[Owning a Fiat X1/9]
Andy Rowley
‘There was a time when you couldn’t give away an X1/9 but these days, prices are definitely on the rise. I bought my first back in 1994. I stripped the car, rebuilt it and that’s where the affair started. I’m now Chairman of the X1/9 Owner’s Club!
‘My current X1/9 is a 1989 Gran Finale, which I bought in 2002. Mechanically, it’s just standard Fiat stuff, but it pays to know somebody good with bodywork, because panels are very hard to find. The X1/9 is cheap as chips to run though. My insurance is £130 a year, they don’t use much fuel and they’re not expensive to service.’
Andrew Punter
‘What might surprise people is how great the X1/9 is as a touring car. I have travelled around France, Spain and Italy a few times and they eat up the miles. You can put some decent-sized bags in the car, if you pack sensibly. I have a pair of perfectly sized suitcases that fit neatly into the space in the front and I can still store the roof when the sun comes out.
‘Later cars are easier to work on and most parts are still quite inexpensive, with the exception of a few things. Thermostat housings, for instance, are specific to the X1/9 and will cost you a good few hundred quid. Repairing rear suspension arms can also be a pricey job.
‘I’d recommend a few modifications. After cooking the front brakes on the Hardknot Pass, I upgraded the front brakes to Uno Turbo vented discs, with larger calipers on the rear. Hot starting can be an issue so I have added a better fuel pump and an extra radiator fan.’
Nick Troth
‘About 40 years ago, a customer brought his X1/9 into my garage and I fell for it immediately. A few years later, I bought my own and established my specialist X1/9 business (P1x-2000.co.uk). It’s an affordable classic to run with almost all parts available cheaply but before you buy, inspect for rot and bad previous repairs – they’ll cost you dearly to put right.
‘The internet makes life so much easier these days, because once you’ve joined the owners club and connected with all the right people, you get all the help you’ll ever need. As for my own car, I bought it ten years ago and slotted an Alfa Romeo 24-valve V6 into it. I like to think of it as an Italian 911!’