Fiat X1/9 - bit of a project
Discussion
Bought in a bout of nostalgia, for not much money...
Had one many years ago, and wanted something opentopped for Summer. This one has some ro and patchy paint, but seems well sorted mechanically (except for the auto choke). The MOT will get me through Summer, and I'll see if that's good or bad news then.
Seems strange returning to such a basic car after the intervening years. No servo brakes, no ABS, no power steering, no airbags, etc.
Had one many years ago, and wanted something opentopped for Summer. This one has some ro and patchy paint, but seems well sorted mechanically (except for the auto choke). The MOT will get me through Summer, and I'll see if that's good or bad news then.
Seems strange returning to such a basic car after the intervening years. No servo brakes, no ABS, no power steering, no airbags, etc.
I have never driven an X 1/9, but like the look of them, and mid engined two seaters are a good idea in general. I hope that you have an enjoyable summer with the car. Old cars lack the conveniences of modern ones, but the need to interact with the machine as you drive it makes driving enjoyable. I assume that you have breakdown cover, as with a classic car it is not a question of if but when, but that is all part of the fun.
There is a decent looking one of these for sale on carandclassic at present, for a modest amount, but I have too many cars and not enough money, so had better say no.
There is a decent looking one of these for sale on carandclassic at present, for a modest amount, but I have too many cars and not enough money, so had better say no.
Edited by Breadvan73 on Sunday 20th February 07:21
Yes thes were great cars. I had 3 altogether. I got the last one with delivery miles on but for pocket money as it literally had fallen off the back of a lorry! The transporter driver dropped the customers car that was a special order!!
A few weekends with T-cut, MIG welder and half a car from a scrappy had me in a good as new X1/9 for about £1500 in 1988. I was quite naughty as I sold the car for about £4K - maybe more, without revealing the history but the guy who bought it never found out either. He had it for about 15 years before rust got the better of it - in the front, not where I'd done the repair!!
I loved the front stowage of the roof, still leaving you a useful boot underneath and in the back of course.
Good luck and I hope it gives you lots of fun over the coming summer!
A few weekends with T-cut, MIG welder and half a car from a scrappy had me in a good as new X1/9 for about £1500 in 1988. I was quite naughty as I sold the car for about £4K - maybe more, without revealing the history but the guy who bought it never found out either. He had it for about 15 years before rust got the better of it - in the front, not where I'd done the repair!!
I loved the front stowage of the roof, still leaving you a useful boot underneath and in the back of course.
Good luck and I hope it gives you lots of fun over the coming summer!
The thing to do is find a local independent garage to look after it for you. This need not be expensive, but you may have to look around for a suitable place. Cars of this kind are not complex, and many mechanics enjoy working on them because you do not need to plug them into Hal 9000 every time you want to change a wiper blade.
Thanks all. Seems a lot of people have had these in the past, and most still have a soft spot. 
This one looks great in the 15-foot away view (like in the photos), but there are cosmetic issues on every panel. Like this rash on the 'rear shoulder': http://www.ampmaker.co.uk/cars/pic04.jpg - and the scars where the huge 1500-style bumpers were removed.
That'll all wait for MOT time for investigation. If it's worth saving, I'd love to turn it into a Lido replica.
'70s Italian cars??? Yes - there are LOTS of quirks to wise up on. First one I spotted is that the window stops will need careful adjusting. Right now the wound-up windows foul on the roof rubber (as shown above) when closing the door, making a gap and wind noise. Same with the electrics: there's some bad design on the ignition and headlighting wiring that makes for trouble and is relatively easy to do (electronics is my day job). At least the Internet makes it easy to find solutions.
This one has Lumenition and some other decent mech tweaks, but having to sit for 3-5 mins holding part throttle to maintain idle became quite boring. May need to retrofit a manual choke. My local indie is an old chap who's seen a lot of these old cars, and was happy when something ECUless rolled in to the yard. He reckons it should be simple enough to sort. The owners' club is very good for tech sharing, too.
The off-set (and tightly packed!) pedals have given me a few scares. Got to learn to find the brake in a hurry.
Breakdown cover! Well, now you've jinxed it, I'll have to...
Abarth badges are just the last owner's preference. It's all fairly standard under the hood.
Ideally I'd like to do an engine swap, but that's waaaayyy off. Last owner sold this one to buy a Beta Volumex one. There are a few Uno Turbo conversions, too. Even an Alfa V6. I think I'd go for bulletproof reliability with a revvy Honda VTEC (like a lot of Elise owners). But I'm not after Vmax - just drivability and fun through the gears on twisty B roads.
This one looks great in the 15-foot away view (like in the photos), but there are cosmetic issues on every panel. Like this rash on the 'rear shoulder': http://www.ampmaker.co.uk/cars/pic04.jpg - and the scars where the huge 1500-style bumpers were removed.
That'll all wait for MOT time for investigation. If it's worth saving, I'd love to turn it into a Lido replica.
'70s Italian cars??? Yes - there are LOTS of quirks to wise up on. First one I spotted is that the window stops will need careful adjusting. Right now the wound-up windows foul on the roof rubber (as shown above) when closing the door, making a gap and wind noise. Same with the electrics: there's some bad design on the ignition and headlighting wiring that makes for trouble and is relatively easy to do (electronics is my day job). At least the Internet makes it easy to find solutions.
