In the miserable strife torn UK of the later 70's these stood out as an actually accessible Italian supercar. I had a friend who part exchanged a ruinously rusty FIAT 128 Rally for a similarly rusty early X1/9 ........ in our eyes he went from being Roger Clark to James Hunt overnight lol
Thank you :) I enjoy making these nuggets of information that are only found in Italian-language texts available to Italian car enthusiasts worldwide. I think Italian cars are loved all around the world but often misunderstood, and that's a big reason why I make these videos. Glad you appreciate it!
@@Matteo_Licata I enjoy your videos, hope to see more of them in future! Cin-cin Italy is so full of hidden or forgotten diamonds, so many times made in just one piece or so…….,..
I had a '74 X1/9 in California back in the 70's. I liked the car, frugal on gas, removable hardtop, fantastic brakes. The only problem with it was with a 1296 cc engine it was a little anemic for the Freeways and mountain passes. After installing a weber carburetor, new camshaft and exhaust (it was pre-cat). I sold it and bought a new Alfa Spider.
I also had one of these in 1985 when I was only 18 years old. Man, that car pulled some girls at that age, I can tell you. Fantastic little car - truly like a mini Lamborghini.
With four X1/9 videos on the channel so far, I doubt I'll manage to do more, unless I get to film some special edition models or unique versions... We'll see! :)
. The X1/9 styling is concept car that became real. I can’t imagine how the public reacted to it when In came out. I had one in the late eighties and I still got people checking out my X1/9. Numerical car names make sense because it’s almost universal
It sure must have been very innovative when new, as nothing quite like it had ever existed at the X1/9's price point. It took over a decade before Toyota adopted and refined the same formula with the MR2
This model was construct by and independent factory in Brazil too. There is a FIAT factory since 1976 in Betim, Minas Gerais State. Dardo O fora-de-série nacional era baseado no Fiat X 1/9 e foi o primeiro a contar com mecânica da montadora de Betim (MG). Apresentado em 1979, era um Targa com capota de fácil remoção e motor 1.3 de 72 cavalos, posteriormente substituído pelo 1.5 de 96 cv.
I had no idea Fiat's Betim factory also assembled X1/9s for local consumption, it's something that doesn't get mentioned in the Italian literature about this model. Thank you for letting me know.
The idea of creating internal nomenclature that doesn't give away details about what it might refer to reminds me of the "Rainbow Codes" used by the British military in the early post-WWII era.
Very nice thanks. I had just bought my 124 spider when the x1/9 was released over in North America. I did consider trading in but didn’t. I really liked it though. 👍👍
I had a 1980 model that I bought new. It was such a cleverly designed, beautiful, and fun to drive car! It was a shame it was so unreliable! I had to get rid of after only six years of repeated breakdowns and problems.
I am 6'5" and have been known to belt around in one. Maybe that answers your question. Currently making mince meat out of the Germans on open country roads using a Fiat Barchetta. Bw Mike in the Forest of Blackness
I guess if it had 200hp the Americans would have bought a lot more. The 70s and 80s were not appreciative of some small sports types. We had quite a few here in Sydney and they always got my attention.
When I was 11 I witnessed a 77 Lincoln town car hit one head on. The two people who was in the little car had to be cut out. I was in a grocery store with my mother and got to see both walking around and actually Remembered his face from the wreck. He told me the lady who hit them had been drinking.
I've often wondered how badly these small European sports cars would fare if hit by a period Detroit sedan. Cars like the Fiat 850 Spider were low and tiny even by Italian standards! I'm glad those involved in the wreck you witnessed lived to tell the tale.
How did it became that the trucks in these days started with a 6? So the 615, 616, 642? Does it have anything to do with the engineering plant or internal Fiat codes?
I'm not aware of any plans for moving the Conservatoire from its current location. Moreover, the Heritage Hub here in Turin wouldn't have the space anyways
The X1/9 never got its own three-digit code, and its chassis code is 128AS, therefore classed as a derivative of the 128 because of the running gear, even though it's a different body
In the miserable strife torn UK of the later 70's these stood out as an actually accessible Italian supercar. I had a friend who part exchanged a ruinously rusty FIAT 128 Rally for a similarly rusty early X1/9 ........ in our eyes he went from being Roger Clark to James Hunt overnight lol
Lovely car. My aunt owned her Lido from new for nearly 40 years.
Cool! The Lido looked really good
The planning power of Fiat in the '60 and '70 was astonishing
Matteo is a walking Encyclopedia of italian motoring!! 🙏🙏
Thank you :)
I enjoy making these nuggets of information that are only found in Italian-language texts available to Italian car enthusiasts worldwide. I think Italian cars are loved all around the world but often misunderstood, and that's a big reason why I make these videos. Glad you appreciate it!
@@Matteo_Licata I enjoy your videos, hope to see more of them in future!
Cin-cin
Italy is so full of hidden or forgotten diamonds, so many times made in just one piece or so…….,..
Excellent, I often wondered why it had such a curious name… and now I know thanks to you!
Glad you appreciated this little bit of trivia :)
I had a '74 X1/9 in California back in the 70's. I liked the car, frugal on gas, removable hardtop, fantastic brakes. The only problem with it was with a 1296 cc engine it was a little anemic for the Freeways and mountain passes. After installing a weber carburetor, new camshaft and exhaust (it was pre-cat). I sold it and bought a new Alfa Spider.
I also had one of these in 1985 when I was only 18 years old. Man, that car pulled some girls at that age, I can tell you. Fantastic little car - truly like a mini Lamborghini.
That's cool! :)
Here from Oliver pickard’s channel. I’ve owned a few of these and my dad absolutely loved them
What a wonderful machine. I had an '85 badged as a Bertone here in the US. I've regretted selling it for years...
