The Polski Fiat 132p was the Polish-assembled Fiat 132, offered from 1973. Although described as assembled by FSO, the cars arrived from Italy almost complete and FSO only fitted minor parts. It was a favourite of senior state officials and the security services, and on the home market it could be bought only with hard currency in Pewex shops.
Polski Fiat 132p at a glance
| Maker | Fiat, Turin |
|---|---|
| Polish assembly | FSO, Warsaw, from 1973 |
| Cars arrived | from Italy almost complete |
| Work done in Poland | wipers, batteries, seats, wheels and badges |
| Italian production | 1972–1981, then the Argenta to 1985 |
| Engine | Fiat Twin Cam, 1.6 and 1.8 litres |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual, GM automatic optional |
| Polish cars assembled | 4,461 up to 1981 |
| Argentas assembled | 270 in 1985 |
| Sold in Poland | for hard currency only, in Pewex stores |
| Rivals for buyers | officials and the security services |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Fiat 132, which includes a section on the Polish 132p.
History of the Polski Fiat 132p
The Italian car
The Fiat 132 was introduced in 1972 as the replacement for the Fiat 125 and, like it, came with Fiat Twin Cam engines as standard. It looked more like the larger flagship Fiat 130. A five-speed manual gearbox was standard in some markets and optional in others, still an unusual feature in this class in 1977, and a GM Strasbourg automatic was listed as an option. The first series was offered in a normal version with the 1,600 engine only and a special version with the 1,600 or 1,800.
A major revision came in January 1974 in answer to criticism of the handling and the very low-geared steering. The front suspension was changed and wider tyres fitted; the press of the time approved of the improved handling, though poor fuel consumption at high speed still drew complaints. The body was redesigned at the same time with a new grille, new rear lights and a reshaped C-pillar that reminded some observers of the BMW 5 Series. The 1,600 engine was unchanged, but the 1,800 gained a modified cylinder head and carburettor for a small rise in output to 107 hp (80 kW) and a flatter torque curve. The second series came as the GL with the 1,600 and the GLS with either engine.
In April 1977 the car was facelifted again, with plastic safety bumpers, large rubber side strips, higher-geared steering with servo assistance, a new dashboard, door cards and seat trim, and acrylic sun visors that pulled out of the headlining. With the 130 discontinued, the 132 became the flagship of the Fiat range. The third series was sold in one unified form, with some of the 2-litre equipment optional on the 1,600; a Sofim diesel arrived in 1978 and fuel injection for the 2-litre in 1979. The 132 was replaced by the Argenta in 1981, and the Argenta was built until 1985.
Assembly outside Italy
The 132 was built in fewer places abroad than its predecessor. SEAT made it in Spain between 1973 and 1982, and it was assembled in South Africa at Rosslyn, where after the 1977 update it was renamed Elita and built by Alfa Romeo South Africa because Fiat had no capacity. Zastava assembled it in Zagreb from 1974 to 1983, from cars that arrived practically complete, at a rate of 2,000 to 3,000 a year and 13,025 in total; it was popular with directors and officials there too. Kia built 4,759 from CKD kits in South Korea from 1979.
The Polish car
In Poland the 132 was offered from 1973 as the Polski Fiat 132p. The car was described as assembled by FSO, though in fact the cars were shipped from Italy almost complete and FSO only carried out the final assembly, fitting minor parts such as wipers, batteries, seats, wheels and badges. It was a favourite with high state officials and the security services, and for the internal market it was available only for hard currency in Pewex stores. Until 1981, 4,461 were assembled. In 1985 FSO assembled another 270 Argentas in the same way.
Design and features
- Almost complete imports: the cars came from Italy and FSO fitted only small parts.
- Twin Cam engines: 1.6 and 1.8 litres, with a five-speed gearbox.
- Flagship status: from 1977 the 132 was the top of the Fiat range.
- Official use: the standard car of senior officials and the security services in Poland.
- Hard currency only: private buyers in Poland had to pay in Pewex stores.
Polski Fiat 132p versions
- 132 first series (1972): normal with the 1,600 and special with the 1,600 or 1,800.
- 132 second series (1974): revised front suspension and body, sold as GL and GLS.
- 132 third series (1977): safety bumpers, servo steering, new interior, later a diesel and fuel injection.
- Polski Fiat 132p (1973–1981): the FSO-assembled car, 4,461 examples.
- Argenta (1981–1985): the updated model, 270 of them assembled by FSO in 1985.
- Zastava 132 and SEAT 132: the Yugoslav and Spanish assembly versions.
The car the 132 replaced in Poland was the Polski Fiat 125p, and the smaller model of the same years was the Polski Fiat 131p. More cars are in the Polski Fiat collection.
Video: Fiat 132
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Fiat 132, English Wikipedia: model history, engines, overseas assembly, Polish assembly and Pewex sales
