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Fiat 128 Berlinetta 1300 in (historic) test - practical hatchback coupé

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Created on November 29, 1975

Text:

Wolfgang Hecht

Photos:

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - a station wagon coupé

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - rear view

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - with large tailgate

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - also known as the "Berlinetta" on the German market

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - combines family and sports car

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - practical hatchback coupé

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - Cockpit

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - Interior

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Fiat 128 3P Berlinetta (1977) - Convertible interior

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - 3 Porte with folding rear seat bench - Geneva Motor Show 1976

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - for "all-purpose" suitability

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Fiat 128 3P (1977) - appealing sports shape

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Fiat 128 Berlinetta GLX (1977) - sporty silhouette

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - Body structure

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - Exterior dimensions

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - Interior dimensions

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - trunk capacity

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - Combustion chamber

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - Comparison of the power and torque curve

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Fiat 128 3P (1975) - in advertising in Germany

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Fiat 128 3P (1976) - in advertising in Germany

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Summary

The Berlinetta was Fiat's second attempt to turn the 128 front-wheel drive saloon into an appealing sports model. The attempt - after bodywork tweaks and conversion into an estate coupé - was largely successful. The result was a car with an appealing design that was safe to drive, economical and well equipped for the price. The test report from 1975 summarizes its strengths and weaknesses.

This article contains the following chapters

Connection found
Purpose form?
Too much top heat
Plus points
Minus points
Overall verdict
Engine/running behavior
Engine/performance behavior
Power transmission
Chassis
Suspension
Technical data & measured values

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Berlinetta is Fiat's second attempt to conjure up an appealing sports form from the 128 front-wheel drive saloon. The attempt - after bodywork tweaks and conversion into an estate coupé - can be considered largely successful. If you follow the history of the small Fiat coupés, then after a chain of noisy 600 saloons with Abarth tuning from 1965, it was the Fiat 850 coupé and the Spider that were able to make a first breach in the phalanx of the ageing English sports roadsters (Austin-Healey Sprite/MG Midget) on the German market. The Coupé had no chance of survival as a rear-engined car, while the Spider had no chance, even with the efforts to improve body safety. The later X 1/9 mid-engined car was and still is too expensive for most potential buyers and not practical enough as a pure two-seater.

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