Fiat 126p vs. Rolls-Royce on Rodeo Drive


So there is some crazy Polish guy, also named Kamil, specifically Kamil Knapczyk, who decided to travel around the United States. Very cool – if you haven’t taken a cross-country trip, you should do it as soon as possible. That Kamil chose a very atypical vehicle for this trip, however, a classic Polish-made Fiat 126p, also known as Maluch. 
I don’t know what’s up with Polish people and traveling in Maluchs, perhaps you remember the guy who drove his Maluch around Africa, but that’s just nuts. The 126p is a tiny, 650cc 2-cylinder, under-powered, and uncomfortable vehicle. Yes, we look at it now and we think it’s cute and cool. But when I was a kid, in the early 80s, we had live with this thing and it wasn’t that cute. Even a short trip to my aunt’s farm, thirty miles away, was a pain in the ass. It stunk in the winter too, because the tiny air-cooled engine couldn’t warm itself up. 
Anyway, the other Kamil drove through Beverly Hills and managed to find convenient street parking in front a yellow Rolls-Royce. Bijan Pakzad used to park his yellow cars there and whoever runs his company now still parks the yellow Royce there. It even has its own yellow meter, so it’s not just coincidence. Of course tourists  don’t know that it’s a setup and are starstruck the yellowness. But a funny thing happen when Kamil parked his Fiat 126p in front of the Rolls… a popularity war started. 

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9 responses to “Fiat 126p vs. Rolls-Royce on Rodeo Drive”

  1. mdharrell Avatar

    “The 126p is a tiny, 650cc 2-cylinder, under-powered, and uncomfortable vehicle.”
    Intriguing, but I don’t really need another car just now.

    1. Troggy Avatar
      Troggy

      Similar specs to my wife’s ’94 Corolla. hit me up if you’re interested. I’ll throw in the patina for free.

      1. mdharrell Avatar

        Thanks, but despite the fact that I now have a fuel injected Formula SAE car sitting in the middle of my fleet I’m still not comfortable with the idea of moving away from carburetors and manual chokes for everything else.

  2. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Alternative headline: “On one of the richest streets on earth, a poor man’s car becomes an attraction.”?

    1. Kamil K Avatar

      We should hire you.

      1. Sjalabais Avatar
        Sjalabais

        Can’t afford it.

        1. Kamil K Avatar

          I know. 🙁

        2. mdharrell Avatar

          First-class ambiguity. Well done.

  3. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    Driving across the US with 26hp at your disposal. Is Kamil II still with us?