Flashback: FiatX1/9

[speedog]

Was surfing around this morning and came upon a March 1973 issue of Road & Track that reviewed the 1973 Fiat X1/9 - this got me a reminiscing as my uncle had one of these and while being seriously underpowered, it was probably one of the most fun cars I have ever ridden in or driven. One of these would probably be a great Sunday play-around vintage type of sports car but finding one in half decent consition is near to impossible these days.

Never the less, a link (http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a8540/archive-dive-1973-fiat-x19/) to the Road and Track acrticle and another loink (http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/05/29/driving-impression-fiat-x19/) to another review made in 2012 of a museum kept X1/9..

What's unexpected when compared to today's small cars is how diminutive these X1/9's were - very similar to a first generation MAzda Miata except lighter, narrower and not as tall (46.5" tall x 13' long x 5' 2" wide).

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

My dad had one of these back in the UK before I was born. Apparently he managed to rebuild the transmission in his kitchen sink on a Sunday without a press and cook dinner for my mom too at the same time.

[Penguin_Racecar]

I've driven one of these with a CBR1100XX motorcycle engine in the passenger seat and chaindrive to the rear axle. A friend used to ice-race it in Lac La Biche / Telford / Leduc / Stony Plain.

[toastgremlin]

These are neat cars. I wonder how many are left in AB that aren't entirely rust? Hmm.

[AE92_TreunoSC]

Worked on/ Seen 2, both junk, both had trans issues haha. All parts have to be flown in. Tough gig trying to restore cars like those.