Episode 12. Jonny Smith (@carpervert) and Richard Porter (@sniffpetrol) go for a drive in Jonny's Fiat 126 which almost immediately breaks down and then suffers brake failure.
I had one of these in Germany in 1983. It was fluoro green, so we called it the flying pea. It was shite. To start it, you pulled a lever near the handbrake, which pulled a cable, which activated the starter solenoid, and with luck, the car started. The cable snapped one day, so to start the car, you had to turn on the ignition at the key, run to the back of the car, open the lid, then poke a stick into the engine bay and stab at the starter solenoid and pray that the car would start. This was fun, especially if you stalled at the lights. We drove to Holland once, with four people on board. What a hoot! 0 to 50 in about an hour and a half, and a bit of a giggle on the Autobahn. Coming home, the rear passengers were falling asleep, not through tiredness, mostly from the carbon monoxide leaking through the rear firewall. So to wake us up I opened the fabric sunroof. Not recommended at any speed over 5mph, because the wind pressure just tore it backwards smashing it onto the roof. I somehow took my driving test in that monster. The driving instructor was a bit aghast at the sight of this beast, and I think he passed me out of sympathy. Would I have another? Indeed I would, as a second car, just for a laugh.
I remember being driven by my mother in one of these back in 1980, a lemon yellow one. We were heading down the M11 and would wave as the lorries passed us by. At some point on the journey the throttle linkage cable snapped. My brother fixed it by using a freezer bag tie!
One of these appeared in the front garden of our (v.large) student house on the Ullet Road, Liverpool around '89. It became a feature on our MTB/BMX obstacle course. I'm thinking it was some kind of avocado colour but that might be due to it become one with the flora. Nobody ever claimed it whilst I lived there. A neighbour back home had a Fiat 128 3p Berlinetta, white, unmolested,beautiful engine sound at higher revs. You could hear it rusting away on damp nights.
Love it, same as my very first car back in late 80's, definitely learned all about cars including mechanicals. Mine was an Italian one which had extensive tin worm! Also notable for being the only car that I sold for more than I'd paid for it.
Love the videos gents! Looking forward to more on the 126! I am hoping to import one to Canada in the next year or two, so if you could maybe do a video on it and what to look out for that goes wrong or when buying one, that would be cool! :)
I managed to rear end a Metro on the 2nd day of driving my Mini because my feet were too big for the pedals. I pressed the brake and accelerator at the same time, and you needed to stamp on the brakes to get them to work.
I once had brake failure at 50mph (in a Renault scenic) too! Shot up middle of road between stationary traffic on 'my side' and 50mph traffic head-on.... No firm diagnosis to this day tbh! Brakes repeatedly didn't slow progress, I wondered if somehow I'd pressed clutch, moved foot to right, accelerated, instinctively moved foot left back to brake pedal which then immediately slowed me strongly as normal... Never did it again... Cost me price of a wing mirror on a kangoo which I clipped, could be worse!! 😂
I learnt to drive in one of these ..... happy/frightening memories, mostly the later .... Ah the delights of slip streaming AA Land Rovers on the M6 to obtain 'escape velocity' .... loosing the front end in a frosty ASDA's car park with my mum in the passenger seat ...... by the way, brakes are for wimps .... with 20 something mouse power the idea is to never use them .... conservation of energy and all that. A good DIY prospect ... you can remove the engine single handed without assistance mechanical or otherwise. I do enjoy the stream of consciousness format .... makes me feel much better about the 1000s hours I've spent drivelling on in a similar vein.
Hey Johnny I have an idea for you and your little car. A new program called big one in a baby. There is a guy in Poland that drive his around Poland and meets with celebrities that have any memories or stories to tell about little one And then it goes into a normal life chat interview.
