1989 Bertone/Fiat X1/9.
The replacement for the tiny but beautiful Fiat 850 Spider began production in 1972. Spurred by the entry of the mid engine VW/Porsche 914, Fiat took the engine and drive train of the Fiat 128 sedan mounted it mid ship and created an affordable and fun Targa top great handling light weight sports car.
Based on a show car concept of the Autobianchi Runabout. Designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone and was shown at the 1969 Turin Motor Show. The car featured a mid-mounted Fiat 128 engine and gearbox. The wedge shape design took many styling cues from contemporary power-boat designs. And the distinctive head lamps were mounted on the roll over bar. The prototype was a serious proposal at the time and became the bases of the Fiat X1/9.
Designed from the onset with US future safety rules in mind the car was an instant success in spite of Fiat's spotty reliability record. Priced right and economical to operate some 140,000 were built by Fiat and the last 20,000 by Bertone.
From Wikipidea.
US Sales of X1/9s
The X1/9 underwent three generations in the USA: 1974 cars, 1975-78 cars, and 1979-87 cars.
1974 USA examples aligned closely with worldwide models, including small bumpers, 1290cc engine, and 4-speed transmission.
1975-78 USA cars were unique to the US market with "ladder-style" impact absorbing bumpers front and rear. To meet USA evaporative and Exhaust emission standards, X1/9's were fitted with Exhaust gas recirculation valves, air pumps and an activated charcoal system. These cars were rated at 63HP.
In 1979 USA cars received an increase in displacement to 1498cc and a 5-speed transmission. 1979 USA cars retained the previous emission controls. Model years 1980 and 1981 saw a transition from carburetion to Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, with the changeover coming in 1980 for cars sold in California and a gradual changeover for "federal" cars from late 1980 to 1981 model years. The combination of Fuel Injection (FI), a catalytic converter and unleaded gasoline allowed these cars to meet California and later federal emission standards. FI cars were rated at 75HP.
In 1979 USA X1/9s also received both exterior and interior revisions including integrated bumpers front and rear, as well as a new front grille and airdam. The instrument panel and dash redesign moved the heating and ventilation controls from the center console up to the main dash, relocated the radio into the center dash area, moved the fuse panel from the area above the driver's left knee to the area above the passenger's footwell where the glovebox was, and moved the glovebox atop the dash.
During 1982, Fiat ended its presence in the USA. Fiat turned over marketing and support of the X1/9 to International Automobile Importers, Inc., headed up by Malcolm Bricklin, and turned over full production duties to Bertone. 1983 was a transition year for the orphaned X1/9, which thereafter was sold as the "Bertone X1/9." IAI and Bertone continued to update the X1/9, such as providing rust protection, revised seating to accommodate taller drivers, and a modernized electrical system for 1984 models.
US sales of the X1/9 took a nose dive in the final few years, and 1987 was the last year that IAI imported X1/9s to the USA.
Junkyard Find: 1984 Fiat X1/9 Bertone
Tour of a 1984 Fiat X1/9 Bertone in a local junkyard. This car has been there about as long as the Yugo in one of my other videos and hasn't really been touched apart from vandalism.
If you're interested in parts off this car, PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ME, contact or visit the yard:
Ryan's Hubbell Auto Parts in Detroit MI.
Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo 2.0 16V
Fiat Abarth X1/9 prototipo replica
Buildt by Ove Thorkildsen, Norway
Fiat Croma turbo block
16v Tipo cylinderhead
Fiat Abarth 130 TC gearbox
If you cold just take one second of your day and press the subscribe button (on the top of the page), you then will be able to see future videos from me on your youtube.
1980 Fiat X 1/9
Ride around the block in my Fiat x 1/9. No talking, just the sound of the engine with the windows up... No dubbed music tracks or wind noise.
The fastet Hill Climb Car of the World - 2012
From the new race seasion 2012 - LAZZARO RACING FIAT X1/9.
Known as "the fastest hill climb car of the world"
NOW with new ONBOARD Videos!
Visit: MrVincenzo178 or Roystorm17 on Youtube!!!
description of the old movie:
Maybe not the fastest... BUT The fastest FIAT I have ever seen :D
This Car was so damn fast, it was 8 Seconds faster than any other Car at this track! Original Video by Roystorm17.
You can buy the Race DVD's here in best quality:
http://www.dorvyd.it/Homepage.html
The Air Intake looks like a Formula 1 Intake and the engine revs over 10.000rpm. Absolutly Awesome, the Cars wight was under 600KG and the Power of the engine nearly 300Hp.
Another Great Hill Climb Racer - George Plasa - died this year, he was the record breaker of several hill climbs in Europe. Please hold him in memory with his great Drivingstyle and his Bmw Judd V8 Engine. (Formula 1 like engine)
Fiat Bertone X1/9 Prototype Wiper Relay Test
This informal test shows how quickly and easily "real car" windshield wiper speeds can be achieved on a vintage car, in this case a 1987 Bertone X1/9, with the use of relays. The car's existing wiper circuit now acts as only as a low amperage trigger circuit for the relays, while the relays conduct 12 volts straight from the battery to the wiper motor with a dedicated 20 amp fuse, with none of the accumulated resisitance gathered while travelling through the steering column switches, connectors, and fuses. The intermittant setting works just as before.
G5 Fiat X 1/9 pt. 4
Rally, Rally Cross, SRT-4, Fiat, X-19, Clutch Masters, Six Feet Deep Clothing, SMX Optics, EFX Performance, Rockwell Time, AMS Oil, DC, AEM, Epic Action Cams, turbo, T3 turbo, Crane Cams, CARS Performance Brakes, Drilled and Slotted, Race, Race Brakes, Dodge, Neon, Chad Towle, Travis Rudd, Team Towle Motorsports, Team Rudd Racing, Rally America, G5, Rally Team, American, Italian, Beast, Awesome, Build, Progress, Sponsor Update
Fiat X1/9 dyno test w header and catalyst from Allison's Automotive Dyno test of a Fiat X1/9 after installation of our header and Exhaust system. The header produced a 11% peak hp increase and nearly 20% increase over the stock Exhaust in the midrange and top end. Similar increases in torque also. Complete information on the header is available at www.allisonsautomotive
