Tom Hanks takes his Polish Fiat for a spin
PR dla Zagranicy
Victoria Bieniek
01.12.2017 13:04
Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Tom Hanks has driven his vintage Polish Fiat 126p, which he was recently gifted by a community in the southern Polish town of Bielsko Biała.
A 1973 model Fiat 126p. Photo: P-szat/Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
Hanks, who picked up the car at the Polish consulate in Los Angeles, said the car was a bit of a squeeze, and that he understood its significance to Poles in the communist era.
Also known as a kaszlak (cougher) or maluch (toddler) in Poland for the characteristic sound of its engine and its super-compact size, it was commonly seen on Poland's roads in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s.
Hank's car, while dating back some 40 years, has a brand new engine and leather upholstery.
The fundraiser to buy and renovate the 1970s model car, initiated by Monika Jaskólska, also saw money donated to a paediatric hospital in Bielsko Biała. (vb/pk)