Love it or loathe it Fso Polonez . .

[eddyramrod]

Ha Ha, I was there !!!!. She is a super machine and I can't wait to have a go of it. It will be compared with the superior Lada Riva, as the owner of four Lada's, it will be interesting..............

 

I think we must be brothers! Welcome!

 

Er, Riva, superior? When I saved my Polonez from scrap in 1994, my dad already had one and my mum was driving a Riva. I did considerable miles in both, not to mention the four Fiat-shape Ladas that preceded them, the 125p estate, and the final Riva that followed. For me, the Polonez was always the choice for comfort. A good 1500 Riva can be made to hustle, yes, and very satisfyingly (ask me about going to Oulton Park! ) and I've nearly always adhered to the take-whatever-you-can-lay-your-mitts-on school of car-buying which rather explains the fleet, but if I had to choose an eastern-bloc car for regular use, it would actually be the Polonez. A late-ish one, like the blue on under discussion; from just before the introduction of the Caro.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

In the later 1980s someone where I was working bought one of these new, in white, and had a lift home in it a few times.From memory,it had an Autoplas on the hatchback screen.

 

It was without the worst car I have had the misfortune of riding in, definitely not comfortable as someone on here as said. Sorry but I can see no point in sentimentalilty for badly built cars constructed out of substandard materials to outdated designs.

 

Still, each to his own.

 

Hey, a Polonez is interesting if nowt else, it doesn’t have to be a 'good car' to still have some interest value. Theres loads of history and politics in one if you can be arsed to look, theres all the communist philosophical guff, the warmed-over Polski-Fiat heritage, the low-budget efforts to update it over 20 years or however long it was made for, engine deals with Rover and PSA, even the market segment it was aimed at in the uk (now completely extinct), its all interesting stuff I reckon and those alone are great reasons for getting one down off a scrapheap and trailering it 300 miles.

 

GOOD WORK I say.

[eddyramrod]

+1. Mr B, totally!

[RedSparrow]

This thread is full of win!

 

Oh yeah and Ladalout, get some pics up! (also welcome!).

[Barry Cade]

I found a magazine with a road test of the 79 Polonez in it today- gonna crack open a bottle of Tyskie later and give it a damn good looking at.

[Alexg]

[warren t claim]

Does anyone have a scan of the advert comparing the FSO to the Maestro? IIRC it said something about the FSO being the lap of luxury!

[Negative Creep]

Is it true that despite being a hatch the early ones had no way of folding the rear seats down?

[warren t claim]

Is it true that despite being a hatch the early ones had no way of folding the rear seats down?

True!

[Richard]

Does anyone have a scan of the advert comparing the FSO to the Maestro? IIRC it said something about the FSO being the lap of luxury!

 

Wasn't that Lada? They implied that the Maestro was for beating the lap record while the Lada (or maybe FSO) was for travelling in the lap of luxury. Whatever car it was had a quoted top speed of 85mph anyway.

[warren t claim]

Does anyone have a scan of the advert comparing the FSO to the Maestro? IIRC it said something about the FSO being the lap of luxury!

 

Wasn't that Lada? They implied that the Maestro was for beating the lap record while the Lada (or maybe FSO) was for travelling in the lap of luxury. Whatever car it was had a quoted top speed of 85mph anyway.

 

That's the one! I'm sure it was the FSO 1300 though.

[RedSparrow]

Maestro FSO thing on Triggers flickr:

 

 

[eddyramrod]

I'll take the FSO! A 1.3 Maestro is particularly numb, at least the Polski has comedy value.

[Richieg]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your Positive comments,i really do appreciate it!

I just thought i would clarify i few things on here as there was one comment in this post which i felt a little harsh . . .

Now in my defence for rescuing this car . .

As i said in the first post ,i know the Polonez was a bit shite and i know the build quality has a lot to be desired and the carpet was the same type used in really poor housholds that gave you a severe bolt of static electricity every time you vacuum it lol

But i am not at all remotely interested in anything flash or expensive if i am honest as it is not me at all!

I love the underdog as you can see by my pictures of my cars in other posts,there is nothing in there that is worth more than £3k tops and it doesn't bother me in the slightest!

If everyone ignored the humble underdog cars and only concentrated on over priced Ford Escort Rs 2000s and Sierra cosworths(incidently i don't have anything against those cars), the classic car shows would be very boring indeed and i have to say in complete honesty i get more attention in some of the shittest cars i own as it strikes a cord with people when they knew somone with one or when their Grandad owned one or even when they had one and had fond memories of travelling around the country in their cheap ,naff banger . .

 

The point i am trying to make is what Dolly wobbler and a few of the other crew on here made ,which is its good to see the good,the bad and the ugly cars made in years gone by the give every car its place in history and to back up what people said about them whether they were true or not (bit like myth busters lol)

It also gives everyone a variety doesn't it?

Just my two pennies worth

And that is not intended to upset anyone as we all are entitled to our opinions of course

 

cheers

 

Richie

[fotorabia]

Richie..your the underdog hero..all the toffy nosed classic car club gents stick there nose up at us when we tootle past in the Viva...one of these chaps actually ignored me when i told him of the Viva..and was more incensed that i should buy his A40 for $2500..and photograph it for nowt..however..non enthusiasts so to speak love the Viva..especially young folk..cos they have no idea what it is..keep it up mate..i always thought the Polonezs where an oddity..and considering Britain is so boring [for me] without seeing daily old shite about..u will definitely raise some smiles..

