Developing a model of "Fiat 124" was carried out in the second quarter of the sixties, the public first prototypes were demonstrated in 1964 and production began in 1966.
It was a classic layout car: the engine is at the front and rear wheels are leading.
In 1966, the Fiat 124 won the title - "Car of the Year." In 1966 he showed at the Paris Motor Show and in the same year he was chosen as the prototype of the new Soviet VAZ-2101.
The choice fell on the brand and model for several reasons. One of them was linked to politics (in those years the Soviet Union sought to help the Italian Communist Party). But more compelling are other reasons: Fiat 124 was conservative enough constructive, but for the mid-sixties, it is up to date, has been named European "Car of 1966" [1] and soon became quite popular in his homeland and the rest of Europe had classic layout, simple and familiar to Soviet motorists, was relatively spacious inside, quite affordable and technologically advanced in the industry.
Before launching into a series of Fiat 124 in the Soviet Union passed a comprehensive test in us, which resulted in the design of the car the Italian side was made over 800 changes, including the most serious of them: the replacement of the engine nizhnevalnogo verhnevalny, completely revised design of the rear suspension while preserving its fundamental spring -rigging scheme, replacing rear disc brakes on the drum, the increase in clearance of 30 mm (170 mm), increased thickness of the critical elements of the carrier body, including spars, an introduction to the design of the engine to start the motor ratchet drive handle, adding towing eyelets, reinforced heater, four points instead of two, jacking, etc. Accordingly, prepared for the car has received the Soviet Union Index of FIAT 124R (Russo), there is a strengthened and adapted car, and was a direct prototype for VAZ-2101. In addition, to trim the VAZ-2101 used the highest quality imported materials [citation needed 149 days], for example, was seating for printing from palm fiber, which is in line with the European market is usually more high-end models. Nevertheless, even in those years in the Soviet Union were heard some voices, it was felt that the model was not chosen the best way: it was believed that the outstanding achievement of motor vehicles or design "Fiat" was not specific reserves for subsequent modernization had, to the same in all those years, the world's leading automakers began a rapid transition to front-wheel circuit, for example, FIAT has released its first front-wheel drive model 128 in 1969. However, the car made a very positive impression on the majority of Soviet experts and ordinary motorists, especially because of the integrated set of consumer qualities he certainly surpassed developed at the turn of the fifties and sixties, the then Soviet model of the same class - as obsolete Moskvich-408, and in fact the product of his former shallow modernization Moskvich-412, and subsequently developed by the Soviet counterparts (see article Muscovites series 3-5 and IL-13) in the series and did not.
Because of the relatively high consumer qualities with a rather primitive design, and mainly - the liberal policy of the manufacturer in respect of know-how, willingly enter into contracts for such cooperation, Fiat 124 has taken root not only in the USSR. Licensed by it (in the original Italian specifications) produces a large number of firms in countries such as Spain (SEAT 124)
SEAT 124
India (Premier 118NE) 1989
South Korea, (Fiat-KIA 124), India (Premier 118NE), Turkey (TOFAŞ Murat 124), in addition, "screwdriver" assembly model kit of parts of the Italian engaged in the NRB, the NDP and Yugoslavia.
Concurrent production of VAZ-2101 and FIAT 124 continued in the years 1970-1976 [citation needed 149 days]. Moreover, in the 1972-1977 model years are directly competing in the European market, including even Italy [citation needed 149 days]. This in turn led to the mid-'70s to the legal proceedings of the USSR with the concern FIAT SA Since that combines heightened body strength, high-quality interior trim and practicality (high ground clearance, the presence of no longer applicable to foreign cars "starter curve" and the towing eyelets) in combination with virtually dumping price Lada 1200 (export name of the VAZ-2101) had a clear competitive advantage over its rapidly deprecated progenitor FIAT 124 [citation needed 149 days], caused a boom in popularity that has led to a very considerable increase in exports of Soviet cars not only in the Soviet bloc countries, but also in Western Europe and the markets of third world countries, but the direct damage inflicted needs of the domestic market, supporting the long-term queue of cars within the USSR. As a result, in the 90's began the reverse process of mass re-brand Lada in Russia.
In 1967, launched a large-scale model with upgraded furnishings Fiat 125 that is sufficiently close to the model 124, but with a 90-horsepower twin-shaft motor and a spring rear suspension. At the same time appeared superior «Fiat 124 Special» with a 70-strong unit verhnevalnym. He became the prototype for the "luxury" VAZ-2103 - although the original designs of the Italians 'third zero' was supposed to be similar to other models, Fiat 125. By the way, Fiat 125P (Polacco) produced in the years 1967-1991 in Poland at the FSO plant in Warsaw.
Version of two-shaft engine put on a Fiat 124 "Sport Spider" and "Coupe" with bodies from the studio, "Pininfarina". They are, however, be considered direct descendants of the utilitarian "124th" still can not - they were expensive limited-edition model, separating them with only the elements of mechanical parts and finishes.
There was also a more utilitarian version of the passenger with a body "wagon» - Fiat 124 Familiare (became the prototype for VAZ-2102).
In Italy, the FIAT 124 production ended in 1976, while in others it was not until the 90s. In the USSR, VAZ-2101 (Fiat 124R) stopped doing in 1983, his modernized version of VAZ-21013 - in 1988, and production of direct descendants continues at the present time - the classic model of VAZ-2105 (production ceased in December 2010) and VAZ-2107.
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