Fiat 124 series engine

Designed by Aurelio Lampredi, the Fiat 124 engine first appeared in the all-new Fiat 124 in April 1966. The in-line four-cylinder engine comprised an iron block with an aluminium cylinder-head with pushrod actuated valves. In 1974, with the introduction of the Fiat 131, a toothed belt replaced the chain to drive the camshaft. While originally of an overhead valve design, an overhead cam version was added to the facelifted 131 in 1981. The capacity was initially 1.2 L (1,197 cc) (in the Fiat 124), but eventually ranged between 1.2 and 1.9 L (1,197 and 1,929 cc). There were also three SOHC diesel iterations of 1.4, 1.7, and 1.9 litres. European production of the petrol versions ended with the Fiat 131 in 1984, but later diesel derivatives continued to be built until 1999. It did have a longer life in its twin-cam iteration, which continued in production until 2000. The 1.9 L (1,929 cc) direct-injected diesel version was the first direct-injection diesel to appear in a production passenger car, the Fiat Croma Turbo D i.d.