Polski Fiat 126p (in English: Polish Fiat 126p) is a small car produced in Poland between 1973 and 2000. It was a type of Fiat 126 and to distinguish it from other types from other countries the letter "p" was added to its name. Production of this type of car had been started by PHZ Polmot with Italian Fiat license. Due to a relatively low price it used to be very popular in Poland, and its very small size gave it the nickname Maluch ("the small one"). It was exported to many Eastern bloc countries and it is still one of the most popular cars in Poland and Hungary.
History
- 1972 – the FSM car factory was built in Bielsko-Biała.
- 6 June 1973 – the first Polski Fiat 126p constructed from Italian parts. It cost about 69 000 zlotys (an average monthly salary in that times was about 3,500 zlotys)
- 22 July 1973 – the official opening of the factory's production line (till the end of that year over 1500 Fiats were manufactured)
- September 1975 – production started in a factory in Tychy.
- 1977 – engine capacity increased from 594 cm³ to 652 cm³. Engine power increased to about 24 hp equal about 17 kW.
- 1978 – production of types with engine capacity 594 cm³ stopped.
- 1979 – production of Polski Fiat 126p continued only in Bielsko-Biała.
- 1981 – 1,000,000th Polski Fiat 126p produced.
- December 1984 – technical changes in the construction and body. Type FL created.
- 1987 – beginning of the production of Polski Fiat 126p Bis version (capacity 700 cm³).
- May 1993 – 3,000,000th Polish Fiat 126p produced.
- September 1994 – body improvement, creating type "el" with parts similar to those used in Fiat Cinquecento.
- January 1997 – introduction of a catalytic converter.
- October 2000 – production was stopped. All Fiats of the last limited Happy End series were yellow.