I don't love nor hate the Beetle. I am impressed by how modern they feel for such an old car though. That's also one of the downsides, it doesn't feel as old as I hoped it would. Other than that I just don't think they match up with the character of a 2cv, Renault 4 Fiat 500 or Mini. They lack the humour. I wouldn't mind driving a Beetle for a year but it's not my favourite of the bunch. I don't see why you'd hate it though. Sure, it's not very practical for a relatively big car, but it drives remarkably well and it's a cute design. There's far better carsto hate :D I once drove to the end of an highway with traffic lights into a city with no brakes in a Citroën Visa. No handbrake either. Also a slightly jammed brake and boiling oil. Convenient right lane with one car in it, the other three had a long row. The BMW driver before me had no idea I picked him to, possibly, use as a brake. Also no passenger side mirror, that must be it. Long story short; Yes you can motor brake at 35mph in first gear.
This is communist living ,haha I agree. I fucking hate that car. You Brits love it because for you it is a matter of choice. I had one , and I sold it for 40 pounds back in 2010. It is fun to drive as a side car, but when you have use it daily it is a fucking nightmare.
I had one of these in Germany in 1983. It was fluoro green, so we called it the flying pea. It was shite. To start it, you pulled a lever near the handbrake, which pulled a cable, which activated the starter solenoid, and with luck, the car started. The cable snapped one day, so to start the car, you had to turn on the ignition at the key, run to the back of the car, open the lid, then poke a stick into the engine bay and stab at the starter solenoid and pray that the car would start. This was fun, especially if you stalled at the lights.
We drove to Holland once, with four people on board. What a hoot! 0 to 50 in about an hour and a half, and a bit of a giggle on the Autobahn. Coming home, the rear passengers were falling asleep, not through tiredness, mostly from the carbon monoxide leaking through the rear firewall. So to wake us up I opened the fabric sunroof. Not recommended at any speed over 5mph, because the wind pressure just tore it backwards smashing it onto the roof.
I somehow took my driving test in that monster. The driving instructor was a bit aghast at the sight of this beast, and I think he passed me out of sympathy.
Would I have another? Indeed I would, as a second car, just for a laugh.
Johnny looks young, Richard looks exactly the same.
I remember being driven by my mother in one of these back in 1980, a lemon yellow one. We were heading down the M11 and would wave as the lorries passed us by. At some point on the journey the throttle linkage cable snapped. My brother fixed it by using a freezer bag tie!
Loved seeing these little cento venti sei when I was in Italy. I think I like them more than the 500.
6:25 Props for amazing reflexes!
Brilliant little video guys and a true classic car.
"A useable classic" :-)
It was used as a family car
One of these appeared in the front garden of our (v.large) student house on the Ullet Road, Liverpool around '89. It became a feature on our MTB/BMX obstacle course. I'm thinking it was some kind of avocado colour but that might be due to it become one with the flora. Nobody ever claimed it whilst I lived there.
A neighbour back home had a Fiat 128 3p Berlinetta, white, unmolested,beautiful engine sound at higher revs. You could hear it rusting away on damp nights.
Love it, same as my very first car back in late 80's, definitely learned all about cars including mechanicals. Mine was an Italian one which had extensive tin worm! Also notable for being the only car that I sold for more than I'd paid for it.
I had one years ago and I wish I still had one!
I know the square root of naff all about cars, and yet find these videos oddly enjoyable.
very good .. you two in the Charger sometime if you need a suggestion ...
100 man points for Johnny
Love the videos gents! Looking forward to more on the 126! I am hoping to import one to Canada in the next year or two, so if you could maybe do a video on it and what to look out for that goes wrong or when buying one, that would be cool! :)
Richard looks so uncomfortable throughout this video. Much more at home in the Bentayga.
James Markham he’d still probably have the 126
What about a series of videos about, Whatcardoyoufeelmostuncomfortableasapassengerin.
