Bertone X19 - The Restore Part Deux
Discussion
After building the kit car & now just tinkering with a lot of stuff on it. I'm after a bit more of a challenge again. So now was the time to go and work on my dads neglected Bertone X1/9 Grand Finale.
The history of the car is my dad brought it 15 or maybe more years and had it restored, drove it for a few years and then stopped, last MOT'd in 2007 as I found the tax disc. Not driven or started in 10 yrs So what happened to the car since then....
It sat on the drive for 6yrs! No cover or anything, just sat there, tyres went flat and square and the car took on the weather. A few years ago we pushed it into my dads garage and there it stayed, till the last two weekends.
I'm now going to work to get it on the road, but what have I got from a car not started and neglected for 10 years. Baring in mind this car was fully striped & restored.
The interior: I got straight to work on this, it was an easy gain to see how the car had survived and the interior I'm happy to say is now as good as it was restored too. All in original Grande Final colours. The car had no battery at that moment in time so I couldn't test the dash, the electric windows (how swish) and how the electrics were. But the seats had not deteriorated, the steering wheel was good, god knows how but the plastics hadn't faded and the carpet was like new.
Exterior check: Well this was to be the tricky one, had rust eaten this car to within an inch of its life. Well amazingly not where i expected! All 4 arches were like new, no bubbles or rust so this was a great start. The bonnet had paint bubbles but again I feel this may be surface rust and at the end of the day a bonnet can be replaced. The boot, well i touched a bit of the heavy surface rust and hand went through it. So that Answers that!! New boot please!
I jacked the car up to check the underside and sills. Now as I said this had been fully restored and I mean new sills....the works. My Dad had done a bit of a crazy decision at the time waxoyl....the whole thing. I don't mean the chassis, I mean the chassis ,bottom of gear box, engine, drive shafts, arms, everything. Its a saving grace really, under there looks ugly but I can see two small spots of surface rust, the car is solid under there!
The other main bit of rust is as the top of the roof at the rear, with some work getting the rust out and repairing it is a solid body.
Engine & Mechnical: A completely unknown quantity. Would it run, would it not, well there was only one thing to do, try it. As Ive mentioned it was restored, the HT leads seem in great condition as do the other ignition components and look new. So I gave it a basic service, Plugs, oil & oil filter and fuel filter. I didn't want to change the coolant at this stage and this turned out to be a good idea.
I got a new battery, siphoned out the old fuel, put in some new stuff and gave it a go. It sprung into life to my amazement, idling nice and high just over 2000rpm but none the less alive. I stopped and started it a few times then the starter played up. A small rock and it started again. First replacement part - starter motor. The head sounds so loud though, maybe a stuck valve potentially but dad said it always was loud and it ran fine so we will see.
However I couldn't get the idle to drop, it refused! It was very annoying and i tried to get the car up to temperature when one of the coolant pipe clamp bands snapped, some rust had worked in there! So it gets too today...new clamp on. Lets take the Weber DATR 34 Carb apart and check it over (sounds like I know what i'm doing doesn't it... this was my first Carb)
It was instantly clear this carb was in great nick, with probably only doing a couple of 1000 miles since the restore all jets were clear, float was free. So none the less gave it a good clean and put it back together. So why would the automatic choke not work...fault finding time.
The Carb runs a Automatic carb based on coolant temp which feeds around a diaphram and spring that moves a cam to drop the high idle. Pulled the hose and no coolant...ahhh. the system was full, so turned the car on with hose in hand...still no coolant! Pull hose off main coolant bypass pipe still no coolant coming out, but as soon as you stop the car, it poured out...... Adds water pump to the list.
The brakes, or handbrake at least are binded, again there were refurbed so I will assess how the single piston calipers are. it could be simply a bled and free the handbrake mechanism or a refurb of the calipers.
