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Photo of a Fiat 126

Fiat 126

Fiat 500 bones, 4,673,655 built, and a starring role in putting Poland on wheels.12

Researched October 25, 2026 from 33 sources

Also called

  • MaluchPolish for 'the little one' or 'toddler'; adopted as the official model name in 1997.1
  • BambinoItalian for 'child'; a German naming competition supplied a more appealing sales name than Personal 4.13
  • KaszlakA Polish regional nickname meaning 'cougher', inspired by the engine's coughing sound at startup.1
  • PolaquitoCuban Spanish for 'little Pole' or 'little Polish man'.1

At a glance

0100200
22.7–26 hpPower
050100
40–46 s0–100 km/h
0100200
105–118 km/hTop speed
0150300
39–43 N·mTorque
05001,000
580–619 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.1378

Engine
594/652 cc air-cooled twins; BIS 704 cc water-cooled; Steyr-Puch boxer134
Layout
Rear engine, RWD; 3,054 mm long; 1,840 mm wheelbase16
Gearbox
4-speed manual; first gear unsynchronized1
Built at
Main plants: Cassino/Termini Imerese, Italy; Bielsko-Biała/Tychy, Poland1
Units built
4,673,655 worldwide, including 3,318,674 in Poland1

The story

The 126 replaced the Fiat 500 with a roomier Sergio Sartorelli body and familiar rear-engine running gear. In Poland, the 126p put ordinary families on wheels, though buyers often waited years.12

1971: Poland signs the production license19711972: Turin debut for the 500's successor19721973: Polski Fiat 126p enters production19731977: 652 cc brings more torque19771978: Motor's 50,000 km 126p durability test19781984: 126p FL gets a new dashboard19841987: BIS adds a hatch and water cooling19872000: Happy End in red and yellow2000 Fiat 500 Topolino: 1936–1955Fiat 500 TopolinoFiat 500 (Nuova): 1957–1975Fiat 500 (Nuova)Fiat 126 (126): 1972–2000126 194019501960197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones12122
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1936–1955Fiat 500 Topolino
1957–1975Fiat 500 (Nuova)
1972–2000Fiat 126 (126)
1971Poland signs the production license
1972Turin debut for the 500's successor
1973Polski Fiat 126p enters production
1977652 cc brings more torque
1978Motor's 50,000 km 126p durability test
1984126p FL gets a new dashboard
1987BIS adds a hatch and water cooling
2000Happy End in red and yellow
  1. 1971

    Poland signs the production license

    Signed on October 29, the Fiat 126 deal let Poland repay the license with finished cars and components.4

  2. 1972

    Turin debut for the 500's successor

    The 126 debuted at the Turin Auto Show as the Fiat 500's replacement, retaining its wheelbase and much of its running gear.1

  3. 1973

    Polski Fiat 126p enters production

    Assembly began on June 6 using Italian parts; the production line officially opened on July 22.1

  4. 1977

    652 cc brings more torque

    Engine size rose from 594 to 652 cc, lifting quoted torque from 39 to 43 Nm.1

  5. 1978

    Motor's 50,000 km 126p durability test

    Small faults recurred, but the Motor/FSM durability test found only minimal wear in the main engine internals.5

  6. 1984

    126p FL gets a new dashboard

    The Polish FL facelift standardized plastic bumpers and introduced a new dashboard.1

  7. 1987

    BIS adds a hatch and water cooling

    A horizontal 704 cc water-cooled twin freed space for a rear luggage compartment and hatchback; output reached 26 hp.1

  8. 2000

    Happy End in red and yellow

    Production stopped on September 22; the last series paired 500 red cars with 500 yellow cars.1

Every generation

  • Fiat 500 Topolino
    Fiat 500 Topolino1936–1955
  • Fiat 500 (Nuova)
    Fiat 500 (Nuova)1957–1975
  • Fiat 126
    1261972–2000
  • Fiat Cinquecento
    Fiat Cinquecento

Power over the years

From 23 hp to 26 hp in 15 years.

