Hello All,
A little story for you:
Over 20 years ago when I was in high school taking an Auto Shop class, we received a request to pick up a donated car – a Fiat 128 two door – from the other district’s high school ~10 miles away.
My auto shop teacher selected me and another student to go over to the high school and I was to drive the Fiat back to our school. The other student gave me a lift in his old Ford and we soon got to the high school.
The Fiat 128 had two doors and was bright yellow with mostly black trim. The body was in excellent condition as was the interior. I started the engine and it started right up, but ran extremely rough. The four-speed manual transmission shifted okay in 1st and 2nd gears, but I had a lot of trouble getting it into 3rd and could not get it into 4th.
Taking it slow through the back streets, I found that even with the rough running engine, that little Fiat had the heart of a Ferrari. The exhaust sound was great, the engine was still revving and trying to pull hard, and the car really was making an effort.
We arrived at the auto shop all too soon and my drive in that cute little Fiat came to an end. My auto shop teacher told the class that anyone who wanted to buy it could have it for $50. I immediately told my instructor that I was interested, but had to check with my parents first for permission of purchase. (My insurance and other driving fees were under my parents’ plan.)
I came home very excited and told my father about the car. He soon peppered me with questions: How was I going to pay for insurance? How was I going to pay for repairs? Did I know what was wrong with the car? Etc., etc., etc…
I was working a summer job only (at the insistence of my parents) and so didn’t have the extra funds at that point in the school year.
Unfortunately, that little Fiat 128 slipped out of my grasp and one of the other auto shop students bought the car. It turns out that all it needed was a set of new spark plugs and a couple of the transmission forks were a bit bent. That was all it took to get the engine running smoothly and the transmission shifting precisely.
To this day, I have regretted not doing everything I could to buy that Fiat 128 and unfortunately, I have never seen another similar 128 ever again. But, that little Fiat with the heart and soul of an Italian beast still left an impression on me to this day.

Here’s my question:
Does anyone know how many of the 2-door Fiat 128s were imported into the U.S.
I see so many pics of the 4 door or the 3-door (2 doors with a hatchback), but not many of the 2-door ‘Sedan’.
Here are a few pics I sourced from the web to show in general what the car mostly looked like. (I think it was a later model than these pics.)






Any help finding out more info about the Fiat 128 2 Door Sedan would be helpful!

Thank you and regards,
Mike

Mike, I can't help you with your question...............maybe Fiat Turin can tell you?

I owned a red 128 saloon in a previous life, and it was European Car of the Year in....?????? can't remember, but it put Fiat Auto firmly in the front row as far as front wheel drive technology, AND compact space effeciency was concerned.

I get to meet some of(if not all) the cars I used to own at the ITALIAN 'carfest' at the Brooklands Museum every Spring.
When I say MY cars, I mean an example of the type!........600
128 Coupe, AlfaSud,.........etc.

Great story, thanks for sharing.

Ian

this car was produced in Zastava factory , zastava 128 coupe(mediteran/confort)
tell me what do you need , i will solve your problems

Hi, I have a 128 Berlina -71 Racing modified. Now I need some Shims to the valves, where to find?

Concerning Zastava factory the "Fiat" 128 : the production of the Italian original model started in 1980, and the production of the 128 ceased in 2008. The model was called Skala 128, 225,963 units were built. Skala 128 , not FIAT 128 , there's a difference, believe me !
The original was Fiat, then the dummies were SEAT and other Skala and Lada etc..etc...

I have a 1972 2-door Sedan that I bought about six months ago off of craiglist so they're out there. I know there is a mechanic in Denver with a couple in his junkyard that are in decent shape. I'm sure for the right price he'd sell you one. I know at least one is a later model rally.

TheFlash said:

Hello All,
Here’s my question:
Does anyone know how many of the 2-door Fiat 128s were imported into the U.S.
I see so many pics of the 4 door or the 3-door (2 doors with a hatchback), but not many of the 2-door ‘Sedan’.
Here are a few pics I sourced from the web to show in general what the car mostly looked like. (I think it was a later model than these pics.)

Any help finding out more info about the Fiat 128 2 Door Sedan would be helpful!

Thank you and regards,
Mike

Click to expand...

Geez, there seem to be no Americans on this forum. To answer your question, a large number of 128s were imported to the US and most of them are long gone. The dealer service was horrible and most self destructed around 40,000 miles because the dealers didn't tell the buyers about changing the timing belt (this was really the first rubber timing belt car sold here in any large number).

There are several US sites and lots of 128 owners on them such as the Fiat Page or you could try ebay. They are hard to find but not impossible.

No Americans but I am Canadian.....does that count? I have a 1973 4-dr 128 with 30K and not a spot of rust. I am the second owner purchased the car from the original owner in Toronto. He never drove the car in the rain, snow or salt.....the car is amazing.

yul

BTW I usually hang out in the Barchetta section......just purchased a 1996 Barchetta.

yul

the Fiat 128 was European car of the Year 1970.

I was wondering the same question: How many, or better yet what percentage of Series-1 FIAT 128's were 2-Door Sedans?

Carfreak said:

Hi, I have a 128 Berlina -71 Racing modified. Now I need some Shims to the valves, where to find?

Click to expand...

AFAIK the valve adjustment shims were common to all of the Fiat ohc engines of the 1960's,70's,80's , I don't know about later cars. They used to be available from any Fiat Main Dealer, also from aftermarket suppliers such as Wurth in selection boxes. You can also reuse old shims from spare engines if required.Perhaps try a Motor/Auto Factors, I don't see your location so can't help any further.

Al.

Hi F123C
That guy posted his question about valve shims in 2008. I hope he didn't have to wait until reading your reply before finding his shims! His valve clearances would have got pretty rattly over the 6 years that have passed! LOL

Hi there, from what i understand there are 128's out there, few and far between... I recently inherited one from my grandfather, along with way too many extra parts - extra engine, front suspension, steering, dashboard, etc etc. so if you find yourself needing Fiat 128A parts, please let me know.

dhammond75 said:

Hi there, from what i understand there are 128's out there, few and far between... I recently inherited one from my grandfather, along with way too many extra parts - extra engine, front suspension, steering, dashboard, etc etc. so if you find yourself needing Fiat 128A parts, please let me know.

Click to expand...

VFRMike hasn't posted for 18 months

you could try and E-mail if you wanted to contact him though,

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

VFRMike hasn't posted for 18 months

you could try and E-mail if you wanted to contact him though,

Charlie

Click to expand...

Hello- yes it's been a while but I did get an email. I could only use a window handle and an ash tray for the passenger. Do you have these parts and pictures of these parts?

Thanks!