Now That’s Italian! 1986 Bertone X1/9
The Bertone X1/9 is likely well-known to any ‘70s and ‘80’s era mid-engine sports car aficionados out there. To the rest of us it is certainly familiar in appearance but confusing when trying to understand its origin. One’s initial reaction when seeing an X1/9 is usually “Hey, check out that Fiat!” followed by “Bertone? What’s a Bertone? I thought that was a Fiat!” Well it is…or was. Originally designed by Italy’s Gruppo Bertone company for Fiat, the X1/9 was successfully produced from 1972-1981 and competed well in sales with the MGB and Triumph TR7. Bertone then took over production from 1982-1989 and began manufacturing the car it originally designed while keeping the Fiat-produced motor under the hood…I mean behind the seat. Listed at $5,500 this 1986 X1/9 can be found here on craigslist in beautiful Burlington, VT where it has gone through a recent restoration by its owner.
Regarded as a sporty, competent, and stable handling sportster this late model X1/9 is powered by a mid-mount, rear wheel drive, five-speed manual SOHC 4 cylinder engine producing somewhere around 70hp. That doesn’t sound too intimidating and the X1/9 certainly didn’t win any titles on the strip back in the day, but because of its compact design (less than four feet tall) and light weight (1,940 lbs.) its reported to be a blast to drive on twists and turns and does well to provide drivers with a respectable degree of perma-grin while behind the wheel. Its low stance and close proximity to the ground also gives a false sense of pure speed even when traveling just a few clicks above 55.
The seller provides just one glancing photo of the engine bay, but it appears pleasantly clean and nicely maintained. He claims the engine and transmission were rebuilt, and the car has 60,000 miles. No details are given regarding the car’s history, but a listing of what has been recently repaired and replaced is given along with a somewhat hasty prompt for interested buyers to “…call for more info.”
The X1/9’s distinctively poised Italian design, compact wedge-shape, and super cool retractable head lights provide plenty of charm. Zipping along with its hard top removed this targa is certainly a head-turner. From ’72-‘81 Fiat produced nearly 150,000 X1/9’s, with sales experiencing a gradual descent after the mid 1970’s. Continuing to lose steam into the early ’80’s, Fiat relinquished production to Bertone in 1982. Unfortunately the X1/9 lost even greater market share in the U.S.A to the Pontiac Fiero and Toyota MR2 during the 1980’s, and production ultimately ended in 1989.
The seller seems to have kept the black interior looking great and one can appreciate the essence of pure sportiness when noticing the close proximity of the steering wheel to the driver’s lap. Not surprisingly, the cockpit of the X1/9 is said to wrap tightly around the driver which certainly appears to be the case when looking at this picture. Considering Hagerty values a #3 X1/9 at $5,100, this could be a nice opportunity for someone to own a classic, entry level, mid-engine sports car that is great looking, fun to drive, and best of all… imported from Italy!
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Comments
Ahhhh, memories…I was spending a week with a Bertone X1/9 when they were new, and took my new girlfriend out in it. She got great amusement from watching me, at 6’2″ and 200 pounds, trying to crawl in and out of the thing…..
Sadly, that was about where the fun ended. By the Bertone days, pollution controls had taken most of the oomph out of the engine, and for what I assume were cost-cutting reasons, some of the interior bits — switches, for example, as well as some plastic trim — seemed a bit fragile. On the other hand, the suspension and brakes delivered pretty decent handling, but at the expense of ride.
Not long after, I got into a Toyota MR2 and was knocked out. It had none of the X 1/9’s drawbacks and plenty of suds (especially when the supercharged version arrived).
In 1972, these were terrific cars. By 1986, they had passed their sell-by date. Someone who is shorter, lighter, and is good at tuning Fiat engines might disagree.
Ray, I can relate I was selling Fiats when these came out and I’m 6 foot 6 & 200 pounds. I could get one leg and one arm in and that was about it. I had to send test drive customers out by themselves and hope they came back! I don’t remember ever selling a single one…
Ray, I had a go of my mate’s daft one which had had a Strada Abarth engine/gearbox shoehorned into it. It was utterly hilarious; they handled well anyway, but you could spin the wheels on this one. It ended up rusting away; he still has the drivetrain, I believe…
>In 1972, these were terrific cars. By 1986, they had passed their sell-by date.
You’ve got it entirely backwards! The early cars started rusting almost immediately, were plagued with electrical problems, and were absolutely strangled by emissions controls.
The later cars are more refined, and have far fewer issues. The Bertone badged cars were the pinnacle of the model.
I’ve owned my ’83 for 19 years, and aside from routine and preventative maintenance items, the only thing I’ve ever needed to replace was the air flow meter.
