The Fiat 124 Berlina: From Italy To The World

The humble #Fiat124 saloon is probably one of Italy's greatest contributions to motoring history, given the role it's played in several far away countries.
The Fiat 124 had no trouble finding buyers upon its introduction in 1966 and even gained the Turinese company its first #CarOfTheYear prize in 1967, which back then meant something.
But, of course, in the video, I also tackle "the deal of the century," as it was called at the time. Signed on August 15, 1966, by Fiat and the Ministries of Automobile Industry and Foreign Trade of the USSR, it led to the construction of the #AutoVAZ plant that began operation in September 1970.
The economic scope and political significance of the deal have long been overblown, but nevertheless, its impact on Soviet car production has been radical: increasing from the 200,000 units of 1965 to 1,200,000 by 1972.
The story of the Lada stretched all the way to 2013 and would take a whole video for itself. Still, the critical thing to remember is that, while you would struggle to tell apart a 1970 Lada from a Fiat at first glance, they actually are two different cars...
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[@necipnalcaci5516]

As if it was my little bro. When I was six, my father bought our first car: Murat 124 (It was named Murat by TOFAŞ in Turkey). It has been produced for six years from 1971 to 1976 in Turkey. We've kept it for twenty years. Sometimes I miss it so much.

[@ammagato]

Una vettura robusta e di classe! Oggi si vedono solo dei mostri, niente più linee eleganti e semplici ma solo brutture tratte dai giornali a fumetti, il classico vero è solo un lontano ricordo!

[@Robert-e4q8g]

I agree totally with you. I prefer the looks of the 124 to what I see on the road today. A classic car, and the standard for elegance.

[@ddabouchayb7684]

La 124..C'est la voiture qui nous a fait rêver avec son son d'échappement.. ça était sublime !!

[@1240enzo]

My first car back in 1979 was a ‘68 Fiat 124 sedan. I restored that car over the next year or so and rebuilt an engine from a special for more power. I loved that little car. I replaced the sedan later and bought a ‘69 AC 124 sport and still have the AC to this day. My brother in law had two 124 sedans over time, a ‘67 version and later a 124 special. We both also had 125 specials.

[@timk4502]

I had a 124 Special while in high school! One helluva car! I remember racing a Camaro w/327 down Dorchester in NE Austin one day in the 70's. It did not beat me! 😆 Beautiful green w/beige vinyl top and interior. Hell on wheels and boy could it handle...

[@Matteo_Licata]

Cool! Thank you for sharing this memory with me!

[@Nel33147]

Oh come on now. There’s no doubt it was a great car , but you really beat a Camaro ?

[@Brisbane2024]

I have a lot great memory’s on the Fiat 124, while spending our holidays in Italy as I was a child. It was in the late 70th and early 80th. Streets where predominant occupied by the Fiats and Alfa’s out of this timeframe. Maybe the 124 is not the nicest looking car, but was practically for the whole family as rental car on Sicilia. It was a great time! Thanks for that video Matteo 😍

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you for sharing your memories with the car!

[@LeeJcc]

With the 124, Fiat developed a 'World Car' even before GM or Ford - the 124 Special was a popular in Singapore in the 70s.

[@mirceapopa9947]

And in same time Renault developed model Renault 12/ Dacia 1300 was produced in France, Romania, Turcia, South America: Argentina, Brazilia, Columbia, North America- Canada and Australia .

[@blaznfattyz]

i miss my 124 special sedan. i took many roadtrips in it. super cool factor .

[@bilirkisi7819]

It was produced in Turkey under the names "Murat 124" and "Serçe".

[@kelemenkaban2505]

As a kid who grew up on the backseat of a white Lada 1300 (VAZ21011) in the eighties, it was nice to see where the whole story started. Ladas were the best cars communism could offer, in Hungary you had to wait 4-5 years to get yours after paying the deposit (at least in the eighties). I was actually shocked about the net weight of the 124 (850) I am pretty sure our Lada was at least 100kg heavier. Sturdiness had its price...

[@Matteo_Licata]

Oh yes. The 124's structure was perhaps too light, as Fiat itself applied some reinforcements a few months into production. But the Lada was another level altogether, much stronger the suspensions, their mounts, and the bodies too.

