RE: SOTW: Fiat X1/9

[griffter]

Twincam16 said:

Although the handling of the X1/9 is almost in the Elise league, it's not quite as satisfying to drive - main culprit is the awful gearchange.

The rod change on the X1/9 is better than the cable change on the Elise IMHO.

[Crow555]

My brother is restoring one of these (along with a TR7) which originally belong to our uncle. It's rusted stupid but plenty of welding is sorting that out. The underside has been waxoyl'd but that's about as far it's got. It's an '87 bertone model in black, really lovely looking car.

I remember seeing a guy in a green one lose it on a roundabout on his own in the dry. He looked like he was going to crap himself.

[jaylott]

Brings back great memories, had one when I was at college many years ago. 1300 was the best, no rubber bumpers, lower engine cover etc. If anyone knows of a Metallic Orange minter I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one again.

[griffter]

Twincam16 said:

Sounds identical to mine - wasn't B44KRY was it? If so you'll be happy to know it's still going strong (albeit not in my hands).

A476STU - I sold the reg - and got A582DCU as a replacement.
There were only something like 14 orange/black (with the low-level two-tone line) VS with the early 4 spoke VS wheels brought to the UK.

Yes the reverse rev counter - fantastic!!!

[griffter]

H22K said:

"That’s a shame really because it was the name given to one of the prettiest cars ever made. "

..I'm sorry what? Obviously this is purely personal opinion, but I would call an old Alfa Spyder "pretty", or even an MGRV8 "pretty" but this...no no no. To many angles that seem to juxtapose..erm..everything.

The 1300's are very pretty. I'm afraid the 1500s with their awful bumpers and higher engine cover are ruined. Abarth wide body versions and the incredible Dallara looked fanstastic.

[stephen300o]

Oli S said:

Just out of interest how difficult would it be to make a late one look like an early one? Can you just pull the plastic off?

I've seen a couple of converted ones online, I think it's a similar swap to those awful plastic bumpered MGB's.

[griffter]

horton said:

I have always loved the looks of the X19 - but now I am getting old I just think about how much I would not like to crash one - surely everyone who crashes one dies?

On the contrary, the sill structure is very strong and the rear bulkhead / targa hoop gives a lot of strength. Up front is effectively an enormous crumple zone. There's a fair one behind too, as long as the engine doesn't encroach.

Much better to crash one of these than a 'traditional' roadster IMHO.

[shouldbworking]

I had a gran finale I saved from a scrappy for £150. Another £150 saw it motd and relatively tidy - barely any rust, only present where stonechips hadnt been treated, sills were mint.

Little detail though, if youre 6ft or over, forget it. Steering wheel was firmly wedged into me knees

[golfdub]

used to have one yrs ago but with a tuned 130abarth engine on 45's.....stupidly fast
golfdub

[CAD Monkey]

A friend of mine had one of these with a hideous Eurosport body kit, refused to call it a Fiat becaiase all the body badges said Bertone, so thats what it was!

[uriel]

Does anyone know what happned to Jimbro1000 who used to post here?

He used had a Dallara that he used to race in some UK Italian race series. He had a blog which detailed the build, testing and racing of the car and its Uno Turbo conversion. It was pretty grim reading the amount of troubles he had and the money he sunk into the car, but it was a fabulous looking thing.

[silver st2]

Had a 1988 SE Edition in Mica Red with blue alcantara interior with a Fiat Uno Turbo Engine conversion - great fun car, shame the factory never made this version, remember dodgy electric windows, the heater switch burst covering my feet with coolant, trying to sort out the over heating problems with new rad, waterpump and eventually resleeving the pipes from Rad to engine.....

[H22K]

Twincam16 said:

H22K said:

"That’s a shame really because it was the name given to one of the prettiest cars ever made. "

..I'm sorry what? Obviously this is purely personal opinion, but I would call an old Alfa Spyder "pretty", or even an MGRV8 "pretty" but this...no no no. To many angles that seem to juxtapose..erm..everything.

I find sometimes that sharp, simple lines and angles can be as pretty as curves. '70s Lamborghinis and the Lancia Stratos are similar. It was a time when Italy was celebrating the success of its chemical industry and embracing all that was man-made, so its car industry went for shapes and colours that couldn't possibly have come from nature. Luigi Colani was another exponant of this style.

Similarly, ill-judged curves can look gloopy and fat.

agree 100% with everything you said.

Just in this instance, I don't think it's at all pretty. Each to their own, of course! It certainly looks a hoot to drive.

[Orb the Impaler]

infradig said:

Has anyone ever bought a car from a backstreet with a handwritten sign in the window?

My sisters have had a few and they've all been cracking little bargains.

About ten years ago we got a pair of metallic blue Polo "Rangers" for 200 quid each. Only got rid of them about 3 years ago with over 200,000 on the clock each. Then a Volvo 460 GLE on an L plate for 200 quid - still drives perfectly (1.8i). And a Xsara.

Great shed btw - I luuurve X1/9s

[stephen300o]

griffter said:

H22K said:

"That’s a shame really because it was the name given to one of the prettiest cars ever made. "

..I'm sorry what? Obviously this is purely personal opinion, but I would call an old Alfa Spyder "pretty", or even an MGRV8 "pretty" but this...no no no. To many angles that seem to juxtapose..erm..everything.

The 1300's are very pretty. I'm afraid the 1500s with their awful bumpers and higher engine cover are ruined. Abarth wide body versions and the incredible Dallara looked fanstastic.

Dallara,

Abarth,

Home brew racer,


I'll stick with a plain 1500 I think

sorry about the pics every time, I can't help it

[griffter]

shouldbworking said:

Little detail though, if youre 6ft or over, forget it. Steering wheel was firmly wedged into me knees

Agree. At 6ft2 I had to drill new holes in my seat runners to get an inch extra leg room, and fit a 13" Mountney steering wheel to clear my knees. Was worth it though.

[griffter]

CAD Monkey said:

A friend of mine had one of these with a hideous Eurosport body kit, refused to call it a Fiat becaiase all the body badges said Bertone, so thats what it was!

They were built by Bertone (using Fiat Mechanicals) so it's as much a Fiat as an Elise is a Toyota.

Well, that's my argument anyway! Of course they were sold by Fiat dealers

[todd69]

Had one for a summer and loved it, total hoot to drive.

Always wanted a eurosport kit for it with the uno turbo engine.

[mechsympathy]

stephen300o said:

griffter said:

The 1300's are very pretty. I'm afraid the 1500s with their awful bumpers and higher engine cover are ruined. Abarth wide body versions and the incredible Dallara looked fanstastic.

Dallara,

Abarth,

Home brew racer,

I'll stick with a plain 1500 I think

I'm with Griffter. That Abarth is the mutts doodas, and the Dallara is gorgeous.

[RVVUNM]

I had a 1300 Lido in met black with white suade interior, had no end of trouble with the carb, but I look back with a smile about my "baby Ferrari".