X1/9 - a shite car?

[doctor924]

Been looking for a TR7 or an X19 for a few months and finally found a decent X not being offered at a silly price.

Collection pushed costs up (couldn't do in person unhappily) but car itself was significantly into shite price territory

Of course it needs some welding in non structural areas but the important windscreen scuttle, roll over bar and rear turrets are fine. Paint is a bit iffy in places and the interior needs a tidy - but it starts, stops, goes and is legally allowed to be on the road.

[img style=max-width:100%;" src="https://i.imgur.com/U5qaGMw.jpg]

[flat4alfa]

Excellent first post.

 

I had one (owned it twice!) and sold it on so another forum member not that long ago

 

 

They're a right hoot.  None are expensive, Weapons-grade shite

 

Pull the front boot carpet out and check the inner wings for rot too

[eddyramrod]

I had one in Cyprus, where it was ideal.  It had been brought over by a Brit couple when they moved, used a little then laid up.  "Right hoot" does indeed describe them!

[flat4alfa]

Been looking for a TR7 or an X19 for a few months and finally found a decent X not being offered at a silly price.

 

Yours is looking quite tidy and has had a bit of a life being tinkered - which is a good thing on these rather than left sitting about to decay

 

 

The early stickers don't look out of place on the flat red

Carpet is aftermarket

The steering wheels in these late ones go manky but the earlier wheel is a worthwhile swap

Have you been around a roundabout flat-out yet?

Be prepared for an onslaught of pub-bore experts* who have never owned one and haven't a clue

 

Niki Lauda had one, you know

 

[Talbot]

Had Five(!) of these over the years. Brilliant point-and-shoot car, if a little underpowered.  Absolutely pin-sharp to drive, and handle astonishingly well even on the shittest mix of unmatched tyres I had on one of them.

 

Many jobs are a complete twat on them though.  Jobs that should be easy.  Example... changing a clutch or brake master cylinder requires you to remove both cylinders together, along with the entire pedal box, and then re-bleed both brake and clutch systems completely.   Also, the whole lot is mounted under the dash, so you have to be a complete contortionist to get in there.  Utter bastard.

[Talbot]

Also.. a good modification if you are tall, and if you can find any.  Fiat Strada/Ritmo wiper arms are about 1" longer than the X1/9 items, bringing the wiper blade right up to the top of the glass without having to put longer blades on (and hence possibly overloading the fairly weak motor).  I swapped the pair of Strada arms I had onto three of mine.  Made it possible to see out when it was raining.

[Magnificent Rustbucket]

They're lovely little cars. I knew someone when I was at university who had a white one with a white interior. I had been a bit dismissive of the little Fiat believing it to be 'all show'. That was before I went for a ride in it. It was great - like a mini supercar! His car transformed my opinion of them and I have liked them ever since. I think they're undervalued in comparison with some other classics.

[spike60]

I had a 1985 V/S 1500, as already said it was great thing,  - a leather trimmed go kart.

[MikeR]

an X19       I had a MK4 Strada with gas shocks , that was like a go kart , could even do a handbrake turn in single track road , I even managed to rip up the upper rear shock mounts !!!  , thats when Fiat made cars that were fun !!!!!

[flat4alfa]

changing a clutch or brake master cylinder requires you to remove both cylinders together, along with the entire pedal box, and then re-bleed both brake and clutch systems completely.   Also, the whole lot is mounted under the dash, so you have to be a complete contortionist to get in there.  Utter bastard.

 

Oh, this brought back a memory! 

 

I put it into my local Italoshite specialist to do the brake master and they gave it to the apprentice who, while a nice lad and keen, didn't know what he was looking at but relished the opportunity...

We I went back a day or so later to collect, his face had changed, job done but he wasn't happy, said he nearly broke his back bent double fitting it and said the job was a bastard, taking hours.

I then proceeded to take the roof piece off right in front of him.  I can remember his face now.... he didn't realise it was a convertible...!  

[Guest]

I've had 16... Probably my specialist subject.

[flat4alfa]

^ Crikey, looking forward to the long 16 photo post !

[sierraman]

Like them, I’d love an early one in one of those bold 70’s colours they did them in.

[Zelandeth]

A friend had one a few years ago.

 

Fantastic fun to drive and to look at.  Utter complete and total swine to work on.  Even more than the Jag XJ that I also helped out on once or twice.  Everything is in the way of everything else and what should be easy jobs require you to remove twenty other major parts to sort the simple thing you set out to do.

[Talbot]

Can you imagine changing a gearbox on one of these, where the only dry area to work in is the awning of your 14" caravan, which the car only just fits in, with the only light-source is 10 strings of christmas-tree lights, and you only have a fairly basic tool kit.

 

That was fun.

[eddyramrod]

I don't think I've ever seen a model caravan as big as fourteen inches....

[Talbot]

it was really really small!

 

I can do imperial measurements me. Honest.

[doctor924]

Thanks for replies and can't seem to edit original post. Had some trouble loading it and images(thanks flat4alfa). Asking prices for these seem to have risen quite a bit recently.

[doctor924]

Is this a more shite x1/9?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-X1-9-Lido-1978-Requires-Full-Restoration/272968325088?hash=item3f8e2e17e0:g:eG4AAOSwZ5JZktpb

[Guest]

I had a good few daily drivers, some spares cars, a couple of WBOD- of which they are excellent- a turbo and a few bitza's. I looked after quite a few for others over the years too.

 

Some of them...

 

 

My first, bought from Bristol, spent 6 months making it right, back down to the 25th anniversary X1/9 do in Northhampton, back home and then rolled it at Knockhill.. Friday the 13th, last lap of the day.

 

My last one, a rough early 1500 bought for cheap off ebay- cllekshun fred on here somewhere..

 

As bought:

 

 

When it left me:

 

 

Some others that have passed through my hands..

 

The Uno Turboed one I pulled out a garage where it had lain for 7 years..

 

 

And finally, my current one...

[Guest]

A friend had one a few years ago.

 

Fantastic fun to drive and to look at.  Utter complete and total swine to work on.  Even more than the Jag XJ that I also helped out on once or twice.  Everything is in the way of everything else and what should be easy jobs require you to remove twenty other major parts to sort the simple thing you set out to do.

Not true at all, once you get your head around them they are beautifully designed and nothing is difficult, just in unusual places...

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Considering the age of them, they still hold their own really well. I reckon up to 7/8 years ago there were still a few sat on drives waiting for the owner to ‘get them back on the road again’. I used to drive past one most days, and you could almost see it rotting week by week.

I guess those now remaining are generally pretty solid propositions - if they’ve lasted this long, they must have been vaguely looked after.

I was going to add that you should get it bought, but I see you’ve already taken the sensible option. Good man.

[doctor924]

Some very nice exxys there Barry ^

[richardmorris]

This is mine at the field of dreams this Summer. It’s just had a full service today and apart from plugs and oil etc didn’t need anything.

[richardmorris]

For parts you’ll need.....http://www.eurosport-uk.net/shop/

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I fucking hate them. As well as being unbearably twee, I just have memories of them being not very old, rusting, damp inside and being a bastard to start.

[DSdriver]

A chap I knew bought one a few years ago when suffering a mid life crisis. I may* have mentioned that it was a hairdressers car.

When I saw him again about a week later it had already been replaced.

[doctor924]

Like it or not, it is a distinctive car I think in the day and now.