The vendor of right now’s Good Worth or No Cube Fiat X1/9 claims it’s “cosmetically very unique, however has fairly a number of good modifications.” Let’s see if we like the worth or if it wants some modifications.
When you’ve ever been instructed to “gradual your roll,” it won’t have been an admonishment however a suggestion to purchase the 1982 Peugeot 505 turbo diesel we checked out final Friday. With a zero to sixty time within the higher teenagers, that Pug isn’t going to win many races. However at simply $2,500, it did win our appreciation and a 72 p.c Good Worth victory within the voting.
Gradual because it could be, the 505’s good-looking Pininfarina styling ensures all people enjoys the view because it trundles alongside. In the present day’s 1980 Fiat X1/9 is one other gradual automotive with nice styling, though its beauty come from the home of Bertone and styling legend Marcello Gandini. Not solely is it a looker—the wedge of cheese styling seems simply as recent right now because it did when new—however it’s additionally a masterclass in packaging design.
Fiat invented the fashionable design for FWD vehicles, using a transverse engine and end-on gearbox that sends energy to the entrance wheels by way of unequal-length half shafts. Fiat first examined this format within the Autobianchi Primula and took it mainstream within the 128. The X1/9 was the primary manufacturing sports activities automotive to take a transverse FWD drivetrain and transfer it to the again, making for a rear mid-engine format.
The innovation doesn’t cease there, both. As small because the X1/9 is, it nonetheless manages to have each entrance and rear trunks, a detachable Targa roof that shops within the entrance trunk, and homes its gasoline tank and spare tire throughout the wheelbase, each mounted vertically sandwiched between the cabin and the engine compartment. It’s like a magical Bento Field on wheels.
This 63,175-mile instance provides all the later version’s updates—an even bigger 1.5-liter fuel-injected engine, improved inside, and better-integrated bumpers—and has loved a slew of labor undertaken to make it a straightforward turn-key collectible.
A few of these updates are laudable, whereas a number of are open to query. The rebuilt engine, refreshed gearbox, resprayed paint, and upgraded brakes are excessive on the need column. On the opposite aspect of the desk, there’s the seemingly kludged-together engine administration system that leverages a Megasquirt controller for gasoline injection and an digital ignition driver from Ford. High that off with a catalytic converter delete, and choices change into restricted relating to the place this Fiat might be simply registered and meet smog requirements.
If that isn’t a problem in your neck of the woods, then this little X1/9 has tons to supply. It appears to be like gorgeous in its ruby crimson paint and Cromodora alloys. The one apparent visible blight on the outside appears to be some waviness within the rubber snood across the entrance bumper, which supplies the automotive a little bit of a sneer.
Within the cabin, issues look amazingly intact and alluring, one thing outstanding since, traditionally, X1/9 interiors tended to have the sturdiness of institutional bathroom paper. Nothing right here reveals extreme put on, and the colour combo completely compliments the outside hue. It even nonetheless has the goofy beer faucet shift knob for the five-speed that’s not exceptionally comfy to make use of however does look all artsy-fartsy. X1/9-branded mats maintain the carpet clear however look misplaced on account of their contrasting shade.
In line with the vendor, who’s an X1/9 aficionado, the automotive’s quirks embrace some minor clear coat points, carpet put on below the accelerator pedal, and, most notably, an occasional challenge with the Frankenstein gasoline injection that requires a restart to quiet down. Apparently, that might be cured with some remapping of the Megasquirt controller, however good luck discovering somebody to deal with doing that.
When it was in manufacturing, the X1/9 outlived its maker, Fiat, within the U.S. market by greater than half a decade. Fiat pulled up stakes right here in 1982, however the X1/9 continued on, independently imported by Malcolm Bricklin (sure, that man) and marketed as a Bertone till 1989. By 1990, sizzling hatches and, truthfully, the debut of Mazda’s MX5 Miata spelled the tip for the X1/9.
In the present day, these are thought-about minor classics and might be a superb and reasonably priced strategy to get right into a enjoyable, collectible automotive with out breaking the financial institution. Would this one match the invoice at its $12,000 asking worth?
What do you say? Is {that a} whole lot, and do the mods assist or damage this X1/9’s probabilities at that asking worth?
You resolve!
Seattle, Washington, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to RevUnlimiter for the hookup!
Assist me out with NPOND. Hit me up at [email protected] and ship me a fixed-price tip. Bear in mind to incorporate your Kinja deal with.
