ixo-Models
Series: Road Cars Classic
CLC116 – FIAT 127
1972 Orange, w/Italian registration plate and ‘I’ on back)
Die Cast
1:43 Scale
Retails for $34.95
Condition: stock as issued
2006 Apr Schedule release, in US May 2006
Discount price is available for regular customers.
FIAT 127 is a supermini automobile produced by famous Italian manufacturer Fiat. In 1972 the car had won prestigious European award – European Car of the Year and quickly become one of the best selling car on the West European market. The car was first introduced in 1971 as a replacement for Fiat 850. The car was in production until 1987. For the first year of production it was available as a two door. In 1972 a three-door hatchback was introduced.
The car has new for Fiat front wheel drive layout (the first FWD Fiat car was model 128). Fiat 127 had proven 903cc overhead valve engine that powered many previous generation of Fiat’s. This model featured unique transverse leaf spring suspension. It has not only completely new look but in fact was very advance car design for its time. It was one of the first of the modern superminis cars.
In 1977 car got a new larger engine and it was restyled. Those car were Series 2. Final series known as Mark 3 appeared in 1982. In 1987 Fiat 127 was replace by the Fiat UNO. As for all Fiat of the 70’s the 127 had a major problems with corrosion, as a result practically none survived in Northern Europe; in dry warm Mediterranean climate many examples survived to the present days.
Under the Fiat license the car was made in Spain. Seat produced it as Seat 127 producing more than 1.5 millinon cars and latter, after redesigning some parts, as Fura Dos. Seat Ibiza Mk.I used some design parts from 127 model. Some design part were used in Brazilian Fiat 147 and Yugoslavian YUGO 45 by Zastava.
Well, it doesn’t looks very impressive but the production number in other hand is saying that it was a really popular car indeed.
ixo- MODELS are made in China by SONIC INTERNATIONAL (TOYS) LIMITED.
Packaging is attractive, a model attached w/a screw to a black plastic display case base w/ the model name printed on it, has a clear acrylic top, display packed in a carton sleeve.
The brand is on a market just for a few years. However, 1/43 scale die cast car models collectors familiar with high quality models that were on a market for several years in the lines of Vitesse Group (Skid, Onyx, many models from Vitesse and 2-Wheels, 1/24 scale motorcycles) were made by the same people that now works at IXO.
You can find numerous models released under the IXO badge that were previously released in Vitesse Group lines. New castings (models) and previously released models of sport and rally cars in new liveries are issued on the regular basis.
The current IXO product list consist of 10 collections: Modern Rally Cars, Classic Rally Cars, Modern LeMans and GT Cars, Classic LeMans and GT Cars, Modern Road Cars, Classic Road Cars, MotorBikes (1/24 Scale), Ferrari Collection and the latest one ixomodels Junior.
As a collector I can say it is a good product indeed. Models are very high quality that is very competitive to Minichamps 1:43 scale models; but the price is much more affordable. It is especially noticeable with sport and rally cars.
It appears that IXO issued their models on the Limited Run basis. You probably know what it means but if you don’t it is simple. Recently it became a common practice with high quality model-makers. Relatively small number of models released on a market at a time. The company will release a new quantity of the same model only when a demand for a model will be strong again. As a result not all models from a company catalogue are available on a market all the time. It means if you want a model get it as soon as you can, otherwise you don’t know when and if the model will be available on a market again. In addition it is very unlikely that the model will be made in the same appearance, color and / or livery probably will be different if the model (tooling) will be run again.
