i've read on a few websites that the x1/9 share the same exact chassis as the stratos. is this true? i would like to think that i am sort of driving a stratos, or at least the bottom part

and is the x the closest thing we can ever get to a stratos?, seeing how they are really rare and hard to get.

Not even close i'm afraid.

They do share the same door handles and headlight pods though.

SteveC

Here's the link

Read the section "Fiat X 1/9 (1972-1976)"

I was about to point out the same as the article states. The X1/9 and the Stratos were parallel developments with the Stratos leading the way as a pure competition car. Much of what was learned from those developments was applied to the X1/9 to create something new - more suited for mass production and cheaper too. Perhaps the most significant part is that the Stratos uses a discrete chassis while the X1/9 utilises a monocoque. The Stratos is basically a hand crafted homologation special almost the first and last of its kind. The X1/9 is pure production line - for track and rally competition purposes it needed some pretty heavy development work.

To say that the X1/9 uses the stratos chassis is a blatant lie - the best you can say is that the X1/9 monocoque is derived from the stratos chassis.

If you want to see something more interesting I suggest you look at the X1/9 superstructure and the much more recent lotus elise...

I looked for some pics of the Stratos vs the X19 chassis ... they are small but you can make out the chassis is very different to the X ... the race car with no floor is Julian's (jimbro's) car ... clearly shows the monocouque structure as compared to the Stratos' fabricated chassis.

SteveC

I think and i also said this that the coolest car i have ever been near or in it, its the stratos.

Well....Ive been in a Transformer replica to be honest (the blue car in the profie photo i use) I did not know much about them. The guy let me sit in it. he opened it all up (bonnets doors etc) to have a look at. When i first saw it i thought is it original or not (i mean kit car) and i could not tell the difference. I now know that that was a kit car !!!! But what an AMAZING THING !!!!!

Since that day i said to myself that this is a BIG X1/9 or the X1/9 is a baby stratos....hence the footnote on my postings !!!!! and not a baby Ferrari !!!!

Still....what amazing cars both are !!!! :slayer:

George

(By the way...i have sat in my X1/9 ... i dont have it yet :bang: , but i was on holiday in UK and went to my uncles place and sat in the car.... Started it up...sounds cool but did not drive it as other cars were blocking it in )

the guy who used to maintain my race car started out driving an original Stratos on special rally stages and he definitely had a soft spot for the cars too.

a replica lived in the workshop - an ongoing project to swap the engine from an alfa v6 to a 4 cylinder lancia turbo. i spent a lot of time looking at it and to be honest despite the obvious points with the bodywork i have to say i wasn't hugely impressed.

I've been in a later 033c and that was rather more impressive but still not really in OMFG territory.

on the otherhand one of the last cars they had in while i still used that workshop was the (one and only) maserati boomerang - now that was an eye-opener, both in terms of the out-there styling but also how incredibly badly screwed together the car was despite its £1000000 status.