Modern Classic: Fiat 124

To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have: head-turners, trend-setters in their time, cars that people still see that make them smile, cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. We're focusing on cars that are at least 25 years old so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections.


Tastes may vary, as may people's own definitions of "affordable." Our theoretical limit is $50,000 for a car in good to excellent condition, which rules out many of the traditional exotics. Our pick this time is the Fiat 124.

History
With Fiat's presence here still a distant memory, it's easy to forget one of the company's best efforts on these shores. In 1966, Fiat challenged Volkswagen and early Japanese models with its prosaic but practical 124 sedan. The boxy little Italian four-door packed a 1196cc pushrod four on a 95.3-inch wheelbase. Front disc brakes, rear drums, unequal-length wishbones in front, a solid rear axle with trailing arms, and a coil spring in each corner provided a sturdy platform that was ripe for upgrading. Fiat commonly spun a two-seater off its basic sedans, so two years later, when 124 coupe and roadsters arrived, few were surprised.


What was surprising were the steps Fiat had taken to ensure its new sports models could take on the best of Britain and Japan. There were two versions. First, an in-house-designed 2+2 coupe was offered on the 124 sedan's wheelbase. The same platform was cut 5.5 inches to accommodate an eye-catching convertible body by Pininfarina. To compensate for the ragtop's missing roof, the roadster's rocker panels were reinforced with box sections, the inner wheelwell housings were strengthened and a new rear crossmember was added for more rigidity.

Mechanicals
Under the pancake hood was the faithful 124 sedan powerplant, but it had been enlarged to 1438cc, and a new cross-flow, twin-cam cylinder head was fitted. The overhead camshafts were driven by a toothed belt, which reduced the cost and complexity of traditional gear drives. Fiat's engineers didn't stop there: The pistons were upgraded, the intake manifold was redesigned and both the oiling and cooling systems were revised. The result yielded 31-hp more than the 124 sedan. Power was a respectable 96 bhp at 6,500 rpm. Torque rose some 13 lb.-ft. to 83.