1971 Fiat 127

FIAT 127, 1971 - 1983

The Fiat 127 was a two or three door front engine FWD four-seater saloon that was made between 1971 and 1983. It was Car of The Year 1972, and is one of the most successful Fiats of the 1970s, with sales passing the million point by 1974. Today it is widely regarded as one of the pioneering hatchbacks.

April 1971 marked the launch of the Fiat 127 in two-door guise. The steering was by rack & pinion and the front suspension was independent via swinging arms, coil springs and an anti-roll bar with rear swinging transverse arms. The brakes were discs at the front and drums at the rear and the engine was transversely mounted.

In the following year the 127 was available in hatchback form. In May of 1973 the Fiat was available in standard and De Luxe forms and two years later there was a new flagship Special model. By May 1977 the Series II boasted a new radiator grille and the option of a larger engine while 1978 saw the arrival of the Sport, which was a particular favourite of the motoring press. Another desirable 127 model was the Palio special edition, which came with alloy wheels as standard.

The Series III version debuted in January 1982 with modified frontal treatment; it was also now available in 1.3-litre form and with five-speed transmission. The high-performance model was now badged as the GT and was still regarded as a potent 'hot hatchback' in comparison with younger rivals.

The Fiat 127 was replaced by the Uno in 1983, although production in South America continued until 1995.

The engines of the Fiat 127 were 903cc S4 OHV, 1,049cc SOHC S4 and 1,301cc S4 SOHC units. The transmission was a four-speed or five-speed all-synchromesh box.

A major challenge to any potential Fiat 127 is actually finding one still on the road - in their heyday they were one of the most popular imported cars into the UK but corrosion has decimated their ranks. A very early two-door will be nearly impossible to find while the Series III GT and the Series II Sport and Palio are especially sought after.

Mechanical issues with the Fiat 127 include oil leaks on the cam cover and weak synchromesh on cars with the five-speed gearbox. Some owners fit Koni shock absorbers to enhance the handling while exterior trim can be hard to obtain. The tailgate, floor, inner front wings, door bottoms, windshield surround and the rear damper mountings are just some of the areas to check for rust.

Alternatives to the Fiat 127 include the Renault 5 Series I, the Ford Fiesta, the Peugeot 104, the VW Polo Series I, the Honda Civic, the Citroen Visa and the Austin Mini Metro.