RE: SOTW: Fiat X1/9
Discussion
Silver Smudger said:
Ferg said:
Not sure the Fiat was particularly innovative... 
I could be wrong, but I think it was the first time a manufacturer used a FWD engine & box to make a very well packaged, affordable, driveable, mi-engined sports car, am not aware of anyone else doing this before, but the MR2, MGF, and others - even the Lotus Elise - followed. Please - More stories of rust and Italian electrics before I buy this one - My resolve if weakening, and the rose-tinted glasses are firmly in place - I had 2 and really don't need a third ....
The first mid-engined road car was the Bonnet Djet, later Matra. That used a Renualt engine.
Still the X1/9 was the first produced in large number.
I reckon a well-preserved X1/9 would actually make a reliable everyday car now! It's small and agile, cheap on fuel, tyres, parts and insurance, it's practical, easy to park, not horrendously difficult or expensive to maintain and it's a fun, stylish drive into the bargain. Get yourself a well-maintained (and non-rusty) example, upgrade it with electronic ignition and an electric fuel pump, do a thorough Waxoyl job on the whole car and run to the X1/9 Owners Club for help and advice when my theory falls flat on its face!
In all seriousness though, the rise of owners' clubs with their pooled knowledge and resources allied to the massive increase in recent years of cottage industries supporting classic cars (check out the Monte Hospital, for one) makes it a far more realistic proposition to run a classic car all year round.
Back in the late 70's/early 80's, we really only had the actual dealers (in this case Fiat, obviously) to help and, 20-30 years on, we've learned with hindsight all about the latent rust and reliablility problems associated with various cars and models. Back then, there just wasn't the wealth of help and advice around. Now it's different.
My daily driver is a '93 Alfa 164 24V Cloverleaf with 175,000 miles on the clock. Not exactly what you'd call a classic but, at 20 years old next year, it's not exactly your typical day-to-day car either. Having said that, it's pretty reliable even if I do occasionally need the services of a specialist for parts that Alfa themselves no longer stock. However, as already stated, specialists exist everywhere now for this and so many other older cars - and that's a very good thing. Here's hoping our current 'austerity era' won't see too many of these specialists fall by the wayside. They're there because we need them!
In all seriousness though, the rise of owners' clubs with their pooled knowledge and resources allied to the massive increase in recent years of cottage industries supporting classic cars (check out the Monte Hospital, for one) makes it a far more realistic proposition to run a classic car all year round.
Back in the late 70's/early 80's, we really only had the actual dealers (in this case Fiat, obviously) to help and, 20-30 years on, we've learned with hindsight all about the latent rust and reliablility problems associated with various cars and models. Back then, there just wasn't the wealth of help and advice around. Now it's different.
My daily driver is a '93 Alfa 164 24V Cloverleaf with 175,000 miles on the clock. Not exactly what you'd call a classic but, at 20 years old next year, it's not exactly your typical day-to-day car either. Having said that, it's pretty reliable even if I do occasionally need the services of a specialist for parts that Alfa themselves no longer stock. However, as already stated, specialists exist everywhere now for this and so many other older cars - and that's a very good thing. Here's hoping our current 'austerity era' won't see too many of these specialists fall by the wayside. They're there because we need them!
That was my mum's car, we sold it in 2004 after she'd had it 11 years and it had with 36k miles on it! It was in stunning condition complete with ladder stripes & original Bertone wing badge (No 114). It was one of the earliest official UK cars, used by Fiat UK as a press car and featured in Autocar road test (March 1977.
I had a RHD 1974 import that was converted by Radbourne Racing with a 1600cc with 40 dcnfs.
Still got an immaculate drivers door in primer and two refurb front seats if anyone wants to make a bid!
Mastiff said:
itsrodders said:
Mastiff said:
I LOST one of these once....
Do tell?Back in the late 80's my Father owned a Fiat delership in Dorking, and as I worked for him he gave me an old X19 to run around in.
He was also very involved with the Boxing Scene back then, and we went to see LLoyd Honeyghan fight (I think) Jorge Vaca at Wembley(?).
Because of his connections we started the day at the weigh in at the Royal Garden Hotel @ 11.00am in the morning. I drove up.
Things from then on got rather a tad messy. The next thing I remember is waking up in a hotel in Paddington, with a girl I've NEVER seen before or since, with my father knocking on the door and saying "Come on son, we're out of here".
When we hit the pavement he turned to me and said "Right, where's the car?"
I just looked at him blankly.
We looked everywhere, the hotel, Wembley - back at the Royal Garden - everywhere. I remember that they had not long introduced radio cabs in black taxis, and we had the guy radio all the other black cabs to see if anyone could locate it.
We never found it.
In a flash of reason I remembered the number plate not too long ago, and hpi'd the car to see if it still existed - but nothing came up. Could be wrong the registration I suppose, it was a long time ago!
He still reminds me of it occasionally.
KDIcarmad said:
The first mid-engined road car was the Bonnet Djet, later Matra. That used a Renualt engine.