[@1258-Eckhart]

The Lada 1300 weighed 955 kg, the 1600GL 1050kg at the kerb.

[@PaulNurse1]

In my teens I had a best friend whos father was Italian and was always working on Lancia and Fiat cars, also my sisters boyfriend worked in an Alfa Romeo garage so inevitably I became an Italian car nut. I live in Somerset UK and there was a small cars sales lot on a small crossroads at a hamlet called Standerwick that was run by John Button, yes, Jenson Buttons father (he was born and raised in my town). So, while driving past the car sales one day I glimpsed the twin headlights of a green 124 for sale and immediately did a u-turn, all the while saying to myself "please be a Special T, please be a Special T" (the Special also had twin headlights)... I pulled up and quickly walked to the back of the car and It was A SPECIAL T, a 73' 1600cc. It must have been a Sunday as I remember waiting for John to open the next morning and bought it. I also remember the car that was next to the Fiat was a Lancia Gamma Coupe. I was 18 at time. I put bucket seats in from an Alfasud sprint, a wood rim steering wheel and campagnola alloys. I am 58 now and of all the cars ive ever owned, the 124 Special T holds the fondest memories.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you for sharing with me these fantastic memories!

[@Robert-e4q8g]

A great car. Love the exterior look, which is classic. I prefer it to styling of current cars of all manufactures. I can vouch for the comfort as I rode many times in a 124 in Indonesia in 1971 where roads were rough and often unpaved. In 1971 I saw many 124s, but recently just before the pandemic I lived for seven years in Indonesia and never saw any Fiats. Anyway, a great car. Thanks for this excellent video!

[@kobuserasmus2934]

Great video again, my father had a 1970 124 Special. I remember it very well. They were also manufactured here in South Africa.

[@jorgeg162]

Preventive like...now watching the vídeo!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you for the confidence :)

[@mickles1975]

I look forward to a 131 video. I've loved those since I was a child playing with a model 131 abarth.

[@jami7772]

And me as well. My father bought me my first Burago die cast car was a 131 Abarth in Alitalia livery. Loved Italian cars since.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Right on! Yes, the 131 is overdue a video. I'll try to find one to film :)

[@noobsaibot7006]

My dad is Turkish he talked about his love of the Fiat 124 aka Murat so many times. The car is so much loved that car culture in Turkiye is centred on this particular Italian car that is loved by all.

[@gorkab8461]

1430, mythical number indeed in Spain. Great video as always!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yes! Thank you! I know the "catorce-treinta" is a much-loved car in Spain :) When I lived there, I loved to gaze at older Seats, spotting the detail differences with the Fiats

[@gorkab8461]

@@Matteo_Licata Haha! I can imagine, I can definitely relate to that. Where did you live?

[@gorkab8461]

When I was younger, every year for the summer festivities in our hometown we used to buy a car from the local scrapyard, chop the roof off and paint it yellow for use as "official company car" of our group of friends. The first one was a venerable Seat 124. She carried an average of 15-20 people around for a week. It made it back to the scrapyard on its own. Tough, no-nonsense car. I kept the ignition key :)

[@Matteo_Licata]

That was cool! I guess this wouldn't be very legal nowadays though :)

[@gorkab8461]

@@Matteo_Licata Yeah, what the world is coming at? 😂

[@avi1914]

The car which made me fall in love at the age of 5

[@DanielCurti]

Excellent, as usual. Fiat have a long history in Argentina since 1919: tractors, locomotives, trucks. Fiat 600, 850, 1100, 1200, 1500 (the Argentinian version of the 1300) with an astonishing version "Fiat 1500 Vignale", 128 and others. The same engine of the 1500 was used to make the Fiat 1600, also an argentinan development made by Fiat Concord, that's the name of the subsidiary. Still with the 1600 there was later a 90HP version until the arrival of the 125 with the amazing Lampredi twin cam engine. The last 125 leave the production line in 1982.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you very much! I wish there was a book documenting properly all the various South American Fiats, as it's a world I barely know anything about!

[@DanielCurti]

@@Matteo_Licata to be honest I don't know, but must be something. The information I have is my memory and some Wikipedia pages. I will search if there's something. Thanks a lot for your channel!! After a search I found a book of Eugenia Scarzanella: la Fiat in América Latina. Seems to be in Italian 👍🏻

[@Matteo_Licata]

@@DanielCurti I'll check that out immediately, thank you!