[trigger]

Maestro FSO thing on Triggers flickr:

 

 

You know what, I don't think I've ever read that even though it was me who scanned it and uploaded it! It's pretty funny though!

[Alexg]

You're preaching to the converted Richieg. No justification required mate, you've given us all something to aspire to

[Lankytim]

Thinking about it, I really wouldn't mind a Polonez or preferably a 125p. I seem to remember the 125s had a "5peed" badge on the bootlid (or was that Skodas)

 

I remember ringing up about a 125 saloon a few years ago. It was advertised in the local rag, "125p, E reg saloon, 20k from new, garaged for last 5 years, immaculate, 1 owner e.t.c, e.t.c £60 ONO- will be scrapped if not sold" Naturally I rang up and offered the guy £40- he called me a prat and hung up on me! A month or so later I saw an E reg saloon under a pile of cars in the local breakers, 20k on the clock and absolutely immaculate! I can't help but assume it was the same one, as they were rare even then. If only i'd just stumped up the frigging £60!

[Mash]

An excellent save, it looks to be scrubbing up well. I definitely think someone should save stuff like this and I echo the sentiments that we should be able to find out for ourselves rather than just go on heresy.

 

I still can't believe it's got discs all round

[Barry Cade]

 

I still can't believe it's got discs all round

 

The rear calipers off a Polonez are the envy of X1/9 owners, they fit straight on and have bigger pistons.. They also sieze if if its mildly moist.

 

I used to have a stock of FSO 1300 rev counters, they were tiny square things, and I'd nick em all out the scrappies and fit them to whatever car I had at the time. I remember the 1300 I had, had the bounciest seats ever- more than a couple of humps in the road you'd be seasick and cranially battered- at least it had wipe clean vynil. Jeez, this is taking me back- I wonder what my old work did with all the old FSO's.. there were 5 or 6 Polonez lying around that had been traded in for Caro's, one I remember had less than 10,000 miles, and was a Prima, with the Weller wheels.Anyone up near Alness?? Scrappy-doos, scrappies also had quite a few of them but this would be 12- 15 years ago..

 

There was an Alvis TD21 and a 60's Alfa Giulietta lying in the yard too.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I wonder what my old work did with all the old FSO's.. there were 5 or 6 Polonez lying around that had been traded in for Caro's, one I remember had less than 10,000 miles, and was a Prima, with the Weller wheels.Anyone up near Alness?? Scrappy-doos, scrappies also had quite a few of them but this would be 12- 15 years ago..

 

There was an Alvis TD21 and a 60's Alfa Giulietta lying in the yard too.

 

All gone.

[Andrew353w]

Cambridge... not too far from Barnet and I used to have a FSO 125p, so I've had experience of them! Bloody excellent save, mate! Do you want a brochure of one of these to look at? I've a 1989 set of them! Yours looks like a Polonez 1500 SCE, which was the base model (yes, I know, they were all pretty basic!) without front fog lamps and it should have vinyl seating. It'll run on unleaded without any adjustment and has electronic ignition (all mod cons for the late 80's!) Please keep us all informed and if you need some specific tools, do bear me in mind, as I've a timing tool & the spanner to undo the front main bearing for the cam belt change somewhere!

[Vinylseats]

I remember ringing up about a 125 saloon a few years ago. It was advertised in the local rag, "125p, E reg saloon, 20k from new, garaged for last 5 years, immaculate, 1 owner e.t.c, e.t.c £60 ONO- will be scrapped if not sold" Naturally I rang up and offered the guy £40- he called me a prat and hung up on me! A month or so later I saw an E reg saloon under a pile of cars in the local breakers, 20k on the clock and absolutely immaculate! I can't help but assume it was the same one, as they were rare even then. If only i'd just stumped up the frigging £60!

 

That story has just made me almost cry.

[Wilko220]

...even the market segment it was aimed at in the uk (now completely extinct), its all interesting stuff...

 

Who exactly were they aimed at? And why would you say that market segment is different to the one for today's budget brands?

 

BTW, this is SO much more interesting than reading about overpriced Escorts...

[AXrescuer]

_

Ps i am in the pic with the duffle coat

 

 

PEDANT:

 

Duffle Coat:

 

 

Parka:

 

 

Nah, that's a poncy short Parka. A pukka Parka looked more like this:

 

[AXrescuer]

I need a brochure myself actually . . think i will look on Ebay in a bit!

 

There seems to be quite a few for sale! I'd completely forgotten about the 125p ESTATE!

 

 

125p? Was that how much it cost?

 

Seriously though, I'm following this with much interest as I have a brother who almost bought a new one of these.

[Negative Creep]

...even the market segment it was aimed at in the uk (now completely extinct), its all interesting stuff...

 

Who exactly were they aimed at? And why would you say that market segment is different to the one for today's budget brands?

 

BTW, this is SO much more interesting than reading about overpriced Escorts...

 

 

 

Do we really have a new budget market now? People won't buy a cheap brand, they'll get an Audi A3 1.4 in silver on some outrageous HPI scheme

[dollywobbler]

People do buy cheap brands - or Kia would have gone bankrupt long ago.

 

But second hand cars are now so much better that there's no need to buy a shit new car. Buy a shit old one instead! It's our ethos after all.

[Richieg]

Hi Andrew,

I would love a brochure for the Polonez if one is available?

If you PM me i will sort you some dollor out for that etc etc

cheers Mate

 

Sorry i seemed to have put the wrong name on here of my coat,i always thought it was a duffle coat,i stand corrected lol

 

 

cheers

 

Richie

[Angrydicky]

10 pages of pure WIN right here! Very Impressed