Fiat 127 Estate Coriasco

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Introduced in March 1971, the 127 was a leap forward for Italian car giant Fiat being one of the first of the modern superminis.

Winning considerable international praise for its ingenious packaging, an impressive 80% of the car’s floor space was made available for passengers and their luggage. A lively 903cc overhead valve engine gave 44bhp which, combined with a taut chassis and a weight of just 705kg, set this everyday car apart from the competition with willing performance at a price that made it available to the working man.

Sales success saw the 127 develop through three distinct series. The first series cars had traditional chrome bumpers and originally a boot lid but a hatchback soon became available. The second series of 1977 abandoned the chrome bumpers in favour of large plastic ones, and gained larger rear windows and a longer hatchback lid plus the option of a larger engine. The final series surfaced in January 1982 with improvements coming from massive new plastic bumpers front and rear, matching plastic side panels and an improved dashboard. Replaced in Europe by the Fiat Uno in 1983, it continued to sell well in other markets, being manufactured under licence in South America right up until 1995.

Over the years different variations of 127 were introduced to cater for specific markets and specific trades. The mainstay of cheap urban commercial transport was the Fiat Fiorino high cube van, while a five-door version appeared in South America and specialist coachbuilders Moretti and Fissore produced the Midimaxi and the Scout respectively, aimed squarely at the leisure off road and beach car market.

We have been unable to establish how or why the little ‘special bodied’ first series Fiat 127 you see here came into being, or what sort of numbers it was made in. It is assumed that carrozzeria Coriasco of Turin, who were more widely known for their commercial vehicle work and van conversions, saw an opportunity to create a small estate car on the chassis of the 127. Complete with all its original Coriasco badging, it also has Italian paperwork indicating that the first owner was Giuseppe Premici and that he bought the car on 29th October 1976.

This is a very rare car, possibly a one-off, that even baffles our Italian contacts. It is a non-runner that needs complete restoration but all the non-Coriasco parts are easily available in Italy at modest cost and fortunately the bespoke bodywork is well within the realms of straightforward restoration.

Who said a rare Italian coachbuilt special was out of reach for the everyday classic car enthusiast? You really will be in an exclusive club with the Coriasco Fiat 127.

Part of a collection of small Italian cars amassed by the vendor, this Fiat comes with a NOVA form (Notice Of Vehicle Arrival), and an Italian logbook. It is ready for the new owner to register with DVLA which will make them the first UK owner in the V5C logbook.