Never have I seen a man more uncomfortable as a passenger in a motor car. Hahaha
Loved this one
Brilliant fun to watch! 😊
I managed to rear end a Metro on the 2nd day of driving my Mini because my feet were too big for the pedals. I pressed the brake and accelerator at the same time, and you needed to stamp on the brakes to get them to work.
More brilliance 👏🏻👏🏻
As for first classic; Renault 5 is a really good option as well. Made until 1994 and with easily available parts.
Brilliant as always.
*OOO KURWA! POLSKI FIAT 126p. Coś mi się wydaje że wy też będziecie mieć w pizdu polskich widzów! Przyjedźcie kiedyś do Polski!*
I once had brake failure at 50mph (in a Renault scenic) too! Shot up middle of road between stationary traffic on 'my side' and 50mph traffic head-on.... No firm diagnosis to this day tbh! Brakes repeatedly didn't slow progress, I wondered if somehow I'd pressed clutch, moved foot to right, accelerated, instinctively moved foot left back to brake pedal which then immediately slowed me strongly as normal... Never did it again... Cost me price of a wing mirror on a kangoo which I clipped, could be worse!! 😂
Bloody brilliant you guys 😂😂😂
I learnt to drive in one of these ..... happy/frightening memories, mostly the later .... Ah the delights of slip streaming AA Land Rovers on the M6 to obtain 'escape velocity' .... loosing the front end in a frosty ASDA's car park with my mum in the passenger seat ...... by the way, brakes are for wimps .... with 20 something mouse power the idea is to never use them .... conservation of energy and all that. A good DIY prospect ... you can remove the engine single handed without assistance mechanical or otherwise. I do enjoy the stream of consciousness format .... makes me feel much better about the 1000s hours I've spent drivelling on in a similar vein.
5:16 zajebiscie (he actualy got close with his initial zyeby!)
You guys should drive Jonny's wife's Figaro, that'd be a laugh
Also, I never had a girlfriend who would have NOT loved that car. You guys need to up your game :D.
Hey Johnny
I have an idea for you and your little car.
A new program called big one in a baby.
There is a guy in Poland that drive his around Poland and meets with celebrities that have any memories or stories to tell about little one
And then it goes into a normal life chat interview.
I don't love nor hate the Beetle. I am impressed by how modern they feel for such an old car though. That's also one of the downsides, it doesn't feel as old as I hoped it would. Other than that I just don't think they match up with the character of a 2cv, Renault 4 Fiat 500 or Mini. They lack the humour. I wouldn't mind driving a Beetle for a year but it's not my favourite of the bunch. I don't see why you'd hate it though. Sure, it's not very practical for a relatively big car, but it drives remarkably well and it's a cute design. There's far better carsto hate :D
I once drove to the end of an highway with traffic lights into a city with no brakes in a Citroën Visa. No handbrake either.
Also a slightly jammed brake and boiling oil. Convenient right lane with one car in it, the other three had a long row. The BMW driver before me had no idea I picked him to, possibly, use as a brake. Also no passenger side mirror, that must be it.
Long story short; Yes you can motor brake at 35mph in first gear.
@k halliday I wouldn't know, I don't know any! It sounds like the thing I have with Apple though :D.
"A chainsaw." 😅
SO what did he do to fix the car?
What did you get her??
Hahahaha I bought you a present for me!
It looks a bit like a hoover attachment .
Nearly lost a subscriber with that jibe at the MGB! ;)
To be fair to the Fiat, you should probably put "brake failure" in quotes. ☺
Brilliant in Polish is Znakomicie.
Dwa cylindry kilka koni nic malucha nie dogoni :)
Now we finally know where this annoying Top Gear joke comes from. From Jonny, who hates Beatles haha
Richard hates them, Johnny loves them
Beetles are ace leave them alone
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
This is communist living ,haha I agree. I fucking hate that car. You Brits love it because for you it is a matter of choice. I had one , and I sold it for 40 pounds back in 2010. It is fun to drive as a side car, but when you have use it daily it is a fucking nightmare.