FIAT 126P Maluch Car COBI 24530A – Action Town 1:35

FIAT 126P “MALUCH” | COBI 24530A 

A building set featuring a model of the Polish Fiat 126P Maluch in canary yellow, with silver bumpers at the front and rear and a single rear-view mirror on the driver's side. The steering wheel and front seats can be seen through the transparent windows. The building set is manufactured under an official Fiat licence.

Did you know that:

In 1971, the Polish government signed a licensing agreement with Fiat for the production of a small car. In 1972, the successor to the legendary Fiat 500, the Fiat 126P, was introduced at the Turin Motor Show. The vehicle was produced by the Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych factory. The first Fiat was assembled on 6 June 1973 in Bielsko-Biała. Initially, Italian components were used, but the share of domestically produced parts gradually increased significantly. Series production in Bielsko-Biała began on 22 July 1973, followed in September 1975 by production at the new factory in Tychy. The name Maluch began to be used by the public as early as the 1970s, shortly after the car was introduced to the market. The nickname, meaning “little one” or “tiny fellow”, became so widespread that the manufacturer itself eventually adopted it.

The Fiat 126P was powered by a rear-mounted, air-cooled two-cylinder engine, combined with a four-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. The interior was very simple. In front of the driver there was mainly a speedometer with warning lights, a few controls for heating and ventilation, and a radio depending on the trim level. In 1984, the modernised 126P FL version arrived, bringing changes to the interior, including an ashtray, cigarette lighter and a storage compartment in front of the passenger.

Although the Maluch was promoted as a people's car, a new vehicle cost approximately 69,000 zlotys, which was not a small amount compared with the average salary of 3,500 zlotys at the time. In addition, buying a vehicle was not simply a matter of saving the required amount and visiting a car dealership. The purchase also had to be approved by the employer and the local authorities.

The Maluch reached other European countries from Poland mainly as an export vehicle within the socialist trading system of the time, but gradually also made its way onto Western European markets. It was popular in Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania and especially Hungary, where it became one of the most widespread small cars after Poland. It was also exported to France, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In each country, people started calling it something different, resulting in a number of amusing nicknames:

Croatia - Peglica (iron)

Slovenia - Bolha (flea) and Piči-poki (fast and mighty)

Hungary - Egérkamion (mouse truck)

United Kingdom - The Polish Fiasco

Technical specifications: 

• dimensions: length 3.05 m, width 1.37 m, height 1.30 m
• weight 600 kg
• power unit: air-cooled 652 cm³ 2-cylinder engine producing 17.7 kW
• acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 50 seconds
• top speed 105 km/h (for brave drivers only)
• number of gears: 4 forward + 1 reverse
• fuel tank capacity 21 l 
• combined fuel consumption 6.1 l
• luggage compartment capacity 125 l
• number of seats 4

A period joke:

A man is buying a car. He likes the little Fiat and asks the salesman:
“So you're saying that this little car is suitable for several people?”
“Of course, but they have to take turns.”

About the COBI building set:

• the COBI 24530A building set consists of 70 high-quality ABS pieces
• Action Town collection, scale 1:35
• pad printed - no stickers
• faithful reproduction
• made in the EU
• compatible with other building brick brands