Fiat 128

Fiat 128: which version to buy and why

The Fiat 128 in this catalogue is a single-generation Coupe (1969–1985) with 10 listed versions. Every version is named 1.1 MT or 1.3 MT; they are not interchangeable. Power is the only reliable way to tell them apart. Output runs from 45 hp (33 kW) to 75 hp (55 kW) — a 30 hp gap, or +67% from the weakest to the strongest. Displacement runs 1100–1301 cm³.

The Fiat 128 in this catalogue is a single-generation Coupe (1969–1985) with 10 listed versions. Every version is named 1.1 MT or 1.3 MT; they are not interchangeable. Power is the only reliable way to tell them apart. Output runs from 45 hp (33 kW) to 75 hp (55 kW) — a 30 hp gap, or +67% from the weakest to the strongest. Displacement runs 1100–1301 cm³. Gearbox, drive and body do not change: every row is Manual, 4 speeds, RWD, Gasoline, 4 cylinders Inline, boost No, ground clearance 145 mm, front suspension Independent, spring, front brakes Disc. Kerb weight, gross weight, tank size and wheels are not measured on all ten, so this article cannot rank “what the extra money buys” in kilograms or litres of fuel — only in power, torque, displacement, induction and the two top speeds that exist.

There is no second generation to wait for. Choosing a 128 is choosing among these ten rows, not among facelifts listed as extra generations.

Generations: one generation, ten versions

1 generation (1969–1985), Coupe, 10 versions. Production start and stop are the same on every modification: 1969-01-01 to 1985-12-31. Nothing in the data splits early cars from late cars by year. Restyling is not recorded as a separate generation. The practical split is engine family: five 1.1 MT rows and five 1.3 MT rows.

Fiat 128 specs: engines compared (use power to tell identical names apart)

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres) is allowed arithmetic on these numbers:

• 1.1 MT (65 hp): 65 ÷ 1.100 = 59.1 hp/L — densest 1.1.
• 1.1 MT (64 hp): 64 ÷ 1.100 = 58.2 hp/L.
• 1.3 MT (75 hp): 75 ÷ 1.301 = 57.6 hp/L.
• 1.3 MT (73 hp): 73 ÷ 1.300 = 56.2 hp/L.
• 1.3 MT (67 hp): 67 ÷ 1.301 = 51.5 hp/L.
• 1.1 MT (55 hp) either row: 55 ÷ 1.116 = 49.3 hp/L.
• 1.3 MT (60 hp) either row: 60 ÷ 1.290 = 46.5 hp/L.
• 1.1 MT (45 hp): 45 ÷ 1.116 = 40.3 hp/L — least dense.

The 1.1-litre peak (65 hp) is therefore more highly tuned per litre than the 1.3-litre peak (75 hp). Absolute power still favours the 1.3 MT (75 hp): +10 hp versus 1.1 MT (65 hp) (+15%), +11 hp versus 1.1 MT (64 hp), +30 hp versus 1.1 MT (45 hp).

Performance and economy (mpg, 0-100, top speed)

0–100 km/h is not measured on all ten versions. Do not infer a sprint time from horsepower.

Top speed is measured on two rows only:

• 1.1 MT (55 hp, 150 km/h): 150 km/h.
• 1.3 MT (60 hp, 165 km/h): 165 km/h.

That is +15 km/h for +5 hp and +174 cm³ (1116 vs 1290). The faster car is not the most powerful 1.3: the 1.3 MT (75 hp) and 1.3 MT (73 hp) have top speed not measured. The 1.1 MT (55 hp) without a listed top speed matches the 150 km/h car on 55 hp / 40 kW, 86 Nm, 1116 cm³, 95 fuel and carburetor, but its maximum speed is not measured — treat it as a separate catalogue row, not as a duplicate with a hidden 150.

Fuel consumption (city, highway, mixed) is not measured on all ten. CO2 and eco class are not measured. MPG cannot be ranked. Fuel grade 95 is listed on: both 1.1 MT (55 hp) rows, 1.3 MT (73 hp), 1.3 MT (75 hp). On 1.1 MT (64 hp), 1.1 MT (65 hp), 1.1 MT (45 hp), 1.3 MT (67 hp) and both 1.3 MT (60 hp) rows, fuel grade is not measured.

Torque that is measured:

• 1.1 MT (55 hp) both rows: 86 Nm at 2900 rpm; power peak 5600 rpm where listed.
• 1.3 MT (75 hp): 103 Nm (rpm not measured).

103 − 86 = 17 Nm, about +20% torque on the strongest 1.3 versus the documented 1.1. On 1.1 MT (64 hp), 1.1 MT (65 hp), 1.1 MT (45 hp), 1.3 MT (73 hp), 1.3 MT (67 hp) and both 1.3 MT (60 hp) rows, torque is not measured.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance is 145 mm on every version — no generation step, no 1.1 vs 1.3 difference.

