With the launch of the production of Fiat 126p in Bielsko-Biała, activities for the development of this construction were started in the Research and Development Center of Small Cars, constituting the technical background of FSM. In cooperation with the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, three projects were developed – small van, passenger car with elongated body and station wagon.
A prototype of a van called Bombel was made in 1974 r. The rear part of the body has changed. The cargo area is covered with a rigid laminate superstructure. Despite the placement of the power unit in the rear of the vehicle, 1 m3 of cargo space, which is divided into two levels: upper with a flat surface (above the engine) and lower – recess behind the front seats. Between the roof and the upper level there is a net to protect the driver and passenger from moving cargo. The payload of the Bombla was 300 kg. A version with additional side windows in a laminate superstructure was also made.
The second car was a model called Long, in which the wheelbase and overall length are increased by 100 mm. This change increased the space for rear seat passengers and reduced the tendency to gallop on uneven surfaces.. During the work, it was decided to increase the power of the engine and strengthen the suspension of the rear wheels. The compression ratio has been increased in the engine, the diameter of the intake valves has been enlarged and the timing phases and carburetor adjustment have been changed. After these changes, the power unit reached maximum power 19 kW at 4600 obr./min, and the maximum speed of the vehicle increased to 110 km / h. The prototype was made in 1975 r.
Another project was a car with a universal body called 126p Combi. Wheelbase increased by 100 mm, and the rear overhang by further 70 mm, resulting in more space for rear seat passengers and additional luggage space. A new version of the engine with a horizontal cylinder arrangement has been developed, which made it possible to lower the main cover- 4 engine fog and increased load compartment. Engine with displacement increased to 652 cm3 had a new crankcase, changed carburetor, fuel pump, air filter, oil pump, cooling system blower, ignition apparatus and silencer. Increased compression ratio. The new engine was achieving power 18,4 kW at 4500 obr./min. Also changed the suspension characteristics of the rear wheels.
The body with an aesthetic silhouette is equipped with a rear door lifted upwards, and the elongated roof lobe is made of plastic. The volume of the load compartment behind the rear backrest was 500 dm3, and when the rear bench seat was folded down, it grew to 1000 dm3. The extension of the vehicle resulted in an increase in curb weight to 630 kg. The permissible load capacity of this version of the Toddler is 4 persons and 80 kg of baggage. The maximum speed of the Combi model was 105 km / h. The prototype was built in 1977 r.
The most popular passenger car in our country has come a long way, but the changes did not affect the overall design concept or the nature of the vehicle, however, they caused its systematic improvement.