Still the X1/9 was the first produced in large number.
More than 350,000 0f these Pontiacs were built between about 1984 and 1988. V6 was the one to have, and preferably a GT.Still the X1/9 was the first produced in large number.
The Fiat X1/9 was in production for longer - about 1972 to 1988 - but I don't know how many were made.
jimbro1000 said:
The cars left now are generally pretty rust free - simply a matter of survival of the fittest.
That's just not true. Every unrestored X has rust. Many well restored ones still have rust. And corrosion in the triple skinned areas are just waiting to show up. Having an X parked out on the street is A Bad Idea.Anyone wanting an X simply MUST join the owners' club and/or get along to a get-together for an introduction on where to look, and how seriously to react the rust that you do find.
I've had two Xs, and still have a soft spot for them. Especially once the 1500's ugliness has been removed.
5705 said:
That's just not true. Every unrestored X has rust. Many well restored ones still have rust. And corrosion in the triple skinned areas are just waiting to show up. Having an X parked out on the street is A Bad Idea.
Anyone wanting an X simply MUST join the owners' club and/or get along to a get-together for an introduction on where to look, and how seriously to react the rust that you do find.
I've had two Xs, and still have a soft spot for them. Especially once the 1500's ugliness has been removed.
I was technical advisor to the X1/9 owners club for years, as well as secretary for a while - I think I know more than a thing or two about them...Anyone wanting an X simply MUST join the owners' club and/or get along to a get-together for an introduction on where to look, and how seriously to react the rust that you do find.
I've had two Xs, and still have a soft spot for them. Especially once the 1500's ugliness has been removed.
Never said that any car left was going to be rust free - just free of most of the horrendously bad rust that plagued the ones that have already rotted away. The triple skin suspension turrets at the rear are a problem area and it is without doubt one of the biggest headaches to get repaired but of all the cars I've owned or even examined I've yet to see one that was actually all that bad in that area. It was normally the nose and rollover hoop that were really bad, next on the list is the sills. Everything else tends to be fairly cosmetic in terms of repairs. All that said I would much rather have the plastic bodywork of my racecar - everything is so much more accessible and of course I don't have to worry about it.
UnderTheRadar said:
One thing about the original engine - it does balance nicely. In Norfolk I drove over a hump-back bridge on a deserted road hoping to get a bit of air and got a mild hop. Rubbish. On the return journey I gave it some more beans and was surpised to find the ground several feet below me. (not exaggeration
) There was a horrendous crash as it landed but completely horizontal and the break-away rear view mirror broke away and landed on my girlfriend. (who fortunately laughed) The whole underside was scraped, mostly the lower wishbone mounts at the rear and the cover over the pipes to the radiator. Note to self: in future check bridges are not asymmetrical with one side a lot steeper than the other.
What a great shed of the week. Never driven an X1/9 but reading the comments makes me feel like I missed out on something. Just checked the classifieds here in Switzerland. Mmmm....one (no runner) for sale at £5000. Sometimes I really miss the UK.) There was a horrendous crash as it landed but completely horizontal and the break-away rear view mirror broke away and landed on my girlfriend. (who fortunately laughed) The whole underside was scraped, mostly the lower wishbone mounts at the rear and the cover over the pipes to the radiator. Note to self: in future check bridges are not asymmetrical with one side a lot steeper than the other. Edited by UnderTheRadar on Monday 21st May 01:53
With respect to the post above....perhaps note to self should be, don't try to get air on a hump-backed bridge? Seriously, not sure it is a good idea. Many years back was looking for an Integrale and was admiring a customer's car at specialist John Whalley. Was a really nice example. A few weeks later I went back and said Integrale was about 2 foot shorter...apparently owner had lent it to a friend who decided to "jump" a bridge. He also got lots of air. Unfortunately, being a hump-backed bridge he couldn't see the other side and as he was in the air he noticed there was a truck parked on the left. He tried to brake when he landed, but there wasn't enough space. Fortunately for him, I think he got away without serious injury. The Integrale didn't come off quite so well...
Schnellmann said:
What a great shed of the week. Never driven an X1/9 but reading the comments makes me feel like I missed out on something. Just checked the classifieds here in Switzerland. Mmmm....one (no runner) for sale at £5000. Sometimes I really miss the UK.
With respect to the post above....perhaps note to self should be, don't try to get air on a hump-backed bridge? Seriously, not sure it is a good idea. Many years back was looking for an Integrale and was admiring a customer's car at specialist John Whalley. Was a really nice example. A few weeks later I went back and said Integrale was about 2 foot shorter...apparently owner had lent it to a friend who decided to "jump" a bridge. He also got lots of air. Unfortunately, being a hump-backed bridge he couldn't see the other side and as he was in the air he noticed there was a truck parked on the left. He tried to brake when he landed, but there wasn't enough space. Fortunately for him, I think he got away without serious injury. The Integrale didn't come off quite so well...
