This weeks Classic car weekly has a one page buyers guide to the Fiat 127. Whilst this is great for the Fiat marque, it would appear to be a collection of comments bearing some half truths cobbled together from all the other testaments concerning the 127.
The article has a main picture of the spritely 127 Sport, but shows a Fiat 128 to illustrate the interior. In the other photograph they show an under-bonnet view of the 1050cc 50hp engine and title the picture 1300GT.
In all, the item would probably disuade the bravest of buyers from ever contemplating the purchase of a 127. 
Membership Number: ex
all 127`s look the same (they think!) and their comments did 127 future buyers no good,,
Membership Number: yes
That's disappointing 
Haven't seen it (can anyone scan and post a pic of the article?) but spoke to the bloke ages ago as he needed information. Got the impression he wasn't massively interested in the car, didn't know anything about them, and couldn't wait to get off the phone (despite it being my bill). I guess that's correctly translated into the article!! 
IN BETTER 127 NEWS 
My rescued 1050CL took part in a Classic & Sportcar magazine feature yesterday. The other cars involved were a very early VW Polo, and a late mk1 Renault 5. I was a bit worried that my not exactly perfect but unrestored 127 would be outclassed by a 5 from the Renault heritage collection, and a mint (
) restored Polo - needn't have worried the 5 was not what I expected and the Polo wasn't perfect either - not that either was less than good. Mine was definitely the brightest colour though!!
Will be very interesting to see what the comments are from Simon - who was genuinely interested in the cars, drove them (mine twice as he couldn't find any twisty bits the first time........), and came across as very professional. In fact the whole day was professional, and I'd happily pass other members across to Classic & Sportscar (which you can't always say about magazines).
Will let you know when a publication date is known, and fingers crossed for some positive comments!
Membership Number: 5260
The problem with these classic car magazines is the revenue they depend on for their very existence...advertising. And so the MX5`s,MGB`S,fords and all other derivatives of vehicles that have legions of specialist traders supporting their respective marques with parts and services; get five star coverage and more in depth technical advice. It is very apparent, if one has been reading these organs for a number of years, that all the "popular" revenue attracting vehicles are featured almost in 3 to 4 monthly cycles. I am particularly peed off with the seemingly endless Mazda MX5 tedium and of course the f*****g MGB.
This was the week that the 127 was featured extremely poorly in the Classic car weekly, so one could probably obtain betting odds that it will probably return some time in june 2015.....and you would not get good betting odds on the rust word being used.
One would have assumed, with even only a modicum of brain cells that after all these years the 127`s that are "on the road" or SORNED or just locked away; are not rusting hulks of cornflakes with questionable running gear. And that there are, in fact, a highly supportive group in the uk. of not only 127 nutters; but people who support the Fiat name. And thats without mentioning the many 127`s running in Europe and the numbers of 127`s still competing in motor sport.
I`m just a little bit biased..........had you noticed?
Membership Number: ex
quite agree with what you say rob,and gavin, my pal at work thinks it was basic reading which might get a reader interested in finding out more info, 
BTW rob, i see you are still membership ex, not rejoining yet?
Membership Number: yes
One would have assumed, with even only a modicum of brain cells that after all these years the 127`s that are "on the road" or SORNED or just locked away; are not rusting hulks of cornflakes with questionable running gear. And that there are, in fact, a highly supportive group in the uk. of not only 127 nutters; but people who support the Fiat name. And thats without mentioning the many 127`s running in Europe and the numbers of 127`s still competing in motor sport. I`m just a little bit biased..........had you noticed?I hope that no-one said they were rusting hulks of cornflakes with questionable running gear? Please tell me that's not in the article!
They have never had anything but bulletproof and (mainly) technically advanced running gear, and a 1050 will quite happily still bash a lot of the modern rubbish even on the motorway - mine do, regularly!
Anything to do with rust is just rubbish. They were bad but so was everything else - pick your '70's car and go find a couple on the road! As you rightly say Rob, anything that is still here won't be cornflake.........
Classic & Sports Car, were suitably impressed with the non-cornflake qualities of a 1978 unrestored, unwelded, unpainted 127 - I just hope this comes across in the feature...........
Membership Number: 5260
Well I've just seen the article & I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as I assumed from the comments.
It is very basic, but gives useful things to check - apart from the front hinged bonnet causing problems (what's that about - even the most terminal I've seen have been ok there!) others are where you should check.
I don't appreciate the cramped interior (rubbish - it's very roomy & something Fiat have always done well - try another '70's hatchback, any other will do!) comment, rampant rust (hey let's sensationalise it a bit!), or niggling faults from new (what's that supposed to be?).
Apart from nicking Michael Ward's Auto Italia photos (I'm pretty sure all 3 are from the shoot we did years ago, but one definitely is) without crediting him, and slandering my Palio engine (what stupidity! Can I claim for defamation? 
), the rest is ok for a brief introduction imho.
Have spoken to someone else who doesn't have an in depth knowledge of 127's and he thought it was a decent introduction to buying one too. Anyway it doesn't matter, we all know only a few of us will ever have the satisfaction of knowing exactly how convincingly a 127 trounces all the opposition from that time (and a fair proportion of later attempts at a supermini ).
P.S. are you sure that's a 128 interior Rob? I'm about 99% certain it was Jo & Tom's mk1 127 from the same Auto Italia shoot?
Membership Number: 5260
Not my images Gavin, same location though.
RIP Jo.
Very nice too Mr Ward.
Just wish I had the ability to put up pictures, not too good on the logic of computors.
If I could, and no doubt you could help here, I`d show some pics of the early Fiesta against the 127; which would clearly show what influence the little Fiat had on the powers that be at Ford in the early 70`s. It is said that 127`s were used as test beds for the sub 1litre and 1.1 engines from Dagenham.
not bad for a multi million seller italian
Membership Number: ex
RIP Jo.
Thought they were all yours, sorry. The engine one below looks like the one in the CCW feature - that's an Auto Italia one. The photo of Jo's interior looks the same as the one in AI but without the fire extinguisher.
Yes indeed, RIP Jo - we had a very enjoyable day on that shoot.
(copyright Michael Ward, Auto Italia).
Membership Number: 5260
