Fiat X1/9

Criticism

The X1/9 was not properly developed for production, and a reputation for problems dogged the model throughout its remarkably long life. The confined space of the engine compartment meant that routine maintenance was often skipped, and it also led to problems with overheating. A cooling fan was added for the carburetor, which otherwise would get so hot fuel would vaporize in the float chamber, leading to fuel starvation. The exhaust system was placed below a vestigial trunk, which would get so hot that placing things in it was hazardous. Early models were also prone to premature rusting to an extent that it endangered the security of the steering rack. There were problems with rapid wear of the transmission, and, in particular, failure of the reverse gear, even if the driver was careful not to use reverse on even a modest driveway upgrade, rather backing downhill into the driveway to avoid strain. The fuel system would produce extremely fine rust that would pass through the fuel filter and settle in the carburetor bowl, eventually blocking a critical passage that required carburetor removal and flushing; a process that was well within the capabilities of the home mechanic-owner, but a nuisance nonetheless.

Despite its mid-engined configuration, weight distribution was not perfect; the normally excellent handling soon worsened with wet or slippery conditions as the front wheels could struggle to gain grip under the relatively light front end of the car. By removing the spare tire from behind the passenger seat and securing it in the front compartment the directional stability for straight driving was greatly enhanced and the ride somewhat improved, at the expense of its quick handling at low speed.

In contrast to these mundane problems, and the fact that it was often dismissed as a "hairdresser's car" by some, the car was respected by those in the know for its tremendously good handling and dynamic qualities which made it a joy to drive and a real driver's car. One motoring review of the car after a 12,000 mile (19,000 km) test consisted simply of three words: "A baby Ferrari". Enthusiasts of the marque also took the standard lack of power into their own hands, and a popular do-it-yourself conversion was to transplant a 2.0 L Lancia DOHC engine, boosting the car's performance tremendously. Replacing the solid front brake rotors with vented Lancia parts was another common modification. A more modern alternative is the Uno Turbo engine (MK1), which is an easier, straight forward engine swap. Also the Uno turbo's vented brakes make an easy upgrade.

The removable hardtop, although not heavy, could be awkward for some people to remove and replace until the proper technique was worked out. Conveniently, it could be stored in the front luggage compartment which had fittings designed to secure it. There was an aftermarket top made by Saratoga which was made of lightweight polycarbonate, and had the additional advantage of being transparent.

The car had a reputed propensity to rapidly rust under all but the most desiccated of conditions. [Fiat and Lancia models of the 1970s were particularly infamous for rapidly succumbing to severe structural rust. This is commonly attributed to a well-documented deal made by FIAT with the Russian government for a supply of surplus Russian steel. The Russian government supplied FIAT with large quantities of steel in exchange for the rights and tooling necessary to manufacture a clone of the recently discontinued FIAT 124 (sold under the Lada and Zhiguli names). Though superficially a good deal for FIAT, who off-loaded their old design and tooling at a hefty profit, the steel they received was of an extremely poor quality. There is also anecdotal evidence that poor planning frequently left early X1/9 body-shells "un-painted" outside the Bertone factory before transportation to FIAT where the rusting body-shells were simply painted over.] Although many contemporary manufacturers vehicles suffered similarly, Fiat's problems were hyped by competitors ("eg", the X1/9's contemporaries such as Fords in the UK suffered badly from rust, but somehow never got the same reputation).

ee also

*Porsche 914, a contemporary mid-engined targa two-seater.
*Matra Bagheera, a contemporary mid-engined three-seater.
*Pontiac Fiero, another mid-engined two-seater.
*Toyota MR2, another mid-engined two-seater.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.x1-9ownersclub.org.uk/ UK X1/9 Owners' Club site, with lots of pictures]
* [http://www.x19web.org Worldwide XWEB Forums]
* [http://www.seattlex19.org SeattleX19, NW USA Club]
* [http://fili.project-x19.de Filipinetti X1/9] All about the first X1/9 racecar from Scuderia Filipinetti
* [http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/8835/ The Bertone Runabout concept-car] History by Tobias Berger
* [http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z1549/Bertone_Runabout/default.aspx 1969 Bertone Runabout Information]
* [http://www.x19.gr/ The Greek Fiat Bertone x1/9 Club]