Impulso, that's an Italian word for momentum. The Fiat X1/9 is
the embodiment of the momentum car. At 2000 pounds and barely 70
horsepower, it relies heavily on its go-kart like handling to keep
more powerful pursuers at bay; on the gas and off the brakes, best
to find the earliest line to enter the corner to keep the revs up
on exit. This little Italian car will teach you things you never
knew about driving fast.
Designed by the master of the wedge design, Marcelo Gandini of the
Bertone Design Studio; the same man who penned most of the early
Lamborghini supercars including the other worldly Miura and iconic
Countach. The X1/9 inspired others to develop low cost mid-engine
wedges such as the Toyota MR2 and Pontiac Fiero.
Up for sale is this 1979 edition of the Fiat X1/9, mid-engine
sports car. This car is a true survivor; original and unrestored.
Remarkably rust free, it hailed from Oklahoma where I purchased it
from an X1/9 enthusiast. It came to me in good running condition.
What little sorting I have done includes rewinding of a tired
alternator, drive belts, spark plugs, CV Boots, some bushings,
filters and a tie rod. As is common, the car's mechanical fuel pump
has been bypassed with an aftermarket electric fuel pump relocated
in the rear trunk. A fresh battery was installed in April 2017. I
replaced some tired weather stripping and a few broken trim pieces.
That's it!
Tires and shocks are good. Motor mounts look fresh. The car starts
right up, idles and revs smoothly with no strange sounds or
vibrations. The clutch has good modulation and takes up well. It
shifts through all forward gears as is it should. Reverse gear is
notoriously weak on these cars, but there is no issue with this one
although by reputation I treat it with tenderness. The car steers
precisely and tracks straight down the road. Unassisted disk brakes
are more than adequate. It cruises easy on the highway at 70mph in
fifth and runs about 180' Fahrenheit all day long in the Texas
heat, no sweat.
Unlike many other Italian sports cars the '79 X features a single
overhead cam engine. Its 1.5 liters rev freely up to its near
7000rpm red line. With a healthy compression ratio of about 9:1 you
might think it temperamental but in fact with its non-interference
valve train you are actually looking at a thoroughly thrashable low
maintenance engine.
All of the lights and signals are in working order as is the
instrumentation and controls. The AC components are installed but
have not been charged or inspected. The removable top is in
excellent condition and stows easily in the front trunk on the
correct mounting tabs. The glass is all good and the windows roll
up and down smoothly. The upholstery and carpet are original with a
few threadbare areas but nothing major. The seats are very
comfortable with good supportive foam. The dash is in great shape
with only minor imperfections. The car has an aftermarket head unit
with Bluetooth and sounds good, even with the top off and windows
down.
The unrestored body and original paint show their age with some
thin spots and a few dings here and there. I have freshened up a
few of the exterior plastic trim pieces and adorned it with a nice
new set of Fiat enamel emblems. The patina of this car has grown on
me, but someone so inclined to restore it will be delighted with
the starting point condition of this car.
This little car is a joy to drive and even though they built a lot
of them it draws a lot of questions as to "what is it?" Of the
160,000 produced between 1972 and 1989, almost 92,000 were sold in
the USA. They were designed to be inexpensive cars and as used cars
got really cheap. As such many were neglected and were either
reclaimed by the earth or sent to the crusher man. What is certain
is that those that remain on the road today still look sharp, even
exotic; the same wedge design elements graced many of the most
coveted supercars ever made. I like to think of the X1/9 as a baby
Ferrari.
Living in a world where 300hp is what you get in a base model
Mustang and everyday performance models are pushing towards 500hp
it begs the question where and when can one explore the limits of a
435hp Mustang GT without getting killed or going to jail? There is
some old school wisdom and ear to ear grins in the adage that it's
more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow; impulso
bella!
This Fiat X1/9 is located in Rowlett TX 75088 and is offered as is
where is. Texas residents may be subject to sales tax and fees. I
can assist with shipping worldwide. Low ballers and sales
assistants need not apply. If the ad is posted the car is
available. Call, text or reply.