Kerb weight: not measured (all ten). Gross weight: not measured. Weight per horsepower cannot be calculated. Tank: not measured. Wheels: not measured. Rear suspension: not measured. Rear brakes: not measured. Engine location: not measured.

What is the same and therefore not a buying differentiator: front Independent, spring; front Disc; 145 mm clearance; RWD; Manual 4.

Valves per cylinder 2 is listed on: both 1.1 MT (55 hp) rows, 1.3 MT (73 hp), 1.3 MT (75 hp). On 1.1 MT (64 hp), 1.1 MT (65 hp), 1.1 MT (45 hp), 1.3 MT (67 hp) and both 1.3 MT (60 hp) rows, valves per cylinder are not measured.

Which version to choose

There is one generation. “Newer generation” is not a choice. The extra displacement and extra power are the only arithmetic upgrades in the table.

If you want the most power in this catalogue: 1.3 MT (75 hp / 55 kW), 1301 cm³, 103 Nm, induction Distributed injection (multi-point), fuel 95, valves 2, boost No. It is +2 hp over 1.3 MT (73 hp) (75 vs 73) at +1 cm³ (1301 vs 1300). Both 73 and 75 hp 1.3s share multi-point injection and 95 fuel; the 75 hp row is the only 1.3 with a measured torque figure.

If you want injection rather than a carburetor, but not necessarily the peak: 1.3 MT (73 hp / 54 kW), 1300 cm³, Distributed injection (multi-point), 95. Torque not measured; top speed not measured. Versus 1.3 MT (75 hp) you give up 2 hp and the only 103 Nm reading.

If you want a 1.3 without relying on the injection rows: 1.3 MT (67 hp / 49 kW) at 5500 rpm, 1301 cm³ — same 1301 as the 75 hp car, 8 hp less (67 vs 75), −11%. Induction not measured, fuel not measured, torque not measured. Or 1.3 MT (60 hp) at 1290 cm³, 44 kW: 15 hp below the 75 hp peak (−20%). One 1.3 MT (60 hp) lists 165 km/h — the highest measured top speed in the set; the other 1.3 MT (60 hp) is the same 60 hp / 44 kW / 1290 cm³ with top speed not measured. Prefer the 165 km/h row if a measured maximum matters; do not assume the other 60 hp row is equally fast.

If you want the liveliest 1.1 (highest hp/L): 1.1 MT (65 hp / 48 kW), 1100 cm³, Carburetor — 59.1 hp/L. Next is 1.1 MT (64 hp / 47 kW), same 1100 cm³, Carburetor, 1 hp less. Torque, fuel grade and top speed are not measured on both. These two are the high-output 1100s; they are not the same as the 1116 cm³ 1.1s.

If you want a documented 1.1 with torque, rpm and fuel grade: either 1.1 MT (55 hp / 40 kW) at 1116 cm³, 86 Nm at 2900, power at 5600, Carburetor, 95, valves 2. Difference between the two 55 hp names: one has 150 km/h, the other has top speed not measured. Choose the 150 km/h row when a measured top speed is required. Versus 1.1 MT (65 hp) you give up 10 hp (−15%) and 16 cm³ of the smaller 1100’s tuning density.

If you want the mildest 1.1: 1.1 MT (45 hp / 33 kW), 1116 cm³, Carburetor. It is 10 hp below the 55 hp 1.1s (−18%) and 20 hp below 1.1 MT (65 hp) (−31%). Torque, fuel, 0–100 and top speed are not measured. It is the lowest specific output (40.3 hp/L). Buy this row only if the catalogue match is this power, not because the data shows better economy — consumption is not measured.

1.1 vs 1.3 in one line: the strongest 1.3 (75 hp, 103 Nm, 1301 cm³, multi-point) versus the strongest 1.1 (65 hp, 1100 cm³, carburetor) is +10 hp and, where torque exists on the 1.1 55 hp rows, +17 Nm versus 86 Nm. Drive, gearbox, boost, cylinder count, layout, clearance and Coupe body do not change, so they do not justify moving up a class inside this model.

What you cannot choose on numbers we do not have: reliability, problems, mpg, 0–100, kerb weight, tank, wheels, prices. Those fields are not measured or absent. A version with injection in the table is 1.3 MT (73 hp) or 1.3 MT (75 hp); a version with a measured top speed is 1.1 MT (55 hp) at 150 km/h or 1.3 MT (60 hp) at 165 km/h; a version with measured torque is the 55 hp 1.1s (86 Nm) or 1.3 MT (75 hp) (103 Nm). Match the exact name and the horsepower in the table — two cars both called 1.1 MT or 1.3 MT are different catalogue pages.