Electrics & instruments: Everything Electrical worked!!!! Unbelievable, don't get me wrong the electric windows wont get to the top currently before I die but they worked, so some greasing and cleaning of the earths and we will be good to go. The headlights popped up, together (always a bonus!). Now the Dials, the speedo is broken my dad warned me so research says its either a 20cm cable behind the dash or a 3metre one fed through the car. you know which I'm hoping it will be. And someone has put the rev counter needle back on at 500rpm starting point...thanks for that
Overall great success
The paintwork Its horrible as expected, it has bubbled and lost so many bits, at first I thought it was a load of paint splatter but its not. that is all missing paint. This isnt rust bubbling, this I think might be moisture under the paint when spraying originally but cant rule out the full neglect its had!
The plan:
To replace engine parts, refurb and refresh required parts & Spray the car for about a £1000. Then MOT.
I'm really considering dropping the engine, after the kitcar I'm struggling to leave the engine dirty and block unpainted, however I will try a pressure steam clean on it before I do that. But all clips will be refreshed and many pipes that feel brittle. I can tell the fuel lines were replaced as part of the refurb as they have 'universal' on some bits.
Following that it is the brake system and get everything running well, then I will strip the car and spray the car at home. Sure it wont be a completely professional job but I sprayed a American pickup truck recently and and it came out lovely. This car is much smaller and easier to do. Because my dad went through so much effort to keep it original so will I, the original blue it is.
Parts list so far;
Battery £40
Water Pump £35
Belts £20
Starter Motor £40
Oil £15
Oil filter £4
Petrol filter £3
Coolant £10
New hose clips £15
Some hoses, could be up to total £100
Gearbox oil change - Unknown
Caliper refurb kit for all 4 £30 (if needs pistons - higher)
brake fluid £10
Paint spraying bits £350 (already have some things like sanding disks, some thinners etc...)
New tyres ?!?!?
Wheel Refurbishment?!?!
Many more things I'm sure will be added but Roll on the brighter evenings!!!
The history of the car is my dad brought it 15 or maybe more years and had it restored, drove it for a few years and then stopped, last MOT'd in 2007 as I found the tax disc. Not driven or started in 10 yrs So what happened to the car since then....
It sat on the drive for 6yrs! No cover or anything, just sat there, tyres went flat and square and the car took on the weather. A few years ago we pushed it into my dads garage and there it stayed, till the last two weekends.
I'm now going to work to get it on the road, but what have I got from a car not started and neglected for 10 years. Baring in mind this car was fully striped & restored.
The interior: I got straight to work on this, it was an easy gain to see how the car had survived and the interior I'm happy to say is now as good as it was restored too. All in original Grande Final colours. The car had no battery at that moment in time so I couldn't test the dash, the electric windows (how swish) and how the electrics were. But the seats had not deteriorated, the steering wheel was good, god knows how but the plastics hadn't faded and the carpet was like new.
Exterior check: Well this was to be the tricky one, had rust eaten this car to within an inch of its life. Well amazingly not where i expected! All 4 arches were like new, no bubbles or rust so this was a great start. The bonnet had paint bubbles but again I feel this may be surface rust and at the end of the day a bonnet can be replaced. The boot, well i touched a bit of the heavy surface rust and hand went through it. So that Answers that!! New boot please!
I jacked the car up to check the underside and sills. Now as I said this had been fully restored and I mean new sills....the works. My Dad had done a bit of a crazy decision at the time waxoyl....the whole thing. I don't mean the chassis, I mean the chassis ,bottom of gear box, engine, drive shafts, arms, everything. Its a saving grace really, under there looks ugly but I can see two small spots of surface rust, the car is solid under there!
The other main bit of rust is as the top of the roof at the rear, with some work getting the rust out and repairing it is a solid body.
Engine & Mechnical: A completely unknown quantity. Would it run, would it not, well there was only one thing to do, try it. As Ive mentioned it was restored, the HT leads seem in great condition as do the other ignition components and look new. So I gave it a basic service, Plugs, oil & oil filter and fuel filter. I didn't want to change the coolant at this stage and this turned out to be a good idea.
I got a new battery, siphoned out the old fuel, put in some new stuff and gave it a go. It sprung into life to my amazement, idling nice and high just over 2000rpm but none the less alive. I stopped and started it a few times then the starter played up. A small rock and it started again. First replacement part - starter motor. The head sounds so loud though, maybe a stuck valve potentially but dad said it always was loud and it ran fine so we will see.
