My new arrival - X1/9
Discussion
Ah, thats the perfect answer to something I was wondering:
My sons are 7 and 8. What car would be worth buying now and mothballng for ten years?
Let's assume that things progress as they have for the the last 20 years. Mainstream cars will get duller and duller (safer and easier to drive, but duller). Things I abhor like automatic headlights and windsreen wipers will become standard. If you can't tell it's dark or raining you really should not be driving. The concept of a car being chickable will disappear. Either we'll have super safe little cars or stick like limpet supercars. What would be fun to show them how driving used to be?
I wouldn't want something which was current (like an MX5 or Elise) but something which was fading from memory, so that in 10 years it would be genuinely rare. An X1/9 fits the bill perfectly.
What else would do?
This is just a pipe dream.
Simon
My sons are 7 and 8. What car would be worth buying now and mothballng for ten years?
Let's assume that things progress as they have for the the last 20 years. Mainstream cars will get duller and duller (safer and easier to drive, but duller). Things I abhor like automatic headlights and windsreen wipers will become standard. If you can't tell it's dark or raining you really should not be driving. The concept of a car being chickable will disappear. Either we'll have super safe little cars or stick like limpet supercars. What would be fun to show them how driving used to be?
I wouldn't want something which was current (like an MX5 or Elise) but something which was fading from memory, so that in 10 years it would be genuinely rare. An X1/9 fits the bill perfectly.
What else would do?
This is just a pipe dream.
Simon
It's got the Gran Finale's wheels and is the right age for one, but didn't those have a very small spolier on the bootlid?
*Huge* fan of the X1/9. Always have been. Probably still have the original showroom brochure at home somewhere. Just need the car to match it.
Would love to find an early spilt-rear bumper (i.e. pre-US market) one in good condition. Does such a thing exist any more?...
>> Edited by dxg999 on Tuesday 16th November 13:22
*Huge* fan of the X1/9. Always have been. Probably still have the original showroom brochure at home somewhere. Just need the car to match it.
Would love to find an early spilt-rear bumper (i.e. pre-US market) one in good condition. Does such a thing exist any more?...
>> Edited by dxg999 on Tuesday 16th November 13:22
It is a gran finale - no sign of the boot spoiler though, cant say I mind though as I think it looks cleaner without it.
The interior has cleaned up nicely and a bit of tweaking has the engine running great. Ive done some other miscellaneous repairs and rustproofed the car. Hopefully she will go through the MOT no problems!
Hardest task so far is finding somewhere to make up paint for it.
The interior has cleaned up nicely and a bit of tweaking has the engine running great. Ive done some other miscellaneous repairs and rustproofed the car. Hopefully she will go through the MOT no problems!
Hardest task so far is finding somewhere to make up paint for it.
My dad had one. Fantastic, he had sorted the brakes though (new hoses, tarox grooved discs, dot 5+ brake fluid). Sheer delight to drive, stuck light s**t to a blanket. Bright red respray from the ground up lasted more than ten years. Sadly it was involved in an accident.
I had an MR2 mark 1 but it was nowhere near as good.
I had an MR2 mark 1 but it was nowhere near as good.
Congratulations!!
I really loved mine - my first rear wheel drive car and 'proper' sports car... I remember the shock of tail-out action
Mine handled brilliantly - in my mind as well as an Elise. It also had amazingly comfortable seats - remember driving to Amsterdam and got out at the end without any back ache at all.
And the targa roof is fantastic.
Pity mine rusted away - but it was a good deal older than yours.
I do remember though that mine tended to overheat quite a bit, meaning you needed to keep the heating on to supplement the radiator. A sauna and sports car in one !!! ;-)
There is a pretty enthusiastic club if I remember - and I used to use a really good specialist out near Cambridge. I'll find the details if you are interested....
I really loved mine - my first rear wheel drive car and 'proper' sports car... I remember the shock of tail-out action
Mine handled brilliantly - in my mind as well as an Elise. It also had amazingly comfortable seats - remember driving to Amsterdam and got out at the end without any back ache at all.
