FSO 125P Estate

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Made under licence in Poland by the state-owned manufacturer FSO, the Polski Fiat 125P was a simplified version of the Fiat 125 with engines and running gear from the older Fiat 1300/1500.

Although it was launched in its homeland in 1967, it wasn't until 1975 that it went on sale in the UK as part of a big export drive by the Polish industry to generate much-needed hard currency. Despite looking very similar to the Fiat 125, it lacked that car’s excellent twin-cam engine, making do instead with the 60bhp 1.3-litre unit from the retired Fiat 1300, although this was soon joined by a 75bhp 1.5-litre option from the old Fiat 1500.

Unlike the Fiat 125, the FSO was also available with an estate body or as a pick-up, the former actually winning the 1978 ‘Estate Car of the Year’ award in the UK. Mechanically reliable and with a durable and cavernous interior, its Achilles heel was the bodywork which was made of low grade steel to keep the cost down meaning that it was very prone to rust.

Even cheaper than its main rival, the Russian-built Lada 1200/Riva, the 125P was a fairly crude affair and received only minor upgrades over its lifetime but still won many fans, over 1.4 million being sold worldwide before production came to an end in June 1991.

First registered in September 1987, this 125P Estate had just one owner from new until it was acquired for the Stondon Museum Collection in 2009. Fitted with the 1.5-litre engine, it has covered just under 60,000 miles and is said to run and drive well with an MOT until October 2016. It comes with the original bill of sale from 1987, various service invoices from 1987 to 1999, 35 old tax discs from 1988 to 2004 and its original handbook and service book, the latter with two stamps from 1988/89.

With only 19 FSO 125P cars still UK registered today, you are unlikely to see another one coming the other way, while it is also unlikely that any are in quite such good condition as this one.