1982 Talbot Samba Cabriolet 1.1 petrol from Israel
Summary:
A cheap and rare Peugeot
Faults:
Overheating (radiator replaced).
Fuel indicator didn't work (rheostat replaced).
Rust spots all over the body inside the vehicle (anti-rust stuff solved it out).
Front axles needed to be replaced.
Engine carriers needed strengthening.
The water system leaked all over resulting in replacement of the pipes.
The water pump just crumbled and needed to be replaced.
Clutch needed to be replaced.
The exhaust needed strengthening.
Many other small problems.
General Comments:
This car has a lot of problems. If you're a good mechanic, or if you have plenty of time to learn how to fix it, you can get a lot of fun from it. All the parts are very easy to find here in Israel - this car is exactly a Peugeot 104!
The 1.1 Peugeot engine is very reliable and quick, though very sensitive to overheating. The 5 gear transmission is an excellent choice for this engine allowing good acceleration on high rpm's and cruising on highways on 90-110 km/h.
The chassis (and the design) is somewhat similar to Peugeot 205 Cabrio. This fact gives you a bunch of fun on sharp corners, especially when you ride on those tiny roads on the Golan Heights. It feels very stable on any road, in any weather.
The fuel consumption is low (app. 14 km/l).
The inside of this car is very well planned, supporting the driver with comfort and functionality. Four people can ride in it without a problem, although the back seats are not so comfortable and the space there is limited.
This model had a lot of original gadgets like electric windows, electric doors, wooden steering wheel and gear stick, magnesium wheels etc. that make you feel like you're inside a toy car (when they work). And of course, the confused people on the street looking on you and asking "what the hell is this???" - It's worth everything.
Conclusion:
A cheap and rare Peugeot, fun to drive and not easy to look for.
Ohhhrrr, I miss it so much now!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 6th November, 2003
26th Jun 2009, 15:35
Israel is part desert, however there are still beaches, and where there are beaches there is salt.
22nd Feb 2026, 12:26
The desert and the intense sun of hot days can also cause rust on a car's sheet metal. Not just humidity, sea salt, or rain.
As for the Samba, I thought it was the most beautiful Talbot of all, at least from the period after the brand was taken over by Peugeot. It was even popular in rallies.
27th Feb 2026, 13:07
A friend had a 82 or a 83 model in the late 80ies. 3 door with low mileage that he bought from an old lady. Mechanically bulletproof, did nothing to it besides brakes and oil changes. He bought it being only 5-6 years old, it still had a lot of rust. Fixed the worst and did a crude repaint, but it was hopeless. Circa 92 it was literally falling apart due to rust. We used in a demolition derby race, pulled the engine and transmission from it that was later sold, rest of the car was scrapped. So rust definitely killed most of these.
19th May 2006, 11:22
A car with rust in Israel?? Isn't that pretty much the desert?