When buying a car like the Fiat X1/9, it absolutely pays to buy the best one you can find. This is for a few reasons, but the simplest one is this: it’s not an expensive car to purchase, even at the top tier of mechanical and cosmetic condition. There are some models where I can understand buying low because the purchase price of a fully sorted model is too high, but the X1/9 is not one of them. This Fiat is owned by an Italian car specialist who has thoughtfully gone through the vintage two-seater to make it as reliable as possible while also improving the performance mixture to extract maximum enjoyment out of the chassis. This is a real-deal survivor in great colors that the seller purchased from the original owner who received the Fiat as a gift in high school. Find it here on eBay with bids to $5,100 and no reserve.
The X1/9 is often seen as a tired, neglected project with no paper trail of recent maintenance to show and rough cosmetics. This example is an earlier model with the more desirable small bumpers, and you have to love that lime green paint that is said to be original. The seller notes that the paint is sun-bleached in spots and should be fully restored, but I couldn’t do it – that patina is hard to beat and nothing tops original paint. It looks good enough to leave as-is, for sure. The details seem right with this one, with the seller pointing out how nice and tight the fender gaps are and how the doors click shut just as they did when new. The Fiat is said to track nicely down the freeway and the braking system has been rebuilt.
The cabin color was originally tan but the seller swapped that out for a blue interior he sourced from another car. He claims the inspiration came from a Lamborghini Miura of the same era, and given both cars were built in the Bertone factory, it didn’t seem completely illogical to mimic the supercar’s color combo. I personally love it, as it’s totally period correct and goes along perfectly with the generally wild appearance of the X1/9 in general. The seats and door panels also look to be in mint condition, and I can’t see any cracks in the dash. The controls, gauge cluster, steering wheel, and center stack all present very well, and this Fiat just oozes with the qualities of a car that’s been loved.
The original engine was replaced with a new old stock crate motor the seller found from a Fiat 128. The engine is smaller than the original 1300 – it now has an 1100 – but it has been woken up nicely with a set of Weber DCNFs. The original engine is still available and will be put on a pallet for the next owner if they want it, but it was beginning to smoke which is why the seller pulled it. The engine has been ported and the seller installed a European market camshaft, and he claims that even with the Webers and the cam, it idles nicely and there are no flat spots. This is a lot of car for the money and exactly the guy you want to buy one of these from.
What’s that little squeeze ball for?
I would think it would be to deal with vapor lock. When new these came with a fan that would run and blow air into the air cleaner housing after the engine was shutoff to prevent vapor lock. There is alot of heat in that small engine bay.
I think that the fan was included in later 1.5 liter models, mid 79 onwards. It’s purpose apart from the vapor lock was to provide a few more hp due to colder carburation. The plethora of aftermarket exhausts that the Italians provided (2 or 4 external tips), 36 or even 40 mm Weber carbs, together with wild camsafts ensured that it was extremely fast inside the EU, which was the target market of the Italians.
I think it is a primer for the mechanical fuel pump. If it is not used regularly the fuel pump will loose its prime and it is difficult to start. It is not stock and these are usually seen on boats
It saves you cranking and wearing out the starter to get the mechanical pump to pull fuel from the front tank. Been sitting a few weeks, give the rubber thing a few squeezes and then fire it right up. Quite an inexpensive solution.
I saw one of these sitting in front of the Fiat dealer
on Van Ness Street in San Francisco in 1973,before
they were officially for sale.It was a bright dark green-
color,with no insignias identifying it as a Fiat.
What a horrible color combination! 🤢
no I love it.
Part of the ’70’s was the bright colors,
which doubled as a safety feature.
I LOVE the colors on this car! I remember seeing a Muira (in photos) with that color combination, and thinking that it was the height of coolness. What a great idea to do an X1/9 in the same scheme. Geez this looks like a great car.
These are such fun to drive and I have heard that a Fiat 124 engine could be bolted in. With that much more power it would be amazing. I love Lotus but this is a very very close second.
… years ago in Europe/UK the Fiat Uno Turbo engine was also a pretty common transplant BUT nowadays if U could find a Uno Turbo that still had the engine in it U could sell it for a fortune as is.
I still have my 1974 X1/9 I bought new for $3900. The car is more reliable than it’s reputation. Keep the Cam belt fresh and the transmission oil topped off and she’ll run like a Swiss watch. You don’t get in to an X1/9, you put it on like a fine fitting suit. The newer models with their heavily bolstered seats aren’t quite as ergonomic but still a hoot to drive.
Seller is arguably the best Italian car mechanic in the country. If he says it is ready to go, this is the one to buy
Bought one new in ‘74, this color. Absolutely loved it! In the first 4 months, the left headlight actuator got wonky, big chunks of the foam stripping started falling out of the roof weather stripping, one window regulator got rough feeling. Then the front fender faded very badly. I took it to my dealer who accused me of wrecking it and getting a poor repair, showing me overspray underneath. After lots of fighting they said it must have happened at the docks, sorry kid, you lose. Sold it then and lost a bunch of money.
At 6′ 2″ not sure if i would fit, and then size 12 shoes.
A 6′ 4″ mate had one, fitted in OK, even with the roof one. Not sure of his show size though.
Watch out for rust!
My 1974 had the entire frunk evaporate, as well as the footwells: my feet would get wet when going through a puddle.
Also the front shock towers are a weak spot. I heard a strange sound : It was the shock absorber rapping a nice dent on the bonnet ( from the inside)
Also, this is unquestionably an “interference” engine: If the timing belt breaks, the valves WILL hit the pistons and cause havoc.
I still have a bent valve on my tool rack as a reminder of my X-19
All of that being said,I would absolutely love to have another one. THIS ONE in fact!
Great fun
The seller is a very competent Italian vehicle mechanic.
yes, Big Foot problem, no, 6 ft 1. ‘Lousy vehicles” comments, no. A joy to drive, tinker, maintain & autocross.
One’s like this? keep em commin. And that’s from ‘a ford guy’ (who just bought MR2).
Well prepped, hope everything else matched the webers (susp, brakes’n so on).
I’ll bid if I can test drive 1st~
8^ 0
Located in:
Oakland, California
Too bad this was posted the same day that day auction ended. I would’ve taken a crack at it.
Ended: Jan 27, 2022 , 7:31PM
Winning bid:US $6,600.00
[ 49 bids ]
I had a 1983 Bertone x/19 that I bought new in 1985 (that had sat on the lot for 2 years). I drove it for several years until someone stole it and beat every square inch of it to death off-roading it (South Florida dirt trails). It was considered totalled by the insurance company so being a silly19 year old kid I thought I would finish it off by flooring the engine in neutral until the engine blew. I floored it for about 3 minutes with the tachometer pegged at probably 7k rpms and the engine DID NOT BLOW. After I let off the throttle (out of respect) it returned to a normal idle with no apparently no internal damage. I ended up buying the car for salvage value from the insurance company and sticking the motor in a 1979 x/19 and driving that until it rusted away.
i bought a new one in 81 i think, was a lot of fun, but i was needing a 4wd so sold it and bought a well used isuzu trooper from a work friend for cheap. couldnt stay away from the zoomie cars though and went thru a 73 capri and then a 79 scirocco to keep my small car habit up ….
Got to drive a late Bertone-labelled one home from Mannheim auction back around ’85. Cabin was a bit tight, but that was one sweet handling little car. A real blast to drive. One of the guys in our detail shop bought it from the boss, & last I knew, still had it.