I had an X1/9. 😄
Great fun little car.
Yes! More x1/9 videos
With four X1/9 videos on the channel so far, I doubt I'll manage to do more, unless I get to film some special edition models or unique versions... We'll see! :)
. The X1/9 styling is concept car that became real. I can’t imagine how the public reacted to it when In came out. I had one in the late eighties and I still got people checking out my X1/9.
Numerical car names make sense because it’s almost universal
It sure must have been very innovative when new, as nothing quite like it had ever existed at the X1/9's price point. It took over a decade before Toyota adopted and refined the same formula with the MR2
This model was construct by and independent factory in Brazil too. There is a FIAT factory since 1976 in Betim, Minas Gerais State. Dardo
O fora-de-série nacional era baseado no Fiat X 1/9 e foi o primeiro a contar com mecânica da montadora de Betim (MG). Apresentado em 1979, era um Targa com capota de fácil remoção e motor 1.3 de 72 cavalos, posteriormente substituído pelo 1.5 de 96 cv.
I had no idea Fiat's Betim factory also assembled X1/9s for local consumption, it's something that doesn't get mentioned in the Italian literature about this model. Thank you for letting me know.
The idea of creating internal nomenclature that doesn't give away details about what it might refer to reminds me of the "Rainbow Codes" used by the British military in the early post-WWII era.
Dad had a 4spd. Slow as molasses but loads of fun.
Very nice thanks. I had just bought my 124 spider when the x1/9 was released over in North America. I did consider trading in but didn’t. I really liked it though. 👍👍
On my list of dream cars
What a great video! Another one!
Thank you! I hope to film another nice classic Fiat soon, watch this space!
I had a 1980 model that I bought new. It was such a cleverly designed, beautiful, and fun to drive car! It was a shame it was so unreliable! I had to get rid of after only six years of repeated breakdowns and problems.
Now that was interesting! Thanks Matteo👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thx Matteo, interesting facts.
Thank you for watching!
Ciao Matteo come va? Come sempre ottimo lavoro per il video spero che stai bene! 😊
Grazie mille! Si tutto bene, faccio più fatica ad essere costante con i video per via di altri impegni, ma continuerò a farne, questo è sicuro
@@Matteo_Licata grande Matteo! Quando poi noi saremo sempre qui a vedere il video! 🙂👍
I've always wondered if I fit in one.
Always love your videos.
I am 6'5" and have been known to belt around in one. Maybe that answers your question. Currently making mince meat out of the Germans on open country roads using a Fiat Barchetta. Bw Mike in the Forest of Blackness
@@mikesage9544 6' 3" and slim so shouldn't be a problem.
Grüße in den Schwarzwald.
Don't worry your shrinking .
Very beautiful car
We agree!
My buddy had 2 x19 bertones when we were in high school. They were awesome little cars when they were on the road.
Do you see the resembling look of the x175 and Citroën AX? (Maybe it's just me)
Yes, there's indeed a passing resemblance to the AX, I see that too
Interesting!
Glad you think so!
I guess if it had 200hp the Americans would have bought a lot more. The 70s and 80s were not appreciative of some small sports types. We had quite a few here in Sydney and they always got my attention.
When I was 11 I witnessed a 77 Lincoln town car hit one head on.
The two people who was in the little car had to be cut out.
I was in a grocery store with my mother and got to see both walking around and actually Remembered his face from the wreck.
He told me the lady who hit them had been drinking.
I've often wondered how badly these small European sports cars would fare if hit by a period Detroit sedan. Cars like the Fiat 850 Spider were low and tiny even by Italian standards! I'm glad those involved in the wreck you witnessed lived to tell the tale.
So i own a 1986 x1/4🎉🇮🇹🇧🇷
How did it became that the trucks in these days started with a 6? So the 615, 616, 642? Does it have anything to do with the engineering plant or internal Fiat codes?
I'm not an expert on trucks, and in Giacosa's autobiography, he wrote that the number 6 was used for special-application engine designs.
Stellantis Heritage Hub? Will the Citroen Conservatoire also go there? Doubt it! 😁
I'm not aware of any plans for moving the Conservatoire from its current location. Moreover, the Heritage Hub here in Turin wouldn't have the space anyways
@@Matteo_Licata can’t imagine it either. There would questions in the French Assemble and Stelantis has become too much of a Juggernaut anyway. 😁
Wasn't the Lancia Scorpion the X1/20?
Yep. The project actually began as X1/8, but that was put on hiatus and the X1/20 code was given once work restarted
@@Matteo_Licata - Thanks. I remember reading that in the magazines at the time, but haven't seen it since.
Wish FIAT would build their own sports car again,their car range today is lacking something.....
Judging by how well it went with the last 124 Spider, I doubt we will ever see a Fiat sports car again
I remember when they were brand new on the Fiat lot. Unreliable but cute.
So if "1" represented passenger cars, why is the 500 called, well, the 500?
And guess who just added a SECOND Fiat to the family fleet today? 😁
The 500 (the Nuova 500) had the code 110.
Congratulations, which model?
@@Matteo_Licata 500x, 6-speed with the 1.4T MultiAir
@@chrisfreemesser5707 TOP DEAL, man🇮🇹🇮🇹
So it could have been the Fiat 190?
The X1/9 never got its own three-digit code, and its chassis code is 128AS, therefore classed as a derivative of the 128 because of the running gear, even though it's a different body
A great insite , never knew why they kept the X. In there model line
Thank you!
They exported alot to Australia, the x 19. I've often wondered why was this
Probably because Aussies have good taste in cars, I'd say :)