Is the Fiat X1/9 one of the coolest cars out there, or one of the most misunderstood? It’s hard to say, but looking back on it, the creation of an affordable, mid-engined Italian sports car seems like a gift to enthusiasts. Still, it remains quite cheap to buy one in good condition and you can modify them just enough to make it a more compelling purchase if you’re bothered by the modest horsepower rating. This X1/9 listed here on eBay is a claimed barn find with a dirt cheap opening bid of $250 and no reserve.
There’s a bit of history to the X1/9 that I wasn’t aware of, and it has to do with how Bertone saw an opportunity to help Fiat sidestep legal challenges that would threaten the viability of the 850 Spider in the U.S. market. Of course, Bertone was also worried that its meal ticket would dissolve if the 850 was banned with no replacement in the wings. Therefore, Bertone conceived an idea that would allow Fiat to keep a sporty car in its lineup without running afoul of regulators. Always a 4-cylinder car, the X1/9 found high praise for its handling abilities from road test editors at the time.
The X1/9 was not a commercial success, but not for lack of achievements. Handling was exceptional, with reviewers citing the impressive on-road abilities and low price tag, especially relative to more expensive cars that didn’t handle quite as well. Due to the U.S. making safety requirements increasingly stringent, Fiat also “overbuilt” the car in a sense, ensuring it met the rapidly changing regulations. However, build quality was still an issue, and X1/9s are far more susceptible to rust and poor assembly than mechanical faults (though there are certainly likely to be plenty of those, especially in a barn find example.)
This X1/9 isn’t offered with much of a backstory, but wherever it’s been hiding, it was likely fairly dry. There’s not much visible rust on the Fiat, unless it’s been expertly painted over. But everything looks right, from the way the black plastic trim hasn’t been painted over to the factory badges still in their correct spot on the engine lid. The 1980 model benefits from a larger 1.5L engine producing 85 b.h.p., enabling it to reach 60 in just over 10 seconds. This Fiat will need a lot of love to run again, but for $250, isn’t it worth the gable?
Ah, the words that inspire confidence. “Cheap Italian Sports Car.”
where is this car ??
Henrietta, New York from what the ebay ad says.
Is this what GM was trying to emulate with the Fiero?