I am only 5’7″ and back in my teens I got to drive a late 70s/early 80s model. Not sure the year. It belonged to a friend of my Dad’s who let me take it for a spin a couple of times. I loved it…
But I totally agree with you when compared to the MR2. In the mid-80s, I dated a college girl whose father gave her a brand new MR2 when she graduated high school in ’86. It was a much better handling car with more pep than I remember the X 1/9 being. I liked them both, but I would have taken an MR2 if given the choice.
Without going the “Fiat Dino” route, this, I think, was the nicest Fiat ever.
I remember seeing one in 1973,on Van Ness Blvd,in
San Francisco,in 1973.
It was Apple Green,with no badges on it.
My 1974, bought new
Nice
Fix It Again Tony. Now that’s Italian
Is that the best you can do? Use an old tired cliche that nobody appreciates?
Could have used: “Fix It Another Tow’ or Futile Italian Attempt At Transportation’. All of these are just funning with us. Those of us who know, know better.
My daily driver, an ’80 Spider, has 336,000+miles and seldom needs fixing.
By this point they had around 85hp, but that’s splitting hairs. Also, when Bertone took over production, the footwells were deepened to accommodate taller folks. At 5’11” my 86 X1/9 was comfortable for me with the seat all the way back. But I was 21 y/o then, and it’d be a different story with my bad back these days! And like you said in the article, being so low to the ground certainly made you FEEL like you were going fast! And they handled and cornered really well. With standard accessories like power windows and a/c, it was a great car for zooming around San Diego. I bought it at one year old for a song and a dance, and never had any trouble with it. Sold it after two years for a 72 Pontiac Grandville convertible with a 455. Talk about the other end of the spectrum!
I dated a girl in LA who bought one of these new and had a chance to get behind the wheel. Most gutless car I’ve ever had the displeasure of driving. Had to floor it at all times just to keep up with city traffic. Did it look cool? At the time, yes it was so “wedgy-edgy.” But that was the only good thing about it.
Bertone actually handled production of these throughout the model run. When Fiat decided to pull out of the US market after ’82 and concurrently canceled their production contracts with Bertone and Pininfarina for the X1/9 and Spider (as the US was their primary remaining market), Malcolm Bricklin saw enough US market demand to commission continued production from those coachbuilders, who took the opportunity to implement numerous proposed improvements that Fiat had declined to approve.
Always liked these.
I’ve had/have 14 of these things. These cars are a blast to drive – and pretty darn quick once you get the hang of it. Personally I would never own one of the 1974 to 1978 ones — the later ones have different engines and transmissions and are way better cars. The 1979 ones were not fuel injected — but the ones after that are — which is the ones you want. Best bet is after late 1983 and 1984 with the leather interior…. those are the nicest ones — and in 1986 they added more head bolts to make the head gaskets last longer. Ideal is to take an 86 and put the leather seats and door panels from an 84 :)
A manager in the company I worked for bought an X1/9 new in 1977. He was so proud of his car and that modern shape. He soon changed his tune as it became common for someone in the department to say “Larry called from home and said his X1/9 would not start” or “Larry called in and said his X1/9 broke down on the way in” or “Larry called in and said his X1/9 started smoking on the way in”. Larry was getting fed up with his “new” car. So in perfect timing with the new release of the 1978 Toyota Celica Supra, and after two fire-related wiring issues, Larry’s X1/9 caught fire one morning driving it to work and it was a complete loss. The next morning he came into work the proud owner of a new ’78 Toyota Celica Supra. He kept it several years and never had a lick of trouble with it.
Mine was black, like this one, and GOLD.STRIPING. EVERYWHERE. I’m 6’2″, weighed about 250, and had little trouble getting in or out – I was a lot younger then. A blast to drive – constant overheating. A rebuilt engine from a Fiat 131 solved that. Otherwise a fun car.
A mate had one. 6’4″ and he fitted in OK. Mind you we were in our 20s.
I’d love one. I wonder if you could fit the 2 litre twin cam & five speed from a Lancia Beta in one?
Euro bumpers too.
Chris In Australian — yes you can do that – but it is more common to put a Fiat Uno turbo motor as it has more power and is easier to install. There is also a way to install a Honda K20 engine in these (midwest-bayless even sells a kit to help you do this). The swap seems a little difficult — BUT result is you have a reliable X1/9 with 250+hp — not much on the road would keep up with you.
Really fun cars to drive. Worked on many in the day and they have a tendency to lock up in reverse so be gentle with that shift; you have to take the transmission out, open up the case, and knock the shifter fork loose.
These were CHIX CARS when they first came out….ALL SHOW AND NO GO as well. I had a chance to drive one of these in 1981. It was my girlfriend’s car. It handled quite nicely….I love you and the car honeybun….. It was fun fortunately (?) I married the girl but the car sadly burnt up!