Back in 2017, Tom Hanks received a beautifully restored Polski Fiat 126p as a gift from his fans in the city of Bielsko-Biala in Poland, after posing next to one for a snapshot. Five years later, the same car was auctioned on Bring A Trailer for a good cause, to benefit Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Campaign. What is astonishing is that this tiny vehicle from the ’70s sold for $83,500, which should be a record for 126s.
This special Polski Fiat 126p was restored by BB OldTimer Garage with the interior done by Carlex Design. It is painted in white and comes with chrome bumpers, 12-inch steel wheels shod in 135/80 Debica Passio whitewall tires, and a “one-of-one” badge on the tailgate communicating its uniqueness.
Inside, we find bespoke green upholstery, aluminum, and wood accents. Other special touches include two pouches on the seatbacks containing tools just in case something breaks down on the way, a bespoke instrument cluster from aluminum with “Bielsko-Biała for Tom Hanks” writing, knobs handcrafted from vintage typewriter keys, and a plaque on the dashboard with a Forrest Gump quote. The famous actor has also signed on the door card.
A 594 cc two-cylinder engine is mounted at the back, producing a mere 23 hp (17 kW / 23 PS) and 39 Nm (29 lb-ft) of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission, but don’t expect it to do any burnouts. According to the listing, the car was last serviced in November 2021 and remains in pristine condition mechanically. The odometer reading is just below 300 miles (483 km), but no one really knows the true mileage of the chassis.
The whole $83,500 from the Polski Fiat 126p auction goes to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Campaign, chaired by Tom Hanks, whose goal is “to raise public awareness, drive research, and lead collaborations with an objective to help empower, support, and honor America’s 5.5 million military caregivers” including “spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured veterans.”
For those who are not familiar with Polski Fiat, it was a Polish automaker producing Fiat models in Poland under the license of the Italian automaker. The 126p, based on the 126, was built between 1973 and 2000. The Tychy factory was bought by Fiat in 1992 and is still active today producing the Fiat 500 and the Lancia Ypsilon.
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Keyword: Tom Hanks’ 1974 Polski Fiat 126p Auctioned For $83,500, All Proceeds Go To Charity