And the targa roof is fantastic.
Pity mine rusted away - but it was a good deal older than yours.
I do remember though that mine tended to overheat quite a bit, meaning you needed to keep the heating on to supplement the radiator. A sauna and sports car in one !!! ;-)
There is a pretty enthusiastic club if I remember - and I used to use a really good specialist out near Cambridge. I'll find the details if you are interested....
Good to see fellow X1/9 owners popping up here! - I own two myself, a pretty rapid SE twin-carb (with the high spec engine built by that specialist in Cambrige many moons ago and still running strong), and a standard two tone VS model....
Anyway said specialist was Eurosport, but they folded so I wouldn't bother getting the details!
Their stock was bought out by Mark of CASCU and his website is (incidentally enough) www.eurosport-uk.co.uk/
Cheers,
Jim.
>> Edited by jimx19 on Monday 6th December 23:56
Anyway said specialist was Eurosport, but they folded so I wouldn't bother getting the details!
Their stock was bought out by Mark of CASCU and his website is (incidentally enough) www.eurosport-uk.co.uk/ Cheers,
Jim.
>> Edited by jimx19 on Monday 6th December 23:56
Since this ive been doing odds and sods of work (including muchos rustproofing!) to it so its much happier, but i want my volumex back on the road more than I want an x and the way to do that is to sell this, so its going to go. Ill be moting it then sending it on its way.
I am a slut of the automotive world
toy with it for a couple of minutes then on my way to something new.
I am a slut of the automotive world
toy with it for a couple of minutes then on my way to something new.Chris, I notice in one of those photos you have a mitsubishi TE magna (the brown looking car) - is it yours? And how did it get to the UK? or is it a japanese built diamante? I know the magna was built in Australia and sold to the US as a diamante, but if it is an Aussie magna, did they export to the UK as well?
I like the fiat by the by. Interior looks like you could dust it, but otherwise, nice catch. Over here (australia) people would never consider chucking a car in that nick. No, sadly anybody over here would probably trade it in for a commodore of similiar vintage, because their 'fully sick'.
Ah, the differences in motoring cultures...
I like the fiat by the by. Interior looks like you could dust it, but otherwise, nice catch. Over here (australia) people would never consider chucking a car in that nick. No, sadly anybody over here would probably trade it in for a commodore of similiar vintage, because their 'fully sick'.
Ah, the differences in motoring cultures...
The brown car isnt mine.
The interior did tidy up nicely, its actually really good apart from the centre cloth of the seats which is in contrast, completely knackered
- although the foam is fine.
Itll probably be on ebay soon due to my aforementioned volumex. If you fancy saving me the trouble make me an offer.
The interior did tidy up nicely, its actually really good apart from the centre cloth of the seats which is in contrast, completely knackered
- although the foam is fine. Itll probably be on ebay soon due to my aforementioned volumex. If you fancy saving me the trouble make me an offer.
I'm going to get myself one as a first car. I want to spend £1k-ish, but I'll get the most rust-free one I can find, rustproof, waxoyl and underseal it. I fancy dropping an Uno Turbo engine, transmission and brakes in too, and if it's not got leather seats, I'll put some it too.
Strikes me as a good idea - Eurobox parts, great driving experience, tough mechanicals, cheap insurance, everyday driving ability, more boot space than a Smart and runs rings round Hot Hatches.
Strikes me as a good idea - Eurobox parts, great driving experience, tough mechanicals, cheap insurance, everyday driving ability, more boot space than a Smart and runs rings round Hot Hatches.
Cor! In preparation for the mot on friday I decided it would be a good thing to remove the rust of the brakes. Put some more petrol in, hooked up the battery and turned the key and vroom. Lights and everything still works after almost 2 months of sitting. Took it on a little trip down deserted (except for abandoned fridges) back lane and wow. 
Now if i could just persuade myself that the slight whining was a turbo spooling and not knackered gearbox bearings id be onto a winner
Now if i could just persuade myself that the slight whining was a turbo spooling and not knackered gearbox bearings id be onto a winner
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