RE: SOTW: Fiat X1/9

[ChrisJ.]

Here's a 2.0 twin cam Abarth replica.

[marc2]

Just bought the very model from a table top sale... I'm 44 now but bought it because I had one as a kid, haven't played with this one as much as I did the last unfortunately

sinbaddio said:

I fell for these when I was 6 and saw one on holiday in Elterwater, Cumbria. I bought a lime green dinky, and was found a week later with it upside down in the vice in my dad's shed hack-sawing the targa roof off. It was never quite the same after that!

[gforceg]

ChrisJ. said:

Here's a 2.0 twin cam Abarth replica.

That looks great. Which show was that at please?

[BazMV6]

ArmaghMan said:

So you toured France while the world cup was in Spain?

Yes indeed. It wasn't a football tour! But England did beat France during the group stages. The locals used to take great pleasure in beating us on the rods (table football). And of course, the French team also took their revenge during the knockout stages...

But we're straying off topic. Nice car, fond memories, but wouldn't have one today (bit my my old MG).

[tomoleeds]

good shed choice not seen one in the flesh for a long time,i know they used to rust away,one thing though, i thought the body colour went right to the bottom, not black on the bottom, does anybody know ?

[bimsb6]

D

tomoleeds said:

good shed choice not seen one in the flesh for a long time,i know they used to rust away,one thing though, i thought the body colour went right to the bottom, not black on the bottom, does anybody know ?

They did some 2 tone ones but i thought it was the later bertone badged ones ,could be wrong though .

[mobile chicane22]

I had one it was a complete hound never again

[VictorMeldrew]

carinaman said:

LJKS had one with a 2 litre engine in it when he lived in the states.

I'm not sure about the TR7 comparisons when the X1/9 came first and was based on the Autobianchi Bertone Runabout concept car. I don't think I knew it was called that until today. It has the Stratos front wheel covers extending into the bonnet.

Bugger, beaten to it.

I actually had a Bertone Runabout Barchetta, in yellow, and it was my favourite car after my orange Miura. And my orange Mercedes C111. And my Iso Grifo 7 litre. OK, so it was among my favourite cars!

Guess which toy manufacturer was recipient of my pocket money savings as a youngster!

[jonno990]

Crying out for a bike engine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7YGVEMlHPs&fea...

[GTRene]

VladD said:

There was a kit car based on the X1/9 as well, called the Amalfi Passero. I don't think it every made production though. No prizes for guessing what it was trying to look like.

seen a lot, but never seen this lovely/funny to see, a mini me Lambo

[sonofbarefoot]

My mum getting in my dad's 1977 X19 one of the 1st original 1300's sold in Lancashire by Knibbs main Fiat Manchester dealer in the 70's. After it's 1st service he took it to the South of France it took lots of loose baggage in the front boot and had 2 custom fitted bags matching the seat cloth for the rear boot. It never missed a beat only ever problem he had with the car was a bad engine earth that stopped it starting once. Not very quick but handled fantastic at the time Autocar or motor ran a long term same coloured car and loved it saying it was a mini Ferrari! ....(so my dad tells me)

[GTRene]

jonno990 said:

Crying out for a bike engine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7YGVEMlHPs&fea...

wow sliding all over the place but seems to have a brilliant balance and very fast.

[JonRB]

GTRene said:

jonno990 said:

Crying out for a bike engine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7YGVEMlHPs&fea...

wow sliding all over the place but seems to have a brilliant balance and very fast.

Looks great fun, although those cones got tedious very quickly and I eventually clicked away.

[HeatonNorris]

MichelV said:

Let us see that again.

Top little car. I would upgrade the engine an gearbox. I have a spare MX5 engine and gearbox perhaps it would fit?

No, it wouldn't.

MX5 engine is longitudinal, X1/9 is transverse.

[jimbro1000]

JonRB said:

Looks great fun, although those cones got tedious very quickly and I eventually clicked away.

Yet another Dallara.... friend of mine has one with an Alfa touring car engine in the back - beautifully put together and very, very quick on the Italian hill climbs - used to make a regular appearance at the Brighton speed trials too. Makes mine look positively shoddy.

[r4_rick]

I've got form on one of these, persuaded the wife (ex) to sell her nearly new fiesta for one, many years ago, the wording of the advert may have had something to do with it...baby ferrari, sad i admit, anyway it made a whole lot of sense to me ! nearly put it in a ditch on our first drive out....my poor driving rather than the car's handling ! about 4 months after purchase the rust started (again, no doubt), interestering story about the respray ended up getting it half price due to the bodyshop saying it'll be ready next week,week after week, eventually the owner said to me " if it;s not ready next week we won't charge you" sure enough it wasn't...

Loved many aspects of it though, styling, interior, engine note.

Buyers beware of the tinworm !

[Edmundo2]

Always liked these.

A few tweaks and could be great. Just look at this one - add a spoiler, re jet the carbs, wing of bat, £50k, ta da!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7YGVEMlHPs

[AA355]

I actually rolled one of these and lived to tell the tale. I was showing off with my mate about how well it handled when I spun and hit a curb which flipped it on its roof. We climbed out through the space which was the front screen. The fireman who came to the incident said when he heard it was one of these he thought we would be dead.... I loved that car and still have fond memories. I hate to admit it but when I looked back at the crumpled heap which I had just smashed up I cried a little as I was so frustrated at myself !!

[jimbro1000]

Edmundo2 said:

Always liked these.

A few tweaks and could be great. Just look at this one - add a spoiler, re jet the carbs, wing of bat, £50k, ta da!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7YGVEMlHPs

Think someone beat you too it - just read up the thread a little. Bit more than a re-jet though. Wheelbase is about 80mm longer thanks to complete custom rear end. Spaceframe front and rear. You can pick one up for about €50k though - just look up Dallara Icsunonove in the race car classifieds.

Got my own right here just need to put it all back together again (once I find a replacement engine and gearbox - yes I am going to bh about it over and over).

[itsrodders]

This is a brill shed; bravissimmo!

I have experienced a breathed-on 16v Thema turbo lump in one of these, a de-bumpered, matte-black'd late model. Most mindnumbingly poo-pants passenger experience ever, although I expect a ride in Jimbro's mean machine or that insane-looking V6 would soon change that...

DId I mention what a *great* shed this is?