X1/9 purchased!

[unoracer20]

Hi guys/gals, I’ve previously been a member years ago, when I had my restored 128 3p.

I’ve had various cars over the years since then, but my last Italian car was a Lancia Montecarlo which I recommissioned and improved over the last couple of years. I reluctantly sold it last year as I was offered the right price and I wanted a summer car that was more usable, so I went to the dark side and bought an M4 convertible. It wasn’t long before I missed having a classic car to tinker with, and so I’ve managed to keep the N4, but also scrape together enough funds to buy a very promising X1/9 unfinished project! It’s a 1983 example, which has had nearly all of the bodywork restored. It needs a full respray and recommissioning, but will be lovely once I’ve finished it! It’s in ‘Rosso metallic’ which is a nice lightish metallic red, and I’ll likely keep it the same colour . Looking forward to getting it done and out to some shows- hopefully this year!!

 

[bugsymike]

Hi guys/gals, I’ve previously been a member years ago, when I had my restored 128 3p.

I’ve had various cars over the years since then, but my last Italian car was a Lancia Montecarlo which I recommissioned and improved over the last couple of years. I reluctantly sold it last year as I was offered the right price and I wanted a summer car that was more usable, so I went to the dark side and bought an M4 convertible. It wasn’t long before I missed having a classic car to tinker with, and so I’ve managed to keep the N4, but also scrape together enough funds to buy a very promising X1/9 unfinished project! It’s a 1983 example, which has had nearly all of the bodywork restored. It needs a full respray and recommissioning, but will be lovely once I’ve finished it! It’s in ‘Rosso metallic’ which is a nice lightish metallic red, and I’ll likely keep it the same colour . Looking forward to getting it done and out to some shows- hopefully this year!!

Should be good when done, but sorry I always felt you needed to be a gynecologist to work on the engines.

 

[FBe69]

Unorace20, excellent choice. I'm not very objective because I also own a Bertone X1/9. They say it's more lively and responsive than the Montecarlo. You know how enjoyable a mid-engine car is to drive
Bugysmile: no, there are engines that are much less accessible than the one in the X1/9. But in fact, you need slender fingers and agile hands.

 

[unoracer20]

Thanks, yes I must admit to was a bit underwhelmed with the performance on the Monte Carlo, despite having twin Weber 40’s fitted etc. the lighter body ( and engine ) of the x1/9 will I’m sure make it a fun little car to drive.

 

[bugsymike]

Bugysmile: no, there are engines that are much less accessible than the one in the X1/9. But in fact, you need slender fingers and agile hands.

Around the time they came out the other vehicles that were in everyday use were in general a lot more accessible to work on, even a customers Lancia Fulvia 1.3 V4 which I thought was a good looking car.
However by todays standards then I agree there are a lot more less accessible, bear in mind when I started as an apprentice in late 60s the worst cars to work on were classic Minis. Most cars were front engine and rear wheel drive so Fords, Vauxhall, most BMC etc. you could almost shout at the engine and it would come out. A clutch job on a Mk1 Ford Transit you had a job making it last out to 30 minutes.
Re the slender fingers and agile hands, I agree mine are unsuitable to play concert piano, but I recall a friend was doing some upgrades inside a computer I had and he was struggling getting in some of the small screws, so I offered. His reply was "you won't get your clumpy mechanics hands in there", he was most surprised when I did the same job in seconds, so a certain amount of manual dexterity available.

 

[FBe69]

I agree that engine accessibility isn't as good as in a Triumph Spitfire, and that some simple tasks (changing the spark plug or oil filter) require contorting yourself to the sides. I personally removed the fan that blows on the carburetor (to prevent vapor lock) after finding that I didn't have this problem. That saved a lot of space and made access much easier.

Let's just say I was challenging a bit of a stereotype.
Just like the claim that the trunk is a real oven. No, that's not true; there's an insulation. Obviously, if you're carrying groceries, it's safer to put them in the front trunk, but the rear trunk is by no means the hellhole it's so easily portrayed as.

Typical British humor? "You could almost shout at the engine and it would come out."

 

[bugsymike]

Typical British humor? "You could almost shout at the engine and it would come out."

Ha,ha. May be a slight exaggeration.
Mind you I recall changing the engine on a Renault 10 I owned in my one hour lunch break at work in the 1970s and Mk 1 and 2 Ford Cortinas were even easier.
Those Triumph Spitfires and Heralds with the bonnet open you could sit on the front wheel to work on the engine, the Herald was one of the first clutch jobs I did, all inside the car, cardboard transmission tunnel with the carpet over it out the way and it was all in front of you, hand full of A/F spanners and a pair of pliers to undo the speedo cable nut. The good old days, mind you we were quite happy totally rebuilding an engine, gearbox, rear diff, setting up the crown wheel and pinion, etc.where as most garages don't even touch that sort of stuff these days.

 

[FBe69]

And to conclude on the topic of the X1/9's accessibility, modern cars are equipped with a whole host of accessories (which, yes, make the engine's performance much more efficient... but less lively, authentic, and communicative) that clutter the engine bay, even with the hood wide open. The X1/9's 1498cc engine has the bare minimum, allowing for relatively simple maintenance. Even among Youngtimers, which are somewhere in between, imagine a 5-cylinder turbo in a Fiat Coupé. Oh, what a nightmare that must be!

 

[AW8]

Watching with interest..My mother had 2 X19's (a 1290 & a 1500). I have also been in a Monte Carlo....lovely thing.

 

[unoracer20]

Watching with interest..My mother had 2 X19's (a 1290 & a 1500). I have also been in a Monte Carlo....lovely thing.

Yes the Monte Carlo was lovely. I’m looking forward to getting the x1/9 looking nice!

 

[unoracer20]

A few more photos , some photos, some of which highlight a few areas of corrosion to deal with. It’ll be stripped down to bare metal in the external panels to ensure all rust is identified and taken care of: