Fiat 127

The Fiat 127 is a small supermini sized compact car made by the Fiat car company.

The 127 was introduced in 1971 and was Fiat's first supermini-sized hatchback car, and was the logical replacement to the Fiat 850. The 127 used the tried and trusted 903cc overhead valve engine that had powered many earlier generations of Fiat cars. The state-of-the-art transverse engine and front wheel drive layout which had been pioneered in the Fiat 128 was carried over. The 127 also featured a unique transverse leaf spring suspension at the rear. The 127 was an instant success, being voted European Car of the Year in 1972.

The Mark 2 version of the 127 debuted in 1977. It featured a restyled front and rear, a revised dashboard, larger rear glass area and a new 1049cc engine option. This aluminium headed, overhead cam engine was unique to the 127 range. At the same time a 5-door derivative became available in certain countries.

The final revision of the 127 came in 1982 with the Mark 3. Once again the front and end styling was freshened up, and a new 1300cc engine option was introduced. The interior was redesigned and made more modern looking.

However, like all 1970s-vintage Italian cars, the 127 was prone to severe body corrosion, something which was excacerbated by Fiat's use of recycled steel and inadequate undersealing. In warm, dry Meditterenean countries, a surprising number of 127s have survived, but in Northern Europe the combination of damp weather and salty roads had the obvious effects on the 127s fragile bodywork, most ending up in the crusher before their eighth birthday.

127 production ended in 1983 following the introduction of its repacement, the Fiat Uno. However, the 127's underpinnings were used in certain Fiat-sponsored products such as those from the Zastava company and also the first generation SEAT Ibiza.