0102030 1975198019851990 hp 1972 · 23 hp · 594 cc launch model1973 · 25 hp · Steyr-Puch boxer1977 · 24 hp · 652 cc update1987 · 26 hp · 126 BIS, water-cooled1989 · 24 hp · Australian FSM Niki 26 hp 126 BIS, water-cooled 23 hp 594 cc launch model
139
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
197223594 cc launch model
197325Steyr-Puch boxer
197724652 cc update
198726126 BIS, water-cooled
198924Australian FSM Niki

Versions

11 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • 126, Economica, Personal and Personal 4

    Standard

    126, Economica, Personal and Personal 4

  • 126p Standard, Special, Lux, 650K and 650E FL

    Standard

    126p Standard, Special, Lux, 650K and 650E FL

  • 126p EL, ELX and Town

    Standard

    126p EL, ELX and Town

    1994–2000

  • 126 BIS

    Standard

    126 BIS

    1987–1991

    26 hp
  • FSM Niki

    Standard

    FSM Niki

    1989–1992

    24 hp

  • Special

    Black, Silver, Red and Brown

    1978–1982

  • Steyr-Puch 126

    Special

    Steyr-Puch 126

    1973–1975

    25 hp

    2,069 built

  • Happy End

    Limited

    Happy End

    2000

  • Bosmal 126 Cabriolet

    Special

    Bosmal 126 Cabriolet

    1991–1995

    500 built

  • Performance

    Giannini NP, GP, GPS and GPA 800

  • 126p Long, Combi, NP and Diesel prototypes

    Special

    126p Long, Combi, NP and Diesel prototypes

How to spot one

Look for

  • A tiny, boxy body with a short front hood.1819
  • Rectangular headlights sit in a smooth front face.1819
  • Air-cooled cars have a louvered rear engine panel.118
  • A clamshell front hood wraps the nose.20

Year by year

  1. 1975

    The flat engine-lid lock disappears.7

  2. 1976

    New wheel designs accompany an engine lid with a rectangular plate recess and 8 fewer ventilation slots.11

  3. 1984–1985

    FL brings plastic bumpers and a new dashboard; fog and reversing lamps appear in the rear bumper in 1985.1

  4. 1987

    BIS adds a rear hatch, 13-inch wheels and heater-air intakes below the windshield.1810

  5. 1994

    EL gets one-piece front door glass, round side repeaters and Cinquecento mirrors; plastic side strips disappear.112

  6. 1997

    Maluch becomes an official name and appears on the rear badges.1

Don’t confuse it with

  • Fiat 500

    The 500 has rounded bodywork; the 126 uses straight, boxy panels.321

  • Photo of a Fiat 126
    126
    Photo of a Fiat 127
    Fiat 127

    Fiat 127

    Both share a sloping rear profile, but the 126 is the smaller car.19

Against its rivals

  • Nissan Pulsar GL

    126 vs Nissan Pulsar GL

    On-road price lower is better

    1268,000 A$
    Nissan Pulsar GL14,239 A$
    9

Prices

Auction salePrices on a log scale
$100$1K$10K$100K 202420262028 2024 · $533 · 1988 126 BIS project, 48,783 recorded, Anglia Car Auctions2025 · $14,300 · 1991 126 BIS, Mathewsons2025 · $6,500 · 1990 126 BIS, Mathewsons2025 · $16,500 · 1987 126 Jolly-style, 12 km shown (reset), BaT2026 · $7,301 · 1977 126, 3,300 km shown, BaT2026 · $3,887 · 1988 126 BIS, Barons Manor Park2026 · $10,725 · 1991 126 BIS, Mathewsons2026 · $6,318 · 1988 126 BIS, Anglia Car Auctions $16.5K BaT, 2025
30313233
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2024Auction sale$5331988 126 BIS project, 48,783 recorded, Anglia Car Auctions
2025Auction sale$14,3001991 126 BIS, Mathewsons
2025Auction sale$6,5001990 126 BIS, Mathewsons
2025Auction sale$16,5001987 126 Jolly-style, 12 km shown (reset), BaT
2026Auction sale$7,3011977 126, 3,300 km shown, BaT
2026Auction sale$3,8871988 126 BIS, Barons Manor Park
2026Auction sale$10,7251991 126 BIS, Mathewsons
2026Auction sale$6,3181988 126 BIS, Anglia Car Auctions

