"mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/" (mxxxxxm24)
09/22/2014 at 03:07 • Filed to: X1/9
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"mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/" (mxxxxxm24)
09/22/2014 at 03:07 • Filed to: X1/9 | 7
| 5 |
At some point during high school (maybe junior year), I learned that my stepdad had bought a Fiat X1/9 back in the day. Actually, he and his brother had bought the X1/9 as a joint purchase years ago (they bought it new I believe). That wouldn't have mattered much to me except that he still had it, sitting in a garage at his brother's house!
Now, I had never heard of the X1/9 before and was pretty excited to get a look at (and maybe even drive home) what I was told was a street legal go-kart. In case you aren't familiar, "the Fiat X1/9 is a two-seater mid-engined sports car designed by Bertone and manufactured by Fiat from 1972-1982 and subsequently by Bertone from 1982-1989" (Wikipedia). The X1/9 didn't come to America until '74.
When we went to check it out; I was super excited. I mean, it's not everyday you learn you may inherit an exotic italian super sports (will you give me sports?) car designed by Bertone himself. We got there, to find it was in an old wooden shed under a tarp. It was like a barn find! Once the tarp was lifted, I could see what I could only describe as an italian MR2.
The car wasn't in that bad of shape at first glance. The key here being 'first glance'. The front spoiler was off. The car had a fair amount of rust (in several places). Also, it smelled of brake fluid (which made sense because the brake lines needed replacing). The interior was torn up and it became very clear that my stepdad and his brother had neglected this poor classic for many years.
After some tinkering: we managed to get her started! It sounded ...well to be honest it wasn't very impressive. Out of the factory it only made 60 or 70 hp and it wasn't running very well on top of that. I'm remembering a fuel pump issue among other things. That was beside the point though. With its incredibly short wheel base and mid engine; the X1/9 was made for the corners (as the video below will demonstrate). We drove it home and unfortunately due to the bake issues, didn't get to experience anything close to its handling limits, but it made it!
Now, I would like tell you that after working on her for a few months, we sorted everything out and had her up and running ...and that I got to take her out on some curvy backroads for some fun ...and that my stepdad handed me the keys as an early birthday present. Unfortunately, although we did begin to work on it some; my stepdad decided to get rid of it in order to reclaim garage space. He didn't consult me on the matter either. Aside from the initial drive home; it never saw the road again (until it was towed away).
Disclaimer: the image and video above are not mine. I give credit, where credit is due.
Jedidiah
> mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
09/22/2014 at 01:35 |
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I pulled up next to a black one of these not too long ago. It was in nice shape and made me smile.
beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard
> mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
09/22/2014 at 01:55 |
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my dad was a first owner of a light blue metallic '78 Serie Speciale he bought when he was my age.
I own an MR2 now so who knows if that had any influence on me.Great sounding car, he got rid of it when I was really young but I've had the chance to drive a couple of them that his mates have owned.
Distraxi's idea of perfection is a Jagroen
> mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
09/22/2014 at 03:45 |
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I had a beater one back in the 80s when I was a student. Fantastic fun - not fast, even by the standards of the day, but in pre-MR2, pre-MX5 times, it handled like nothing else real people could dream of owning.
And, oddly for an Italian car, it had a phenomenal heater. I got very strange looks driving around in the snow with the lid off, but revving the guts out of an open-top Italian sportscar through back country roads on a crisp winters night is just one of life's glorious experiences.
briannutter1
> mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
09/22/2014 at 09:56 |
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When I was a kid in smalltown Kansas 30 years ago, there was a guy with one of these. Not only did it stick out being Italian...it was on Slicks....and often seen on a Trailer...and it had this SCCA sticker on it...and it was a RACE car. That was one the first introductions to autocross and sportsman level racing.
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mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/
> briannutter1
09/22/2014 at 10:22 |
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Yes! This would be a very fun car to turn into a race car!