FSO Polonez

The Polonez, whose name refers to the well-known dance present at all school and academic events across Poland, was first rolled off the assembly line of the FSO (Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych - Passenger Car Factory) in 1978. Nevertheless, its debut in Poland took place already in 1977, when the first seven units, assembled in Italy, arrived in the Polish People's Republic.

One of the features of the Polonez that brought it well-deserved popularity was safety, even if its angular body lines and rather austere design might suggest otherwise. In 1978, the Polonez was the only car produced in the Eastern Bloc countries to pass American crash tests, which proved that the level of passenger safety was high and compliant with standards. In 1994, similar tests were carried out according to European standards – after which it began to be exported worldwide, with the highest sales in China, where over 41,000 units were delivered.

The technical solutions of the car, which the French would call "polonaise," were mostly borrowed from its predecessor, the Polski Fiat 125p. Until the mid-1990s, the Polonez had brakes adapted from its "older brother," which were too weak for its weight, leading to general criticism. So, perhaps the Polonez is not the dream car for parallel parking on a steep incline, but it looks great on a T-shirt – red, the color of orangeade, or green, like freshly painted grass.

The drawing is by Wrocław artist Paweł Grabowski.