	1,358 mm (53.5 in)[1]
Curb weight	688 kg (1,520 lb)[1]
Fuel capacity	30 L (7.9 US gal; 6.6 imp gal)

Series III

Production	1982—1983

The Fiat 127 is a supermini produced by the Italian automaker Fiat between 1971 and 1983. It was introduced in 1971 as the replacement for the Fiat 850. Production of the 127 in Italy ended in 1983 following the introduction of its replacement, the Fiat Uno.

Overview

Initially only available as a two-door saloon when launched in April 1971, a three-door hatchback, using an identical body profile but with a full-depth rear door and folding rear seat, was launched the following year^[2] This was Fiat's first super-mini sized hatchback, although the concept had been fully trialled since 1964 by Fiat's Autobianchi subsidiary with the Autobianchi Primula and 1969 Autobianchi A112. The 127 used the tried and trusted 903 cc overhead valve engine that had powered the Autobianchi and, with various different cylinder capacities, earlier generations of Fiat cars, in conjunction with the state-of-the-art transverse engine and front wheel drive layout which had earlier been pioneered in the Autobianchi Primula and more recently the Fiat 128. The 127 also featured a unique transverse leaf spring suspension at the rear. The car was one of the first of the modern superminis, and won praise for its utilisation of space (80 percent of the floor space was available for passengers and luggage) as well as its road-holding. The 127 was an instant success, winning the European Car of the Year award in 1972, and quickly became one of the best-selling cars in Europe for several years. In June 1974, slightly above three years following the model's introduction, Fiat reported that the one millionth 127 had been completed at the Mirafiori plant in Turin.^[3] The (in its time) hugely successful Fiat 600 had taken seven years to reach that same milestone.

Series 1

The Series 1 car changed little during its lifetime. However, in May 1973 saloons became available in both standard and de Luxe versions. In 1975 the 127 Special variant was released which featured a restyled front grille. The de Luxe version was differentiated by its reclining front seats and opening hinged rear side windows as standard equipment.^[2] During the next couple of years the Fiat 850, which had initially been marketed alongside the 127, was withdrawn from most markets.

Series 2

The Series 2 version of the 127 debuted in 1977. It featured a restyled front and rear, a revised dashboard, larger rear glass area and a new 1049 cc engine option. This aluminium headed, overhead cam engine was unique to the 127 range. The tailgate was extended and now reached nearly to the rear bumper, addressing complaints about the high lip over which luggage had to be lifted for loading into the earlier 127 hatchbacks.^[1] At the same time a 5-door derivative became available in certain countries. The final revision of the 127 came in 1982 with the Mark 3. Once again the front and end styling was freshened up, and a new 1301 cc engine option was introduced. The interior was redesigned and made more modern looking.

There was also a "high-cube" panel van version, known as the Fiorino which was based on the Series 2 bodyshell, and this remained in production until 1984, when a new Uno-based Fiorino debuted.

Series 3

The Series 3 was launched in Italy in January 1982 and soon reached other European markets. It is distinguishable from the Series 2 by a more assertively plastic grille. The addition of a corresponding panel at the rear of the vehicle implied a new 'house style' inspired by the recently introduced Fiat Ritmo.

The 127 was replaced as Fiat's high volume product in this sector by the Fiat Uno in January 1983, though versions manufactured in South America continued in production till 1995: Fiat imported the South American 127 Unificata to Europe, until 1987.

Engines (from 1977)

SEAT 127 4-door.

International variants

As happened with other Fiat models of that era, SEAT made a Spanish version of this car called the SEAT 127. Due to SEAT design policy, a 4-door variant of the car was produced. SEAT also produced a unique variant of the 127 OHV engine. This had 1010 cc instead of 903 cc and produced 50 bhp.

Fiat 127 Moretti Midimaxi - 2nd series - 1980.

When their licence from Fiat expired, SEAT redesigned some parts of the car and created the SEAT Fura Dos. Some design parts of this model were also used in the Ibiza mark 1. SEAT produced 1,238,166 units of the 127 between 1972 and 1984.

In Brazil a 3-door wagon version was produced, called Fiat 147, one version actually utilizing a 1.3L Diesel engine. From 1981 this variant was actually exported to Europe, to be sold alongside the 127 sedans and hatchbacks. A total of 1,169,312 units were built from 9 July 1976 to the end of 1985 in Brazil and 232,807 units were also built in Argentina between 1982 and 1996, as the Fiat 147 or Spazio. Although the car achieved reasonable selling figures, the model was titled as "low-level" and "not so reliable" by early buyers, because of the fact that Fiat was just starting selling cars in Brazil in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The 127's underpinnings were also used in the Yugo 45 (Zastava Koral) from the Yugoslavian Zastava company.

Movie roles

In the 1986 film Gung Ho, centered on a (fictional) Japanese auto manufacturer reopening a shutdown automobile factory in a fictional western Pennsylvania town, some of the movie's "Assan Motors" cars were Fiat 127s in various stages of completion.

Sources and further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Fiat 127

• Fiat 127 forum
• Fiat 147 history in Portuguese
• Fiat 127 Club Italy
• Fiat 127 Club Nederland
• fiat-racing.dk - A Fiat 127 racing team
• Two restored Fiat 127 in a Fiat Club Israel meeting