However I couldn't get the idle to drop, it refused! It was very annoying and i tried to get the car up to temperature when one of the coolant pipe clamp bands snapped, some rust had worked in there! So it gets too today...new clamp on. Lets take the Weber DATR 34 Carb apart and check it over (sounds like I know what i'm doing doesn't it... this was my first Carb)
It was instantly clear this carb was in great nick, with probably only doing a couple of 1000 miles since the restore all jets were clear, float was free. So none the less gave it a good clean and put it back together. So why would the automatic choke not work...fault finding time.
The Carb runs a Automatic carb based on coolant temp which feeds around a diaphram and spring that moves a cam to drop the high idle. Pulled the hose and no coolant...ahhh. the system was full, so turned the car on with hose in hand...still no coolant! Pull hose off main coolant bypass pipe still no coolant coming out, but as soon as you stop the car, it poured out...... Adds water pump to the list.
The brakes, or handbrake at least are binded, again there were refurbed so I will assess how the single piston calipers are. it could be simply a bled and free the handbrake mechanism or a refurb of the calipers.
Electrics & instruments: Everything Electrical worked!!!! Unbelievable, don't get me wrong the electric windows wont get to the top currently before I die but they worked, so some greasing and cleaning of the earths and we will be good to go. The headlights popped up, together (always a bonus!). Now the Dials, the speedo is broken my dad warned me so research says its either a 20cm cable behind the dash or a 3metre one fed through the car. you know which I'm hoping it will be. And someone has put the rev counter needle back on at 500rpm starting point...thanks for that
Overall great successThe paintwork Its horrible as expected, it has bubbled and lost so many bits, at first I thought it was a load of paint splatter but its not. that is all missing paint. This isnt rust bubbling, this I think might be moisture under the paint when spraying originally but cant rule out the full neglect its had!
The plan:
To replace engine parts, refurb and refresh required parts & Spray the car for about a £1000. Then MOT.
I'm really considering dropping the engine, after the kitcar I'm struggling to leave the engine dirty and block unpainted, however I will try a pressure steam clean on it before I do that. But all clips will be refreshed and many pipes that feel brittle. I can tell the fuel lines were replaced as part of the refurb as they have 'universal' on some bits.
Following that it is the brake system and get everything running well, then I will strip the car and spray the car at home. Sure it wont be a completely professional job but I sprayed a American pickup truck recently and and it came out lovely. This car is much smaller and easier to do. Because my dad went through so much effort to keep it original so will I, the original blue it is.
Parts list so far;
Battery £40
Water Pump £35
Belts £20
Starter Motor £40
Oil £15
Oil filter £4
Petrol filter £3
Coolant £10
New hose clips £15
Some hoses, could be up to total £100
Gearbox oil change - Unknown
Caliper refurb kit for all 4 £30 (if needs pistons - higher)
brake fluid £10
Paint spraying bits £350 (already have some things like sanding disks, some thinners etc...)
New tyres ?!?!?
Wheel Refurbishment?!?!
Many more things I'm sure will be added but Roll on the brighter evenings!!!
Edited by killerferret666 on Saturday 17th February 17:03
I owned a silver 1980 1500 back in 1985 when I was 20. Even though it was only 5 years old, It was rustiest car I’ve ever owned, you could prod your finger through the nose cone, the metal was so thin. Needless to say the gearbox failed. But it was a great little car, just so poorly executed. I spent a fortune on mine. Looking forward to following your progress, there must be so few left on the road.
Edited by Gunk on Saturday 17th February 17:42
Fantastic!!
I've had 3 Fiat X1/9s.
First one was a 1.3 litre lime green early Lido with black side graphics. I had it when I was a 1st year student and felt like the coolest guy at Uni. The heater never worked roof panel never quite met the window tops so sometimes I think I was the coldest guy, and often was the dampest guy, but I've only got good memories of the car.
The other two were both 1.5 litre cars. A red Grand Finale and a silver / black two tone VS model with full red leather interior. I can't really remember much going wrong with either of these.
The Grand Finale sold to a guy who actually put a note on the windscreen in a carpark saying he was looking to buy one and the VS sold to an elderly couple who are fairly local and I still see it out and about in the summer.