[@ivokiller2000intel]

@@Matteo_Licata also Chech out IAVA, it was here in Argentina what abarth was elsewhere. Fiat has had a huge impact here, it's been "the people's car brand" since the introduction of the 600, later the 147 and the Uno. My father had a 600, a 125 mirafiori and a 128. He still has very good memories about his 125

[@maxikozi77]

Yet another great episode from you!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! Much appreciated!

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

The 124 and the rest of other Fiat cars in the 1970s could have been a success in Malaysia had Fiat engineers made extensive research and testing the cars' thermostats in humid climates. These cars were prone to engine overheating issues, causing many Fiat owners in Malaysia at that time to make a drastic decision to remove the cars' thermostats to solve the problem. Eventually, many owners got so fed up with the problem and switched to Toyota Corollas which had thermostats that worked much better in tropical weather conditions and never caused engine overheating issues.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Didn't know that, thank you!

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

@@Matteo_Licata You're welcome, Matteo! 😊 P.s. Fiat also has an unfortunately funny slogan among drivers in Malaysia: Fiat Is Always Trouble (FIAT)

[@danieldimitrov2176]

Я помню Жигулей как вчера. That's the first car I was allowed to drive back in 70's! 😍

[@acchaladka]

When I immigrated to Canada in 2000, one of the joys of life here was the ability to buy the Lada NIVA brand new. Fiat hadn’t been here in years by then but Lada was a kind of cheap mainstay. All have I think rusted away by now, haven’t seen one in years.

[@jasonmeehan1269]

One of the best no frills off road 4x4 available for purchase today. Fantastic off road vehicle.

[@furkankavsur7638]

One of my most favourite cars ever. Fiat saloons always looked and handled nice for example the 131, Regata or Tempra. Hoping for Videos about these cars as well

[@Matteo_Licata]

The 131 deserves a video, that's for sure. It'll happen as soon as I'll find a good example to film!

[@AgentUrbex]

@@Matteo_Licata Anche la 130!

[@eevee5jdm483]

The fiat 124 was also build under license by Tofaş in Turkey and was sold as the Tofaş Murat 124

[@studiocalder818]

Plenty of Murat you could meet around Turkey as a tourist, far more exciting than the Otosan

[@1mattadams]

Was it called the Anatolia?

[@studiocalder818]

@@1mattadams 👍🏻 Anadol I remember!

[@joseantonioarandagarcia9966]

Amazing car! In Spain it was also very popular with iconic "sporty" versions of the last series. With 1.6, 1.8 and even 2.0 engines they were fast at that time. On the '77 Montecarlo Antonio Zanini and Salvador Cañellas managed finishing 3rd and 4rd scratch with their SEATs 124 1.800! And speaking of restylings, to me the last spanish series with rectangular headlights was really nice, lights matched the hole design very well and the car looked really refreshed.

[@vilisgrinvalds]

Is they still around in Spain? I used to own russian version, Lada. Some while ago, I met TwinCam Fiat 131 in United Kingdom. But there they drive RHD cars. So I’m looking for alternative. Seat is option. Is it possible to get hands on one of these?

[@HJPorschen]

In 1972 I bought a Fiat 124. It turned out to be one of the best cars I ever had - and definitely the best saloon car. If it was still made today (without any modifications) I would buy it again!

[@3978-Dc]

Mon père avait acheté une 124 neuve en 1967. Il l’a gardé jusqu’en 1976. Je me souviens encore de l’odeur du neuf lorsqu’il a été livré. Je me souviens aussi des moindres détails du tableau de bord. Depuis j’ai toujours roulé en Fiat : 127, uno, punto, panda et 500 !

[@bobkids009]

I owned the Fiat 124Special 1400cc in 1978 which was the most popular car in my country then.....! Big, Spacious and Powerful .... what more do you want....??

[@gearhead9828]

Humble it might be, but without a shadow of a doubt a true automotive icon. And the quality of your videos are getting better and better! Thanks a lot for this cool video! Ciao 🙋‍♂️

[@Matteo_Licata]

Wow, thank you! I got a lot of cool stuff in the works for June, you'll see the results :)

[@flyingarts6765]

Memories....had a 69 1200cc berlina in Miami, same cream color but black interior. A great car, simple, reliable, and fantastic handling. Didn't have the heavy doors of later versions. Wanted to put a 1438 twin cam in it. But got a Giulia instead.

[@studiocalder818]

Uou have to be a strong and original person for such choices in the US at that time: totally against the tide! (although I think a good number of 124 SW have come to you)

[@paulwlynch]

I remember seeing the Fiat 124 versions when I was younger only to slowly disappear and for the Lada version become a regular sight on the roads local to us. I have traveled in Italian, Russian, Spanish and Turkish made variants and just love the three box design. Maybe one day I will be able to add the Premier 118NE to complete the list of models.. Another great video and a car I hope you write a book about...

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! Traveling on a Premier 118 may be more difficult, as the car wasn't a success in India and not many were sold, as far as I know.

[@studiocalder818]

Interesting to know how was possible that the Padmini 1100 manteined a strong success for decades while the more modern 124 and Punto no

[@chrtsi6912]

I still remember James May having fun in a 124! 😄😄

[@studiocalder818]

👍🏽👍🏽!!

[@derekbevan7145]

One of the greatest Italian car's ever.

[@studiocalder818]

A rational, modern, sporty, understated sedan. For me its weak point was the van-like dashboard. If you look at the contemporary of the Autobianchi Primula, you appreciate a tasty design approach. ..Without going into the Alfa, Lancia or even Innocenti masterpieces! (Who remembers the gorgeous one from IM3?!?)

[@OldtimerVideoCarGarage]

Felicitaciones por los videos! Muy buenos!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Muchas gracias, me alegro mucho que te gusten!

[@bigglesalgy1]

Dear Matteo, I sincerely hope that in one way or another the little beautiful charming stories of the Dino the 130 the Aurelia, The Fulvia, the Alfa the Innocenti autobianci stories with the design clues are coming back available. What I also love about them is when you put them al together they tell a to me more than fascinating history of the Italian automotive heritage and contribution to the car. To me the Italian car is the car in its purest form, beautiful to look at, wonderful handling and charming and stylish! Sincerly yours Reyer

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you for your appreciation. I’ve been deleting most of my 2019/20 output because they no longer represented the level of quality the channel now has. Moreover, those videos hardly received any views lately. However, I’m keen on going back to those subjects in the future, by filming actual cars and presenting them the best I can.

[@joe-bloggs.]

I had a 124 ST DOHC with the twin choke carb that kicked in about 3.5k huge fun!

[@mikebell2750]

Here in Canada we were able to but Lada's up until the early 1990's. I personally owned a Lada 1500 (that had the engine rebuilt and bored out to 1600cc) that I really enjoyed. It seemed to be a little peppier than what a regular Lada should have been and was as tough as nails. Maybe you can put together a video on Lada's in the future as many people are curious about them.

[@Matteo_Licata]

A video about Ladas would be a good idea, but I have to admit I don't know them nearly as well as I think I'd need to cover them properly. We'll see.

[@sean131sm]

My dad had 2 124 specials both a fawny tan colour and not the twin cams. Come to think of it there's not many Fiats my dad brother or me haven't owned. Thanks Matteo for another cracking bit of Italian car knowledge.

[@jimmyj1969]

Esthetically, 124 looks like the cars little kids use to draw: three boxes (engine comp., cabin, trunk) two headlights etc. The definition of the word "car", in any encyclopedia, should include a picture of Fiat 124!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Very true!

[@bonvi2896]

We loved it as L:ada and still keep one for 50 years

[@Matteo_Licata]

You still have a Lada? That's cool!

[@bonvi2896]

@@Matteo_Licata just a little right on the map, on the Balkans we still do drive them as everyday drive dear friend.

[@bonvi2896]

@@Matteo_Licata The Lada vs Fiat at inital point had just 3 differences - camshaft, rear brakes and rear suspension. Later they made more differences. Little know fact is that before Lada in Bulgaria 124 should have been produced as FIAT PIRIN

[@MrBanaanipommi]

@@Matteo_Licata i have lada from 70's as daily car :D

[@reneblanche3573]

Another great video! Thx!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AgentUrbex]

Grazie per questo video. Fantastico ancora una volta! Ma è sempre troppo breve :(

[@Matteo_Licata]

Grazie mille!

[@ollieoneill5961]

Great job as usual . love the 124 .

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! 👍

[@franjurado7188]

My dad hand over me a SEAT 124 Special. ... it was my first car ! ... my girlfriend used to tell me "the back seat was even better than a couch" ;)

[@Matteo_Licata]

That's a cool story ;)

[@johnphaceas7434]

Personally I think an original 124 finished in black, with red vinyl interior, today looks pure style and class.

[@Matteo_Licata]

I agree. Black was available as an option, by the way, at no extra cost.

[@r.schraven4580]

In the seventies my uncle's car was a Fiat 124 S . It was faster than my father's 125. That's why I like both cars. 🤣💪👍

[@Matteo_Licata]

Very cool!

[@westmister]

Looks charming isn't it? We had this one in our family.

[@seancain7305]

Between 1997 to 20** I rode in many of these when I travelled & lived in India :-)

[@Matteo_Licata]

Really? I'm told these were not a success there

[@seancain7305]

@@Matteo_Licata I think you're right... compared to the Premier Padmini (FIAT 1100) the Premier 118 (FIAT 124) did not sell as well.

[@mohmoudfarah1897]

Nice car and great memories -- especially -- the S model with its TC engine.

[@truirf]

There are still plenty here in Saint Petersburg :)

[@istvanburuzs9843]

None of Fiat 124 but Lada BA3-2101. Another universe...

[@numbazZify]

my daily car now is Lada 2101 1978 fully restored with many Fiat 124 parts I got from Italy

[@Matteo_Licata]

That’s cool! Are Fiat parts more readily available than Lada ones? I’m curious.

[@mirceapopa9947]

You are a lucky men . Good conexion to dealer to spare part in Italy. And a proud owner a Lada/FIAT. Congratulations.

[@RapideWombaticus]

A Retro Modded one of these would be a fair lil thing - Mini Light Wheels, a Twin Cam FIAT Motor and some Suspension Upgrades would make it great fun for Hill Climbing or Cruising

[@Matteo_Licata]

Many people actually do that! Even Ladas make for good rally cars!

[@shivrajparab]

Learnt to drive on a PAL 118NE that was the bastardized Indian version of the Fiat. Butter smooth gearbox coupled to an ordinary Nissan engine but created loads of memories ❤

[@drstevenrey]

With today's over designed, over-funny, over-look-at-me and over-useless cars on the road, I think the 124 was very very pretty. It looks like a car and not like a design piece of the egoistic, vain and hyped-up designer. Who need more car than this. Really. Just perfection.

[@mickspencer4171]

The 124 s was the second car I owned, you could stand and watch it rot away and was forever breaking down, an absolute bucket of a car and was glad to get rid of it.

[@jochenkreusel131]

One more fact supporting the "probably Italy's greatest contribution to motoring history": In the meantime, the humble car and its numerous derivates seems to have bypassed the VW Beetle as the car with the highest production figure ever - nearly 23 million. At least there are some statements on the Internet saying so. And even if it's not absolutely sure - being no. 1 or 2 (with hardly any difference between the two) means something.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Given how many companies in different countries made a version of the 124, we will probably never know for sure how many were produced. Still, a remarkable car, no doubt! :)

[@topogigio7709]

vedere i modelli di auto costruite dalla Fiat di allora quando io ero un ragazzino, dalle utilitarie a quelle di lusso passando dalle sportive coupè e cabrio una più bella dell'altra, e vedere i pochi modelli di oggi costruiti quasi tutti all'estero, mi dispiace di quanto la Fiat sia ridotta veramente male.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Difficile non darti ragione. Fiat a fine anni '60 aveva una gamma molto ampia e completa, che fa impallidire l'offerta attuale. Nonostante io sia ottimista sul futuro del gruppo Stellantis in generale, non credo che Fiat come marchio sia destinato a giocare un ruolo importante come in passato. Vedremo, comunque...

[@TheDumpbin]

So you need to follow up with the 124 Coupe and Spider. I love my 1970 Coupe. With the optional Cromodora pure Magnesium wheels it has amazingly delicate and precise steering and is great fun to drive.

