Maluch mania

In the 1960s, the demand for cars in Poland exceeded supply many times over, even though the cheapest cars cost a several-year salary of an average citizen. For millions of Poles, owning a car was a dream they were prepared to sacrifice a lot for. When this dream became a little more realistic thanks to the small-engine car licence, the country erupted in Maluch mania. Newspapers and magazines were full of reflections on what a car should be for an ordinary Pole with an average income, and once a specific model had been chosen – a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of the Fiat 126.

Photo 1.

Shortly after the model’s Polish premiere, which took place on 9 November 1972 in Warsaw’s Parade Square, the Fiat 126 became the subject of an issue of the Katowice weekly ‘Perspektywy’.

‘Perspektywy’ cover of 17 November 1972, No. 46 (collections of the Ossolineum Library / Periodicals Department)

Photo 2.

‘Perspektywy’ of 17 November 1972, No. 46, pp. 36–37 (collections of the Ossolineum Library / Periodicals Department)

Photo 3, 4.

Presentation of the Fiat 126 in the ‘Słowo Polskie’.

‘Słowo Polskie’ of 10 November 1972, No. 268, p. 1, 2 (collections of the Ossolineum Library / Periodicals Department)

Photo 5.

The press also reported on the success of the Fiat 126 in the Western European markets.

‘Słowo Polskie’ of 13 May 1973, No. 113, p. 5 (collections of the Ossolineum Library / Periodicals Department)

Photo 6.

At the forefront of the promotion of the Fiat 126 was ‘Express Wieczorny’.

‘Express Wieczorny’ of 10 November 1972, No. 267, p. 1 (collections of the Ossolineum Library / Periodicals Department)

Photo 7.

‘Express Wieczorny’ of 10 November 1972, No. 267, p. 6 (collections of the Ossolineum Library / Periodicals Department)