1991 FSO Polonez Caro 1.6L 5MT (77 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Soon after the fall of the communist regime in Poland, FSO became creative, trying to survive on the grueling automotive market of the early ‘90s with a car that was originally conceived in the ‘60s and slightly updated in the ‘80s.

That job wasn’t easy for the Polish engineers. They knew that the vehicle’s platform was obsolete and that its main asset was the low price, but still, they needed to buy some time and save the factory from an imminent collapse, like other factories from the Eastern-European block. Their luck was that the vehicle’s design was still adequate for the market and that they could introduce some upgrades to the old Polonez. As a result, they started by modifying the exterior, and it continued with the interior and the drivetrain. Even if the result was not a new car, it was something that could keep the assembly lines running.

At the front, the Polonez Caro featured horizontal headlights that replaced the previously used twin-round ones. Their inner sides were sloped down, creating a modern look for the vehicle. As a result, the black grille had to be redesigned into a reversed trapezoidal one from the rectangular-shaped one as before. To cut production costs, the bumper was kept black and unpainted. Another change was for the hood, which was slightly curved down towards the grille.

From its profile, the 1991 Polonez Caro showed a few significant improvements, such as the black door handles and mirrors that matched the rubber stripe that crossed the car from front to back. The car also featured the upgraded bodywork stylings from the late ‘80s, such as the third side window incorporated into the C-pillars and the extended tailgate to the bumper’s level at the back. Last but not least, the automaker started to offer 15- or 16-inch light alloy wheels for the Caro, especially for those exported to the Netherlands, the UK, and Western Europe.

Inside, the Polish engineers made a better cabin for the Polonez Caro. They started by redesigning the dashboard and re-arranging the layout inside the instrument cluster. The speedometer and tachometer were placed in the middle section of the instrument panel, while other gauges for the coolant temperature, fuel level, and tachometer flanked them. Customers were greeted by bucket seats at the front and a bench seat in the back that could fold down completely. In the back, there was enough room for three adults, while the trunk was decent for the Caro’s segment.

Under the hood, FSO tried to install a various range of engines. One of the most significant upgrades in that department was the 1.9-liter diesel engine supplied by Peugeot-Citroen. Since the automaker needed new engines, Ford made an offer to FSO and installed Ford Sierra engines on the Polish vehicle. But still, the old platform couldn’t hide its age, and the leaf-spring-supported rear live axle was clearly outdated.