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 11 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 14 stories from its legend
    • “Klimecki built a factory rally team”
    • “First championship season, first class title”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 4 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 33 sources
  1. Fiat 126 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Actor Tom Hanks Gets His Dream Car: A Polish Fiat 126p – GTPlanet gtplanet.net
  3. Kaufberatung: Fiat 126 - AUTO BILD KLASSIK autobild.de
  4. 50 lat temu z fabrycznej taśmy wyjechał pierwszy Fiat 126p | dzieje.pl - Historia Polski dzieje.pl
  5. Polski Fiat 126p po 50 000 km – test trwałościowy z 1978 r. - Magazyn auto magazynauto.pl
  6. 126 | FIA Historic Database historicdb.fia.com
  7. Auto z PRL-u - poradnik kupującego, cz. II - Motoryzacja w INTERIA.PL motoryzacja.interia.pl
  8. Polski Fiat 126 BIS – test i badanie drogowe „Motoru” - Magazyn auto magazynauto.pl
  9. Flipsy’s Finds: FSM Niki - Cuba's best selling car in the 90's eftm.com
  10. FIAT 500 et dérivés CLUB DE FRANCE > Tout sur les Autos : Le coin des 126 club-fiat-500.com
  11. FIAT 126 PERSONAL - ClubItalianofiat126 clubitalianofiat126.com
  12. Modèles de Polski Fiat 126p. – Fiat126 "Maluch" fiat126maluch.wordpress.com
  13. FSM 126 Cabriolet Bosmal : rare et culte ! carjager.com
  14. 1991 Fiat 126 Pop Cabriolet No reserve artcurial.com
  15. Fiat 126 - 126 Personal: price history | AutoBelle autobelle.it
  16. 1987 Fiat 126 Giannini GP 650 No reserve artcurial.com
  17. ClassicAuto classicautomag.pl
  18. The Fiat 126 January 1974 - Motor Sport Magazine motorsportmagazine.com
  19. Test oblíbeného veteránu Fiat 126 garaz.cz
  20. Roberto Giolito: “Vi racconto la Fiat 126, un’auto moderna” - alVolante alvolante.it
  21. Fiat 500 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  22. Fiat 500 "Topolino" - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  23. Sfida tra VETERANE: Fiat 126 VS Citroen 2CV, qual era la migliore UTILITARIA degli anni '70? [VIDEO] - Prove - Automoto.it automoto.it
  24. Polski Fiat 126p – poradnik kupującego | „Motor” nr 47 z 1988 r. - Magazyn auto magazynauto.pl
  25. Sergio Sartorelli - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  26. Historie závodních Fiatů 126p v barvách továrního týmu | REVORACING.CZ revoracing.cz
  27. Polski Fiat 126p kwa-kwa.pl
  28. Havana loves the Polski Fiat amp.dw.com
  29. Car Mechanic Simulator 2015 Just Got Even Better With The 'Youngtimer' DLC | CarThrottle carthrottle.com
  30. No Reserve: 1977 Fiat 126 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $7,301 on September 30, 2026 (Lot #265,914) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  31. Fiat 126 BIS For Sale & Price Guide | The Classic Valuer theclassicvaluer.com
  32. Jolly-Style 1987 Fiat 126 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $16,500 on July 1, 2025 (Lot #198,632) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  33. 1988 FIAT 126 BIS | Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd June | Anglia Car Auctions angliacarauctions.co.uk
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • gtplanet.net
  • autobild.de
  • dzieje.pl
  • magazynauto.pl
  • historicdb.fia.com
  • motoryzacja.interia.pl
  • eftm.com
  • club-fiat-500.com
  • clubitalianofiat126.com
  • fiat126maluch.wordpress.com
  • carjager.com
  • artcurial.com
  • autobelle.it

Photo credits

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