| Manufacturer | FSO |
|---|---|
| Also called | FSO 1300/1500 |
| Production | 1967-1991 |
| Assembly | Warsaw, Poland Cairo, Egypt Kragujevac, Yugoslavia Colombia Thailand Indonesia |
| Predecessor | FSO Warszawa 223/224 |
| Successor | FSO Polonez |
| Class | Large family car |
| Body style | 4-door Sedan 5-door Station wagon 2-door Pick-up |
| Engine | 1295 cc ohv I4 1481 cc ohv I4 1600 Fiat DOHC I4 1800 Fiat DOHC I4 2000 Fiat DOHC I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual (1967-1988) 5-speed manual (1988-1991) |
| Wheelbase | 2,505 mm (98.6 in) |
| Length | 4,230 mm (166.5 in) |
| Width | 1,625 mm (64.0 in) |
| Height | 1,440 mm (56.7 in) |
| Curb weight | 970 kg (2,138 lb) |
| Related | Fiat 1300/1500 Fiat 125 FSO Polonez |
The Polski Fiat 125p was a motor vehicle manufactured between 1967 and 1991 in People's Republic of Poland (1968 - 1990) and Republic of Poland (1990 - 1991) by the state-owned manufacturer Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych ("FSO") under a license agreement with Fiat. It was a simplified variation of the Fiat 125, with engines and mechanicals from the Fiat 1300/1500. To distinguish between the models, Fiat and FSO revived the marque Polski Fiat. After the termination of the license agreement, the car was also branded as the FSO 1300, FSO 1500 or FSO 125p.
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In the 1960s, the only passenger car manufacturer in socialist Poland was the FSO in Warsaw, which manufactured the dated Syrena small car and the Warszawa, a larger model whose roots could be traced back to 1940s. Even within the realities of a centrally planned, socialist economy, the need for a replacement was felt. Although Warszawa-based replacements had been under development within the FSO, the authorities decided to pursue talks with the Italian Fiat, which was seeking to expand its international presence by establishing production in the countries of the Eastern Bloc.[1]
On the 22 December 1965, a license agreement was signed concerning manufacturing of intermediate-sized cars in Poland. The automobile concerned was a model specially devised for production in Poland - combining the body and braking system of the newly-launched Fiat 125 with the driveline and other chassis elements from the retired Fiat 1300/1500. The FSO had to be refurbished to be able to handle the assembly of a modern car, so world-class machinery was ordered from Western companies. FSO's over 100 Polish suppliers were also involved in the effort, as well as other manufacturers from the Eastern Bloc assembling Fiat-licensed models - Crvena Zastava works in Yugoslavia and the newly organised VAZ in the Soviet Union. The production preparation process took almost two years, with the assembly of pre-production test series from parts imported from Italy commencing on 28 November 1967. By the end of the year, 75 such cars were assembled.[1]
There were two main versions, differing in engine employed: 1300 (1295 cc, 60 hp (45 kW) / 44 kW) or 1500 (1481 cc, 75 hp / 51.5 kW). The 1300 model entered production in 1968 and the 1500 in 1969. The 1300 ceased production in the 1980s.
Polish cars differed in detail from Italian ones; most visibly there were four round headlights instead of two square ones. A less visible but significant change in the Polski Fiat was a safer flat fuel tank above the rear axle, instead of Fiat's vertical tank on the rear right-hand side. It also had more durable 4-wheel disc brakes, thanks to mud covers.
Unlike the Fiat 125, the car was also available as an estate (PF 125p Kombi), and a pickup. The stationwagon won the 1978 "Estate Car of the Year" award in the United Kingdom.
A few cars were made with original Italian 1600 cc (PF 125p Monte Carlo) and 1800 cc (PF 125p Akropolis) engines, intended mostly for racing. An unusual variant built in a small series was a lengthened cabriolet with three rows of seats, used by the tourist bureau in Warsaw for sightseeing.
There was a small restyling in 1973, when the chrome front grille was replaced with black plastic one, and in 1975, when a new black plastic grill arrived along with new turn indicators, enlarged rear lamps (instead of pairs of thin vertical ones), and a mildly modernised interior. The power of both engines was also raised by 3.7 kW. From 1983, the car was produced as the FSO 125p 1500/1300.
The car was produced until 26 June 1991; in total, 1,445,689 were manufactured. By that time the design was 24 years old and used mechanicals which were essentially 30 years old, with only minor improvements.
From 1978, a version with an entirely new body was available – the FSO Polonez. The Polonez survived until 2002.
In the UK & Ireland (where it had been available in right-hand-drive form since 1975) the Polski Fiat had been the cheapest car on the market for some time – just over £3000 in 1991. It was well known for its 1960s styling, durable but comfortable leatherette seats and cavernous levels of space. Mechanically, the 125p was rugged and reliable. The car's bodywork, however, was assembled from very low quality steel to keep prices and production costs down, meaning that it was extremely prone to rust.
Also, the car's performance was less than that of the Italian 125, and its handling capabilities came nowhere close to those of the original design. It also suffered from a very rough ride due to the leaf-sprung rear suspension layout. Not even the bargain basement prices could disguise the outdated drivetrain.
By the time of the car's demise, the Lada Riva, itself derived from the Fiat 124, was the only similar Eastern European car available in the UK. Škoda had abandoned its rear-engined range of saloons and coupés in favour of a modern front-engined hatchback, and Wartburgs were no longer on sale.
In Poland the Fiat 125p is called "Kredens" (cupboard), "Kant" (edge) or "Bandyta"/"Bandzior" (bandit/cut-throat) by younger part of society. Most common nickname is "Duży Fiat" (the big Fiat), as opposed to the Fiat 126p which is called "Mały Fiat" (the small Fiat). In Hungary, people usually call it "Nagypolski" or "Nagypolák" (big Polski), while the 126 is dubbed "Kispolski" or "Kispolák" (small Polski). In the former Yugoslavia, the 125p was called "Pezejac". In the Czechoslovakia was called "Polák". In Finland the FSO 125p pick-up was officially sold as "FSO Polle" ("horse") ans some versions also had very large fiberglass covers over the bed.