[@Matteo_Licata]

That's the plan! As soon as I'll find a nice Coupé and a nice Spider to film, I'll duly make a video about them

[@TheDumpbin]

@@Matteo_Licata hopefully not too hard to find in Italy I would think, the Spider probably harder most all were sold in the USA.

[@roelsiebrand7181]

Excellent piece, once again. Waiting patiently for the Sport Coupé version. ;-)

[@Matteo_Licata]

You and me both! I'd really like to film a nice Sport Coupé for the channel. Will look for one!

[@roelsiebrand7181]

@@Matteo_Licata If I still had mine I would have been crazy enough to set something up but alas... You will find one. As long it's an AC or BC. Not a big fan of the CC.

[@WBO-lp3cp]

Fantastic video 👍

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@malcolmlindley4465]

My dad had a ‘special’ with the twin round headlights and twin cam engine. Lovely car to drive but it rotted away round him…

[@konstantynkalenyk5182]

Hey! I'm still using this masterpeace (1979) as everyday car without any trouble.

[@Matteo_Licata]

That’s cool 👍

[@carlosgomez-qb6xk]

Matteo, great vids! I think you should do a video sometime about the Mk1. Twingo. It shares the same virtues as a Multipla, but Le Quement managed to do something slightly quirky rather than wholeheartedly polarizing. So you don't have to convince people about great packaging and airy feeling, as it's often the case when trying to convince people about the Multipla's design virtues... they (mostly) like it anyway!

[@Matteo_Licata]

Noted! I'm not a Renault expert, but I got a design background and I love the original Twingo :) I still remember going with my mum to see it at the dealership. It was apple green and the dealer even gifted me a model of Mansell's 1992 Williams F1 car

[@carlosgomez-qb6xk]

@@Matteo_Licata I remember something similar, going to the dealership to check the Twingo out and receiving as a gift a small R5 scale model!

[@greavous93]

In the mid 1970s my family lived outside of Naples and our family car was a Fiat 124 Station wagon we called "The Wart". When we moved to Texas and I got my drivers license my first car was a Fiat 850 Spider I called "Piece of Shit". I then owned three different 124 Sport Coupes and loved them all! But parts were hard to come by and order times were long so goodbye Fiat for ever! It was fun while it lasted.

[@avsarrr]

You missed mentioning the Turkish version of it. Under Fiat's license, TOFAS produced it from 1971 to 1994 in Turkey. It was called Murat 124 and an automotive icon for Turkey.

[@vladimirprovotorov580]

Beautiful car !

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yes indeed!

[@bilalhakancetinkaya4618]

It was the best car I've ever used. it didn't cause any problems

[@minimaxi802]

Hard to tell up to the1980s if the parked or moving car was a Fiat or Lada, but if it was before P reg it would be a Fiat. I have seen a few 124s the last one was a late yellow one in the 1990s. The Lada was facelifted in 1983 and became the Riva. There was also the slightly bigger 125 of the same boxy shape that became the Polish built FSO125P.

[@kr9181]

Fiat 124 one of the best cars in many European countries that time. Was produced in USSR with different modifications in big quantities and as I know Turkey had Murat 124. Still a lot of them still running in ex socialist countries and Cuba

[@ProjectExMachina]

I hope that you will make a video about Fiat's FIRE engines. I owned 1.0 8v and I own 1.2 8v and 1.4 16v. Little engines that could.

[@Matteo_Licata]

That's a great suggestion for a future "Great Engines" video. Thank you, I'll see what I can do!

[@studiocalder818]

!Best engines of the world; my mechanic is used to say that you could put sand instead of oil that the engine run the same 😊

[@НазарНазаров-в9ж]

Эту машину россия печатала еще долгих,долгих лет😂😂

[@BanjoLuke1]

Ha! You got the nail on the head. It is a fully European design.... Fiat lacked (hooray!) the leaching of US influences to which Vauxhall, Opel and Ford products were exposed. You are right.... The headroom, glass area and uncluttered interior are now just nostalgic dreams. In the UK, the 124 and (briefly) the 125 somehow represented the market sector of people who could see beyond Ford, GM and BMC. Aesthetically dull, but somehow exciting by association. A car that drank an espresso, not milky tea. Italy seemed at that time to have cornered the market in bland-looming foursquare sedans that hid exciting dynamics... The Tipo 818 Fulvia, the Tipo 105 Giulia... Square, boxy, lots of glass, flat nose, flat tail.... France did it (differently) with the Simca 1000 and the Renault 10. It was certainly a "European" thing. Another excellent video. Full of details and just long enough to tell the story.

[@darrenwilson8042]

when you see these and the 128 you see how slender the screen pillars are and more importantly the B posts you realise how little crash protection there used to be in cars - there is virtually zero side impact protection !

[@Matteo_Licata]

Indeed!

[@lamiaitaly2549]

Really interesting video, I enjoyed that a lot. Was it a Fiat 124 that Gianni Agnelli put a Ferrari engine? That would have been cool

[@Matteo_Licata]

Thank you! I know you have a soft spot for classic Fiats ;) I don’t know whether Agnelli had a Ferrari engine installed in one of his cars... Could have happened, but I don’t know of any.

[@farankhan7461]

Will it be safe to assume that total of about 20 Million of 124 and it's derivatives world wide were produced?. I can not find your video of FIAT 125 titled "Guilia from Turin", Can you pls send me the link thanks. Waiting anxiously for the revival of your channel,but hopefully it will centre around Italian Cars

[@Matteo_Licata]

There's no way of knowing for sure how many 124s were made around the world, so your guess is as good as mine. The 125 video is no longer online, because those older vids had lower quality than the newer ones, so I removed most of those

[@neverthar]

Somehow decided to watch abit of Fiat today and it's very nourishing. Special request: any possibility to cover the 124 Coupé Eveline by Carrozeria Vignale?

[@Matteo_Licata]

That’s perhaps the single most specific request I’ve ever received. I think I could dedicate a whole video about the Eveline only if I find an example to film in detail. Maybe one day!

[@neverthar]

Would appreciate it as the lines were so dainty and proportionate, and had lovely little details to make it stand out despite the fact it used the OHV engines instead of the DOHC series

[@Matteo_Licata]

@@neverthar It does have great lines indeed. I bet that Michelotti designed it for Vignale.

[@Matteo_Licata]

I guess DOHC Evelines could have been built, had the car been produced longer. But such coachbuilt cars were already past their time then, as customers had a wide range of cars available right from the Fiat showrooms, without the need to seek out expensive specials.

[@neverthar]

Could be but the lines looks similar to the Rolls Royce Camargue and the Fiat 130 I would have thought Paolo Martin would have had a hand in it but he was never with Vignale right?

[@pardesimalik4436]

My uncle took part in Asia rally he came 2nd in race I wonder if there’s any documentaryhe was driving fiat 124

[@ziegenwilly]

so einen hatte ich auchmal , nein zwei einen in dunkelblau , der erste war weiss , hab ich rosa lackiert , die liegesitze waren sehr praktisch

[@Montalbone]

You have confused the 124 Special from the 1972-74 range with the 1970-72 one. You put pictures of the first while talking about the second.

[@wickiezulu]

Was the Fiat 241 commercial vehicle effectively a 124 based van or a rwd conversion of the fwd primula derived 238? Did Fiat (pre-242 Joint-Venture) or Lada themselves look at a 124 based commercial to take on the Transit and Sherpa?

[@Matteo_Licata]

I know the 241 was RWD and its engine was derived from the one used on the 124 Special, but I'm not sure (I'm not an expert on commercial vehicles) if there was any structural commonality with the 124 proper. I doubt it, though.

[@jordanfalcioni4745]

I wonder if I could drop a rotary motor in one of these

[@Matteo_Licata]

I'd be surprised if there wasn't anyone who's done that already, actually :)

[@АндрейКурачев-с7р]

​@@Matteo_Licataроторный двигатель выпускал завод ВАЗ по лицензии Мазда и часть автомобилей была с роторным двигателем.

[@minopino3]

It's the most produced model in the world after the vw beetle. Nice model, because it looks like a car made by a kid😁

[@stopitas5790]

Russians did a redesign. Fiat 124 has been called riva since 1980 and was produced until 2013.

[@LaszloToth55]

When the Soviets bought the Fiat-124 license, they built their own engine into it. Why? - in addition, they applied many significant improvements, which made the Zsiguli (later: Lada) significantly better than the original Fiat-124. Could it be that the Fiat-124 was already an obsolete type when its license was sold to the Soviets?

[@Matteo_Licata]

It depends on how you define "better." The Lada was much stronger, that's for sure. I don't know why a different cylinder head design was chosen for the Lada, but the 124 was a brand-new car when the Soviets approached Fiat, and its design reflected the European standards of the time. It wasn't avant-garde, but neither outdated.

[@sainta2667]

Actually the 124 is a legend maybe even more then the 500

[@Matteo_Licata]

It sure had a wider impact on automobile history, but I doubt a reboot of the 124 would have been as successful as the 500 has been so far!

[@marcbrasse747]

So basically the ultimate communist car came from Italy! :-)

[@Matteo_Licata]

In a word... Yes! :)

[@martingianelli7552]

@@Matteo_Licata The Soviet planners actually tested two cars in 1965: the FIAT 124 and the Renault 16... They settled for the FIAT, probably because of PCI president Togliatti, although Renault was a State-owned company.

[@mirceapopa9947]

Romania comunist leader was fast sovietic planers. In 1966 was a comercial agrement to govern to General De Gaule and buy a license for Renault 12. In August 1968 starting production at Renault 8- Dacia 1100 at Pitesti factory car, and in August 1969 build Renault 12 - Dacia 1300. In France Renault 12 was present in September-Octobre at Auto Show Cars. In period 1968 - 1974 production cars Dacia was ansembly to CDK colections and spare parts send To Renault and suplier Renault in Romania. After 1974 - 1975 production car was using spare parts and tires product to local plant/ factory build to western tehnology/ license.

[@jyotirmayamohanty5723]

The Soviet city of Togliatti was named after Italian Communist leader when FIAT granted LICENSE for production to Soviet authorities.

[@Matteo_Licata]

Yes indeed. In fact, Fiat granted two licenses, as two models derived from the 124 were part of the plan: the saloon and the wagon. The "derived" is important: Fiat didn't license out the 124 itself, but the derived model it developed for the Soviets

[@shavkatturdiqulov3832]

ВСЕ СОВЕТСКИЕ ИЗДАНИЕ ПИСАЛИ,ЧТО У ФИАТ-124 БЫЛ НИЖНЕКЛАПАННЫЙ МОТОР,А ВЕРХНЕКЛАППАНЫЕ МОТОРЫ ВАЗ-ЛАДА -СОВЕТСКАЯ РАЗРАБОТКА,НО НА ВАШЕМ РОЛИКЕ ВИЖУ ВЕРХНЕКЛАПАННЫЙ ФИАТ-124.

[@gregculverwell]

When it was a schoolboy my father bought a 124s. It lived up to its acronym - F ing Italian Afterthought. Pretty much as soon as the warranty expired, the problems began. It was so bad that the back of axle detached itself after 2 1/2years. You would think that a simple 4 cylinder car with a live rear axle would be a piece of cake to work on, but no It seemed specifically designed to be difficult to work on. Utter junk. I have nearly cried when I I have heard that they hwd bought Alfa. My fears were realised when they converted Fiats into Alfas, complete with front wheel drive.

[@MrDieselakias]

make a video about the 128

[@Matteo_Licata]

Sure I will. As soon as I'll find a nice car to film and I'll do it :)

[@Jakez408]

As an Australian the Fiat 124 was just like a flying box. The front looks like a box. The rear looks like a box. and the cabin an uninspiring box with a roof. As an Australian we in the 1960,s were spoilt by wonderful Japanese designs and even better motors that the Italians cold ever put out. Fiat was so bad that Italians had to rebell and build cars like Lancia, Alfa, Maserati and Ferrari for the upper classes for their own self esteem as if to say, look we can do much better.

[@highlandutilities]

The 124 was a very good family car, then they were the Lada and also FSO Polski Fiats...

[@aslanbaba9892]

TOFAŞ 124❤❤

[@tihamervarga3052]

Fiat 124 familiare ? 😉

[@mehmetaslan8113]

Hacı Murat Murat 124

[@abdullahgologlu8456]

the name of this car MURAT 124 (hacı) .. made in TURKEY

[@gregkMos]

Жигули!