One Owner Survivor: 1980 Fiat X-1/9
Wow – we don’t get to see X1/9s like this very often, but we’ve actually featured another very nice driver not that long ago. Is the enthusiast car world waking up to the appeal of these pretty Bertone-styled coupes? At the very least, sellers seem to be deeming them worthy of investing in, as they previously languished for years as curiosities that rarely got shown the love and attention they deserved. The X1/9 combines attractive styling with mid-engine design, and this example has seemingly been preserved to a very high level. Mileage is just under 60,000 and you’ll find it here on eBay where it hasn’t seen any bids yet with a lofty opening number of $15,000.
Now, I don’t blame the seller at all for slapping a high opening number on this X1/9 given its incredible state of preservation, but I also think some acknowledgment should be given that the market for these is fairly narrow at the moment. Like I said earlier, there was no denying these were meant to be owned by enthusiasts, but when a major brand leaves a market, it tends to dampen enthusiasm for the company’s models, no matter how special. The X1/9 was a good car but not necessarily great – reliability was always a factor in buyers’ minds and the drivetrains weren’t what you’d call thrilling. Still, handling was respectable and the overall packaging was quite sporty. This car is incredible inside and out, as they also weren’t known for being built with durable materials, so the fact that the interior remains so tidy is impressive.
Wow! What an engine bay. If the car has been detailed, the detailer did a very nice job making this drivetrain look clean but not too clean. The seller is clearly a dealer/flipper as they don’t seem to know much about the Fiat’s mechanical history other than assuming (and likely correctly) that it was closely looked after by its longtime owner. The description indicates “some” records/receipts are available, along with a receipt for the 15,000-mile dealer service. This information isn’t entirely useful, but one could assume there was a whole stack of paperwork somewhere with this Fiat that revealed just how lovingly it was looked after. The paint under the hood is quite nice, too. The original window sticker and service book are included.
When you see an X1/9 in beautiful condition, it reminds you what a pretty design this is. I sometimes think our images are tainted of a particular make or model not because the car ever personally offended us but simply because we only see it in one context. It could be an exotic car that only ever looks like it’s never been driven, which makes us believe the owner only bought it for status (seriously, who wouldn’t love seeing a Jaguar XJ220 that looks like it’s been used as a commuter car every day of its life?) In the case of the X1/9, buying a battered one will just reinforce all the negative stereotypes, but finding an example that’s as seemingly as nice as this one could likely change your impression of this funky Italian two-seater. Have you ever driven one?
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Comments
The more I look at these, the more I see Fiero…
So did the GM designers……
These are EXCEPTIONAL handlers, and only take a few tweaks to wake up the motor.
Rust is the only downside to a fuel injected x-1/9. Everything else is well documented, and really enjoyed.
Gandini classes it his “Muira for the masses” for a reason.
It’s a shame so many were used up and thrown away.
one too many digits in the price. $5K tops
After being up for bid for 10 days, it sold for $15,000 with one bid offered.
Have a feeling it was the seller’s “friend”(i.e. shill). Wouldn’t be surprised to se e this one again soon in the hopes that the $15k bid will snag some unsuspecting fool.
When these replaced the 850 Spider, it was seen as a much-needed modernization. However, there are about 4 inches less headroom in an X1/9, and whereas I was very comfy in the 850, I can only drive these with the targa top removed and even then I’m looking mostly through the windshield header (which is opaque, of course). I’m convinced they were designed by very short Italian designers for similarly short potential buyers, and that’s why they did not sell well here in the USA.
The two happiest days in a X1/9 owners life is today and the day he sells it.
Yep. Had one in the late 70’s. Fun little car the two weekends a month it ran….
Either the tachometer isn’t working or the idle speed and redline are one and the same.
can’t differ more than I do w/last post. Was lots of fun to drive (5’10”, 30s y/o at ownership) in fact had 2 lives. At over 90K I rebuilt/modded for wkend SCCA ralling (more around then than now) and hauled w//the family waggy on landscaper’s trailor to 8 or 10 events a summer 3, 4 yrs…
40 yrs later (this winter) gota MR2 for another go at it…
Oh, you’re the one. They set up a very good quality control team at Fiat. But some good ones still made it out.
