The Syrena 105 was the last design of the Polish Syrena and the most popular version of the car. It was produced from 1972 to 1983 by FSM in Bielsko-Biała and badged accordingly, and unlike its predecessors it had regular front-hinged doors instead of the earlier “suicide” doors.
FSO Syrena 105 at a glance
| Maker | FSM (Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych), Bielsko-Biała |
|---|---|
| Badge | FSM Syrena |
| Production | 1972–1983 |
| Predecessor | Syrena 104 (1966–72) |
| Body | two-door saloon |
| Doors | front-hinged, replacing the earlier “suicide” doors |
| Engine | three-cylinder two-stroke, front-mounted, front-wheel drive |
| Lux version | from 1974, gear lever and handbrake between the front seats |
| Derivatives | Syrena Bosto van and Syrena R-20 pick-up |
| FSM production | 344,077 Syrenas built in Bielsko-Biała |
| TV appearance | a 1983 105L in Wheeler Dealers, series 10 episode 10 |
The 105 is covered in a section of the shared English and Polish Wikipedia articles on the FSO Syrena; the split between FSO and FSM production comes from the English article, the total of 521,311 from both.
History of the FSO Syrena 105
The last Syrena design
The 105 replaced the 104 in 1972, when Syrena production moved from FSO in Warsaw to the FSM factory in Bielsko-Biała. From then on the cars carried FSM badges. The most visible change was at the doors: the 105 had regular front-hinged doors instead of the “suicide” doors of the earlier models, which opened backwards. The engine stayed the three-cylinder two-stroke, mounted longitudinally ahead of the front axle and driving the front wheels through a gearbox with driveshafts running sideways out of it.
The Lux version
A Lux version appeared in 1974. Its gear lever and handbrake were moved between the front seats instead of being mounted on the steering column and under the dashboard, a small but noticeable improvement in a car that had changed little since 1957. The 105 was also the basis for two commercial models, the Syrena R-20 pick-up and the Bosto van.
On television
A 1983 FSM Syrena 105L finished in yellow appeared in series 10 episode 10 of the British programme Wheeler Dealers. Presenter Mike Brewer bought the car in Poland for zł7,000, the equivalent of £1,400, and drove it to the show’s workshop in Britain, where mechanic Edd China repaired and upgraded it. The colour was changed to red and white in homage to the Polish flag; the steering box was upgraded, the drum brakes refurbished, the dynamo replaced with an alternator and the radio changed. The total cost of buying and upgrading the car reached £5,454. The finished car was driven to the Polish embassy, where ambassador Witold Sobków took a ride in it, and it was later sold for £8,000 to the bubble car museum in Lincolnshire.
Design and features
- Last of the line: the final Syrena design, built for eleven years and the most popular version.
- Front-hinged doors: the clearest difference from the earlier 100 to 104 models.
- Lux equipment: from 1974 with the gear lever and handbrake between the front seats.
- Commercial basis: the 105 underpinned the Bosto van and the R-20 pick-up.
- Television fame: a 1983 105L was restored in Wheeler Dealers and sold to a museum.
FSO Syrena 105 versions
- 105 (1972–1983): the standard two-door saloon built by FSM.
- 105 Lux (from 1974): gear lever and handbrake between the front seats.
- 105L: the designation of the 1983 car restored on Wheeler Dealers, finished in yellow and later repainted red and white.
- Bosto and R-20: the van and pick-up derived from the 105.
The 105 replaced the Syrena 104 and was the basis for the Bosto van and the R-20 pick-up. More cars are in the Syrena collection.
Video: SYRENA 105 – PUSTKOWO. Runda z Kamilem.
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- FSO Syrena, English Wikipedia: 105 production, doors, Lux version, derivatives, Wheeler Dealers
- FSO Syrena, Polish Wikipedia: production years and FSM manufacture in Bielsko-Biała