This one has Lumenition and some other decent mech tweaks, but having to sit for 3-5 mins holding part throttle to maintain idle became quite boring. May need to retrofit a manual choke. My local indie is an old chap who's seen a lot of these old cars, and was happy when something ECUless rolled in to the yard. He reckons it should be simple enough to sort. The owners' club is very good for tech sharing, too.
The off-set (and tightly packed!) pedals have given me a few scares. Got to learn to find the brake in a hurry.
Breakdown cover! Well, now you've jinxed it, I'll have to...
Abarth badges are just the last owner's preference. It's all fairly standard under the hood.
Ideally I'd like to do an engine swap, but that's waaaayyy off. Last owner sold this one to buy a Beta Volumex one. There are a few Uno Turbo conversions, too. Even an Alfa V6. I think I'd go for bulletproof reliability with a revvy Honda VTEC (like a lot of Elise owners). But I'm not after Vmax - just drivability and fun through the gears on twisty B roads.
Edited by 55allgold on Sunday 20th February 15:01
As a personal opinion, I think that the balance of cars of this kind is best maintained with their original small engine sizes. Some of the best Alfas of the 70s are the 1300 GT juniors, although I admit that having two litres in my old Spider (off the road at present) does raise a smile. Alfa sensibly fitted a hand throttle to maintain idling when cold. As for small pedals, I keep tiny driving shoes in my old Brit sports car, as any sort of clumpy footwear is hopeless on its pedals
CooperD - I had the same sort of problems back in the '80s. But the simplicity of the car and sharing of info on useful improvements through the owners' club Web site and magazine means expenses are easier to keep under control than on today's cars with complicated and/or sealed-units. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway!
robsco - you're right. Got my pulse racing when i started looking again. Here's a gorgeous squeaky minty Lido: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelwardphotos/331...
And here's a very nicely done Rosso Corsa version in Germany:
That said, the X1/9 was hardly developed at all. There's anecdotal evidence that during development, Fiat downrated from an 1800 (twincam?) because the X1/9 was found to drive better than the development Stratos. For sure, I'd love to get the VTEC behaviour and sound in the X1/9 package. (I have a SOHC VTEC in my Accord).
May have to follow your lead and get a pair of ballet shoes for dancing on these tiny pedals.
robsco - you're right. Got my pulse racing when i started looking again. Here's a gorgeous squeaky minty Lido: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelwardphotos/331...
And here's a very nicely done Rosso Corsa version in Germany:
Breadvan73 said:
As a personal opinion, I think that the balance of cars of this kind is best maintained with their original small engine sizes. Some of the best Alfas of the 70s are the 1300 GT juniors, although I admit that having two litres in my old Spider (off the road at present) does raise a smile. Alfa sensibly fitted a hand throttle to maintain idling when cold. As for small pedals, I keep tiny driving shoes in my old Brit sports car, as any sort of clumpy footwear is hopeless on its pedals
I hear what you say. That said, the X1/9 was hardly developed at all. There's anecdotal evidence that during development, Fiat downrated from an 1800 (twincam?) because the X1/9 was found to drive better than the development Stratos. For sure, I'd love to get the VTEC behaviour and sound in the X1/9 package. (I have a SOHC VTEC in my Accord).May have to follow your lead and get a pair of ballet shoes for dancing on these tiny pedals.
From speaking to a lot of other X1/9 owners, seems it's a good idea to buy a second one for spares. So I'll be on the hunt for another at some point. Just got to avoid making the drive look like a scrapyard...
renmure said:
Looks ace!!
I have had 3 of them in the past. A Green 1.3 lido, a 1.5 Silver/ Black VS, and a Maroon Grand Finale.
Most expensive repair I had on any of them was when the choke cable on the Lido broke. Other than that, great wee cars
Out of interes, did you find the 1300 with 4-speed a more tiresome car for longer trips (A road and motorway cruising)? I gather they rev quite high at 70mph in 4th?I have had 3 of them in the past. A Green 1.3 lido, a 1.5 Silver/ Black VS, and a Maroon Grand Finale.
Most expensive repair I had on any of them was when the choke cable on the Lido broke. Other than that, great wee cars
55allgold said:
Out of interes, did you find the 1300 with 4-speed a more tiresome car for longer trips (A road and motorway cruising)? I gather they rev quite high at 70mph in 4th?
I used to regularly drive it 40 miles on the motorway. It did drone a bit although it really sounded like you were thrashing it most of the time although it fitted in with the racy character of the car. 5 speed much better.Thanks for confirming. My 1500 has a sports exhaust and even that booms a bit too much at at >60mph.
I do hanker after the purer Bertone styling of the 1300. Many are now being returned to original condition after years of mods and upgrades. Putting in a 1500+5sp into one probably isn't a good idea these days. Easier to change a 1500 to 1300 styling.
I do hanker after the purer Bertone styling of the 1300. Many are now being returned to original condition after years of mods and upgrades. Putting in a 1500+5sp into one probably isn't a good idea these days. Easier to change a 1500 to 1300 styling.
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