MATT GEORGE
MATT GEORGE: ‘It became the biggest selling mid-engined car in the world’
The angular X1/9 was designed at Bertone, one of Italy’s oldest and most famous design houses, the birthplace of such cars as the Lamborghini Countach, Miura and the Lancia Stratos. It was first launched in Italy in 1972, however it was not until 1977 that we saw the arrival of the right-hand drive version here in the UK. The X1/9’s mid-engine design was influenced by racing cars of the day, and it soon became the biggest selling mid-engined production car, with final worldwide sales figures reaching 170,000 by the time it went out of production in 1989.
The combination of the eye-catching wedge shape, minimal use of chrome, mid-engine, and impressive safety structurally integrated into the car, were things that set the X1/9 apart from its British rivals such as the Triumph Spitfire and the MG Midget. It was great fun to drive, with the mid-engine layout allowing for excellent handling characteristics. The only major change in the X1/9’s seventeen-year production history occurred in 1978, when Fiat introduced the 1498cc engine and five-speed gearbox from the Strada/ritmo.
This replaced the existing 1290cc engine and four-speed ’box that had been used until then.
The X1/9 was available in various special trim versions during its production run, which included the 1300 Lido, the 1500 VS and the Gran Finale.
The X1/9 represents a great buy if you rate driving fun above practicality. It’s unusual, great value and running costs are manageable too. But if you’re not to rue the day you bought your sporty Fiat, you need to track down a really good example, and that’s not as easy as you might think.
Why you want one
If you are thinking about buying an X1/9, the bodywork is going to be the most critical item to evaluate. Like so many cars of this era, rust is the number one killer of many a good car and both the early Fiat produced cars and the later Bertone ones, complete with their much-improved rust proofing, are all prone to corrosion.
So, a proper pre-purchase examination is essential; check the floor pan, inner sills, windscreen surround, wheel arches and more.
Pull out the spare tyre, lift up the carpets, ideally get the car up on a ramp and be very thorough, remembering that rust typically starts on the inside (where paint often did not penetrate during the manufacturing process) and works its way out.