An HF Delta Integrale was the car I always wanted but couldn't afford at the time. Oh and I was young and therefore invincible With respect to the post above....perhaps note to self should be, don't try to get air on a hump-backed bridge? Seriously, not sure it is a good idea. Many years back was looking for an Integrale and was admiring a customer's car at specialist John Whalley. Was a really nice example. A few weeks later I went back and said Integrale was about 2 foot shorter...apparently owner had lent it to a friend who decided to "jump" a bridge. He also got lots of air. Unfortunately, being a hump-backed bridge he couldn't see the other side and as he was in the air he noticed there was a truck parked on the left. He tried to brake when he landed, but there wasn't enough space. Fortunately for him, I think he got away without serious injury. The Integrale didn't come off quite so well...
We've a hump-back bridge near me and I've never even thought about jumping it these days, especially as there is a junction the other side A friend of mine had a 131 with the 2.0 TC and he picked his father up from a party who promptly fell asleep across the back seat. (Pre rear seat belt legislation) On the route home was my friend's favorite bridge and he went for it. His squiffy father woke up suddenly rather confused about why he was a couple of feet above the seat followed by a crash and he was thrown into the footwell. He was not amused.
KDIcarmad said:
I have just remember a episode of Mythbuster where they smashed a compact car between to trucks, I think it was a Fiat X1/9. Am I right? If I am what a sad end for an X1/9.
It was indeed an X1/9 (the first time they did it) donated by the owner as he'd given up on it.As for hump-back bridges... because the centre of balance is so far back the nose of the car will not dip as you crest the bridge so it is quite possible to pull a wheelie. Getting air is not hard either but it is never a good idea as most such bridges are on a corner and as I'm sure you've worked out you can't steer when the wheels aren't touching the ground - the result is normally fairly serious for the car if not the occupants.
jimbro1000 said:
As for hump-back bridges... because the centre of balance is so far back the nose of the car will not dip as you crest the bridge so it is quite possible to pull a wheelie. Getting air is not hard either but it is never a good idea as most such bridges are on a corner and as I'm sure you've worked out you can't steer when the wheels aren't touching the ground - the result is normally fairly serious for the car if not the occupants.
A friend of mine has just read this commented on almost doing this is Lotus Europa, he was test driving. The driver's window open without warning on landing. I will add he did not buy the car, as ofter a 308 GT4 Ferrari for less as it was over heating. A new rad later and a few other bit mean it cost more in the end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbgBGQJseIk&fea...
Taken this Sunday just gone at the National X1/9 Owners club event in the Yorkshire Dales. My black tuned 1400 uno turbo X1/9 (bought it when I was 16, 12 years ago), Mark's 1500 (yes the jimmy cls car, not been on the road for 7 years. I have sorted it all mechanically over the past few months), Richard's 2.0 Lancia twin-cam engined X19 and Nick's beast of a 24v Alfa V6 car. All of these cars were built with the input from P1X 2000. www.p1x-2000.co.uk
Taken this Sunday just gone at the National X1/9 Owners club event in the Yorkshire Dales. My black tuned 1400 uno turbo X1/9 (bought it when I was 16, 12 years ago), Mark's 1500 (yes the jimmy cls car, not been on the road for 7 years. I have sorted it all mechanically over the past few months), Richard's 2.0 Lancia twin-cam engined X19 and Nick's beast of a 24v Alfa V6 car. All of these cars were built with the input from P1X 2000. www.p1x-2000.co.uk
Hi all.
Yes loved these cars ! had one whenI was 19 and swore I would have another.
And I did, I bought the car in the add !!!
Absolute bargin, it has been patched up in then past, and done quite well, but over the winter it will be stripped (Nut and Bolt) as it's well worth spending time on.
Got some substancial parts with the car, but didn't want all listed as this is in addition to another owned X1/9, but sold most of the parts on inc that hidious stereo, and lone behold the car has cost me nothing!!.
I paid just £500 for the car in the end, as it was on an auction web site, I was bidding, but lost it, few days later the seller contacted me asking if I was still interested, in the mean time I had purchased another, so offered him £500 and he accepted.
Arranged to meet up on the M4 at Membury ,I drove the car back to the south coast in east sussex without any issues since.
I'm over the moon with it, Cracking liitle car!
Yes loved these cars ! had one whenI was 19 and swore I would have another.
And I did, I bought the car in the add !!!
Absolute bargin, it has been patched up in then past, and done quite well, but over the winter it will be stripped (Nut and Bolt) as it's well worth spending time on.
Got some substancial parts with the car, but didn't want all listed as this is in addition to another owned X1/9, but sold most of the parts on inc that hidious stereo, and lone behold the car has cost me nothing!!.
I paid just £500 for the car in the end, as it was on an auction web site, I was bidding, but lost it, few days later the seller contacted me asking if I was still interested, in the mean time I had purchased another, so offered him £500 and he accepted.
Arranged to meet up on the M4 at Membury ,I drove the car back to the south coast in east sussex without any issues since.
I'm over the moon with it, Cracking liitle car!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff