We haven't been stingy with affection for the classic Volkswagen Golf on these pages. Taken out of context - no divided Germany, no fuel crisis - it's a remarkable automotive design, though it may have been driven by necessity more than we care to admit today. Capable of relatively high-speed travel in full comfort with all of the features required in a car and nothing more, it's a high water mark in the automotive design world.
Well, it owes some of its excess to none other than the Fiat 128. After all, it was chief engineer Dante Giacosa and his team at Fiat that brought the world the East-West layout of the engine and transmission found in nearly every FWD car today. It is even claimed that the team at Volkswagen disassembled a 128 while developing the original Golf platform.
Year: 1977
Model: Fiat 128
Engine: 1290cc 4-cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Mileage: 23,937 mi
Price: $10,0000 obo
Location: Springfield, VT
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1977 Fiat 128
This listing is for a vintage low-mileage, 1977 FIAT 128 Sedan 1300 which we purchased new 43 years ago.
The car was driven primarily from 1977 through 1995, but it was always a spare car and has always been garaged. The VIN number: 128A1 2348934
The 1977 FIAT 128 has 23,937 original miles with a 4-speed manual transmission, which runs on leaded gas. The 2-door sedan features front seats which are hinged to pivot forward, to access the back seat and are released with a Lever. The exterior is the original warm PIPPIN RED paint finish, while the interior features the Tan Vinyl seats and black rubber mat floors, and the trunk has a black rubber mat. There are no stains or tears in the car interior. The car was manufactured with undercoating and there is no Rust.
The windows are manual, roll down operation. An after market Radio was added below the center console, please view all of the photos. There is the original spare tire, owner's manual, the service log book and a selection of OEM car parts included.
The car was fully serviced in 2004 and then garaged and stored. Following the full service in 2004, including the rebuilding of the carburetor and the brakes. The old battery has been discarded, and the FIAT requires a new battery. There is old leaded gasoline in the fuel tank, which must be drained. Otherwise, the FIAT 128 is in Very Good Condition.
Buyer to make arrangements for trailer pickup from Southern Vermont location following purchase. The car will not start w/ the old fuel and needs a fresh battery.
The seller claims that this car is devoid of rust, and the history seems to corroborate this. It was used as a second car for most of its life, and even then, it was always garage-kept. The mileage, which we have no reason to believe is inaccurate, is certainly at the very low end of the spectrum in the used 128 market. Parts are available for these in most of the world, so keeping it fresh and on the road shouldn't be an issue.
Had we not just purchased a VW Rabbit (Golf) pickup project car, we would be very tempted by this example. We suspect that many folks here in the US have wonderful (or...eventful?) memories of life with a 128 in the family - please share in the comments if you remember driving or riding in one of these!
-Graham