Good luck with it.
I've had 3 Fiat X1/9s.
First one was a 1.3 litre lime green early Lido with black side graphics. I had it when I was a 1st year student and felt like the coolest guy at Uni. The heater never worked roof panel never quite met the window tops so sometimes I think I was the coldest guy, and often was the dampest guy, but I've only got good memories of the car.
The other two were both 1.5 litre cars. A red Grand Finale and a silver / black two tone VS model with full red leather interior. I can't really remember much going wrong with either of these.
The Grand Finale sold to a guy who actually put a note on the windscreen in a carpark saying he was looking to buy one and the VS sold to an elderly couple who are fairly local and I still see it out and about in the summer.
Good luck with it.
I had a silver 1.5 litre 1978 model and I loved driving it which wasn't very often as most of the time it was at the Fiat Dealership getting repaired.
Two cylinder head repairs within a few months of each other. I traded it in and on the way to the dealers for the changeover the master cylinder failed and it also lost reverse gear. Got away with just parking it up and collecting my new car. I wish you luck with your restoration OP but they can be a money pit to own.
Two cylinder head repairs within a few months of each other. I traded it in and on the way to the dealers for the changeover the master cylinder failed and it also lost reverse gear. Got away with just parking it up and collecting my new car. I wish you luck with your restoration OP but they can be a money pit to own.
Great little cars, such a shame that Fiat did not develop and update them further.
I have had 3 in the past and thoroughly enjoyed them all. One had a twin 40 carb installed, probably not a lot quicker but sounded great.
There used to be people who had done 2litre twincam and uno turbo conversions I would have liked to drive one of those, the extra shove would have suited it well.
There was a very active X1/9 owners club and forum, not sure how alive it is now though?
The auto chokes are notoriously unreliable and it is one of those things you seem to end up constantly adjusting. There used to be manual choke conversion kits available which I remember successfully installing on one of mine. Much better after that.
Good luck
I have had 3 in the past and thoroughly enjoyed them all. One had a twin 40 carb installed, probably not a lot quicker but sounded great.
There used to be people who had done 2litre twincam and uno turbo conversions I would have liked to drive one of those, the extra shove would have suited it well.
There was a very active X1/9 owners club and forum, not sure how alive it is now though?
The auto chokes are notoriously unreliable and it is one of those things you seem to end up constantly adjusting. There used to be manual choke conversion kits available which I remember successfully installing on one of mine. Much better after that.
Good luck
Good luck with your project. I had one of these in the late 80's. Probably the best handling and fun car I have owned but it was a bit of a money pit to keep it on the road. They are very rare these days as mentioned before. I can't recall the last time I saw one being driven on the roads.
Good to hear so many people have owned them. I've fallen in love with the little guy, I'd also like to get this done for my Dad, hopefully he can spend the summer enjoying it.
I've arranged to have the car moved to mine at the beginning of march when I get back from Berlin, with all my tools here and lighter evenings it will be easier. I'm hoping to MOT it end of May.
Anyone who looked at my other project thread will know progress will be much quicker than.
I've arranged to have the car moved to mine at the beginning of march when I get back from Berlin, with all my tools here and lighter evenings it will be easier. I'm hoping to MOT it end of May.
Anyone who looked at my other project thread will know progress will be much quicker than.
I've always had a soft spot for X19s. When I was 18 I bought a ropey one for £400; it looked great in fresh red paint (even though the previous owner had stencilled "Magnum's Mini Ferrari" on the rear boot lid...) but didn't last long. It used to overheat and had quite a few mechanical issues. It broke down on the Edinburgh City Bypass and as I sat beside it I noticed the red paint was pealing from the sills to reveal the original gold colour. I picked at the loose bit of paint and the rest just came of in large sections/sheets 
It was towed back to where I was working part time and it sat there for a while until a chap who used to pass daily offered me £200 for it, which was a bit of a result as it wasn't really worth anything. Great, fun cars though.
It was towed back to where I was working part time and it sat there for a while until a chap who used to pass daily offered me £200 for it, which was a bit of a result as it wasn't really worth anything. Great, fun cars though.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff