1973 Fiat 124 Sport 1.8 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Excellent Value for money

Faults:

I had to replace the front brake calipers.

Also had the radiator reconditioned.

New brake booster has also been fitted.

At 98000 miles the rear differential started to make some noise and had to be reconditioned.

General Comments:

The Fiat 124 Sport has exceptional styling for a car that was designed in house by Fiat.

The interior design provides excellent viewing from every angle and the dashboard provides clear information with a very sporty design.

The exhaust note is like music to your ears.

The handling is great and the four wheel disk brakes work well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th January, 2003

1971 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe 1.8 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Fast, classic sports car

Faults:

Alternator broke at 40,000 miles.

Steering box badly worn.

Suspension needed extensive renewal this included ball joints, suspension bushes, tie tod ends.

Rust has appeared in the rear windscreen and quarter panel areas.

General Comments:

This Fiat 124 has great sport performance coupled with great handling.

Engine very robust and reliable.

Low slung, sleek and sporty look.

The cabin is very comfortable, but heater and ventilation is hopelessly inadequate.

Parts can be expensive and hard to find.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd May, 2002

1975 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe 1.8 from North America

Summary:

Finely styled, increasingly rare and collectible coupe with simple, easy maintenance

Faults:

Rust free and rare coupe purchased from second owner needed only basic care and and exhaust system from header to rear silencer.

Replaced all leaking full lines since car sat for two years.

Trim is fragile and dew seems to threaten the car to start to rust!

Replace 4 shock absorbers.

General Comments:

Car is comfortable and is very sporty.

Steering precise with some wander at freeway speed.

Slick five speed transmission with odd gear ratios that do not allow quiet cruising in fifth gear.

Airy cabin. Poor heater control in winter weather.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th April, 2002

14th Feb 2005, 18:15

Fiat 124s have a great heater system, especially for a convertible when used in the winter!

6th Mar 2005, 01:18

I had a 124 way back in the '70's and even used it to haul chickens to my mini-farm when I was student teaching.

Fantastic vehicle, but at the time, going to college, I had trouble affording it!

3rd Jan 2008, 10:22

I have been the proud owner of a Mark 3 1975 124 Coupe since 1977. All parts are still 100% original. I did try an early version of a Motorola electronic ignition for a bit, but reverted to the good old points. Driven hard as a student with the owner's pretensions of being able drive quickly, used as an all terrain vehicle complete with clip on roof rack for extremely rugged camping holidays in remote regions of the country, now semi-retired, this little car just keeps on giving. Awesomely reliable, easy to maintain, we still get necks turning when taken out. The cockpit has the best all round vision I have encountered in any sedan or coupe to date. The mid-range acceleration from 4000rpm to red-line is still great fun from the standard double downdraft Weber. Pulls slowly from 2000rpm. Handling is almost neutral and very predictable at the limit.

Any "Overhauling" type outfits out there willing to bring this classic back to sparkling condition? We go back 30 years together with a lifetime of memories.

I owned an immaculate 1969 1400cc coupe before this one for a few years and in hindsight am a bit sorry I did not keep it. This little 1400 engine just loved to get into red and with weak torque at the lower range you just had to keep it on the cam. Really fun to drive.

Johannesburg, South Africa.

2nd Mar 2008, 02:29

Thanks Guys, have an option on 2x 124's. One spider and one coupe. Both need a fair bit of restoration. Just doing a bit of research on them. Both 1608's. different carb's though. Are there any other forums dedicated to these cars?

Port Elizabeth

1976 Fiat 124 S 1.8 from North America

Summary:

Very good buy

Faults:

Rear axle was bad when I purchased the car.

Transmission is noisy.

Complete engine rebuild at 69,000.

General Comments:

For a 26 year old car the cabin is surprisingly comfortable.

The 4 wheel disc brakes work very well even by new car standards.

Reliability is good, though parts are sometimes hard to find.

The most inexpensive older sports car on the market.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th May, 2001