Tofaş Murat 124 History

The Murat 124 rolled off the Bursa assembly line in 1971 as Tofaş's inaugural model — a licence-built Fiat 124 renamed to honour the Murat river in eastern Turkey. It was the first passenger car manufactured domestically in Turkey under a government-backed programme to build an indigenous automotive industry, and 134,867 units were produced before the line was shut down in 1976 to make way for the Murat 131.

Available in sedan, estate (break), and coupé body styles, the Murat 124 gave Turkish buyers access to a modern, reliable family car at a time when imported vehicles were prohibitively expensive. The car's simple mechanicals and Fiat parts commonality made it straightforward to maintain, helping establish Tofaş's reputation as a practical, accessible automaker in the Turkish market.