The tach goes counter clockwise. I have owned three of these little gems. 74,76 and a 81. Most fun I’ve ever had in a car. Go kart like handling, great mpg, fast enough, and stylish. Great targa roof that comes on and off in a second and stores under the front hood. These are getting very hard to find, especially in this condition. This one selling for $15K was right on the mark.
Had a friend that had one of these. Worse car in the world to work on. So tight that you can’t fit a hand, wrench or whatever is needed in the engine bay. Had to unbolt engine mounts and jack up the engine just to put a belt on it. Her father, who was one of the best all around mechanics I knew, absolutely hated that car. Yes, it was fun to drive, but repairs and parts were very expensive in its day. Most garages in our area wouldn’t work on them at all. If you have the tools, place and know-how to work on these, then it would be a fun little car to drive and own, but for the rest of us? I’ll stick to my old Firebirds– they were easy to fix, everything was accessible and parts weren’t too expensive.
& people complain about the front bumper on a ’73 vette?
Is that really the stock factory shifter “knob”?!
who ever bought it will be sorry, there a nice car & fun to drive (had one a few yrs. ago ),but he payed way to much money for it.
Whoever … one word
They’re … not there
Too … not to.
It’s very difficult to take your criticism seriously when you seem unable to string together a sentence or two at lower than third grade levels of grammar.
Also, spent many hours in my brother-in-law’s 1979 X-1/9 in the early 80’s. The handling alone made it a very fun car to drive.
Yes, that’s the original “beer tab” shifter knob. These cars were run hard, and rarely serviced due to lack of capable mechanics. The ones that survived were owned by those who took care of their own cars. With routine servicing, these cars were capable of many miles and smiles. Rust was always a major concern though. To find one with no rust issues and such low mileage like this one is indeed rare. The price was justified.
I had one. Most fun, best handling little car I ever owned. No comparison to Fiero.
i had a 1980 model in silver, i was 22 years old and it was a blast, until it wasn’t. weird problem of cutting out while cruising and the dealer was 65 miles away, lead me to sell it [later found out it was the coil going bad]
It is one of 4 cars from my younger days i wish i could have kept though.
I had bought it new off the showroom floor, the salesman said X1/9 or Spider, take your pick same price, my dad said “if i was you i would get the Spider, but i was a Magnum PI fan and had to have that mid engine thing….probably should have gotten the Spider dad
I had a brand new X19 great car to look at, but not to own. I learn that aluminum paper was a must have, as every time I went over a train track, or a pot hole. The engine fuse would blow, causing the vehicle to stall. And how can I forget the many times that the fuse box would fall, causing a meteorite of sparks. finally at 26 thousand miles the Marshall Chevrolet dealer in Reading Pa. Lancaster Ave. Towed it on the 1978 snow storm forgot that they had towed the vehicle, and while clearing the snow ran over the Fiat X19. they fix it, however, due to my bad ownership experience I quickly traded it on a new car. at 11000,00 the engine caught on fire, however the coolant hose turned the fire off leaving ,me with a high repair bill. Then there was the back firing every time I turn the vehicle off. I still remember the very loud sound like a fire cracker and the pedestrians covering their faces and cowering as thou they had been shot at. also having to hit the dash to make it start, Ah Such Memories I want my Pontiac Astre Formula back.
If those pedestrians were transferred to today, imagine how they would react to the tuners PURPOSELY backfiring – by REMOVING MUFFLER(S), etc. – some sound like gunfire!! – some sound like explosions!! – i can hear them with my wndows all closed. & guess who does NOTHING. Should be impounded, if not confiscated, as well as a good source of money.
… from fines as well. Did your astre formula have the optional t/a formula steering wheel? I have never seen THAT before – would like to see an interior pic with that wheel!
I guess girls went nuts only over NEW cars back in ’77?! …
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/photo/1977/2826650/261286.html
Ended: Mar 13, 2022 , 8:09AM
Winning bid:US $15,000.00 [ 1 bid ]
Shipping:
Located in:Richmond, Indiana,