FIAT 127

2-door/3-door 4-door seater saloon/hatchback.

The Supermini by which all other rivals set packaging standards later in seventies. One size smaller than 128, with 9ins shorter wheelbase, but same general front-drive/transverse engine from 850 model, later supplemented by more powerful 1.05-litre overhead cam (ex-Fiat Brazil) engine from '77. Hatchback in Britain from mid-1972, and most powerful (75bhp) 1300 Sport with 95mph top speed from late '81. In Britain from spring 1981, 127 had shovel-nose style on same basic sheet metal body.