This popped up locally, and I've always thought they were cool. Seller says it turns over but has no spark. Seller also says no rust and a straight body.
Do I have time for this? No. Do I have space for this? Also no. Am I going to go look at it anyway? Yeah....
Thoughts? What would you pay?
Robbie would be a good person to ask. He has picked up at least two, maybe four in the past few years. I believe all were Challenge eligible
That looks like it could be a really nice car under all the dust and dirt. In today's market it's hard to say but I think '74s are near the top of the X1/9 value heap thanks to the little bumpers. I loved the one I briefly had, even if it was slow.
Worth good money to California people. I searched for one on and off for a long time wanting to do a crazy emission exempt build, couldn't find a decent '74.
I still dream of these with a Dallara kit and a high revving heart
MUST change timing belt before start attempt. Get your parts here. I haven't seen one for sale in ages so don't know what it would be worth. You'll have to replace both master cylinders which are under the dash...one of my least favorite jobs ever. The early cars sometimes have a weird brake caliper that I'd replace with the 124 style. A mild cam and exhaust can wake these up but they will still be 1300cc so keep your expectations low. It's a car you can drive flat out everywhere and never break a traffic law. Lots of fun and actually pretty reliable once you get through the inevitable teething period.
Yes since this is in CA, the smkg exempt 1974 part makes it more valuable than it should be. That will allow for a drivetrain swap.
If course, pay as little as you possibly can. The project will cost more than expected and the lowest priced starting point is the best place to save.
I'd be looking to pay $500, but it wouldn't shock me if he wants $3K.
If it's been stored inside, there is the (slight) possibility it's a rust-free car. That would make it worth more.
Any time these cars come up anywhere, I find myself searching this thread and watching these Danish Touring Car racing video:
Rupunzell said:
Johannes Graversen won the Danish Touring car championship, Aug. 23, 2009 in a Bertone/FIAT x1/9. The other two cars are a Porsche 997 and Renault Megane Trophy V6 (introduced 2008 as a mid-engine V6, Nissan 3.5L powered track car). Interesting to see a what is widely considered a "cheap crap heap" in the US taking on the most recent track car designs from Porsche and Renault. Just one more example of what this Bertone chassis is capable of if given the chance and what FIAT management at the time made sure would never happen back in the day when this car was in production.
Here is the race video: Race part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV1t5O2xmcI
Race part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4-Wvtz1gWY&feature=related
Cars in this field: Fiat x1/9 Turbo Aquila CR1 Aquila SR1 Corvette C5R Ferrari 360 Challenge Porsche 997 Peugeot 306 maxi BMW 320i E46 2,0 Renault Megane Trophy V6 Honda Accord 2,2 Type R Volvo S60 T5 Honda Civic Type R Alfa Romeo 147 Nissan Skyline GTS-R BMW 325i VW Golf Gti Ford Escort MK 2 Sleipner LM 3000 Toyota Supra GT300 Ford Focus Lotus Elise VTEC 2,0 Honda Integra 2,0 Type R K20 Porsche 944 5,4
This X1/9 is powered by a 1.4L FIAT Uno Turbo engine (This is the FIAT turbo version of the stock engine used in the x) tweaked to about 360 Bhp using Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection.
More about this X1/9: http://www.x1-9.dk/graversen-traef.htm
Graversen is a member of the Danish X1/9 club: http://www.x1-9.dk/english.htm
Under "racing" http://www.x1-9.dk/english.htm
If it is truly rust free, even with the borked mechanicals I think $3k or even more isn't out of the question. For starters, those things won the Rust World Championship when new anyway, plus they have a bunch of problematic areas by design. Check the windshield surround, but even more important are the rear shock towers (multiple layers of metal, if they have noticeable rust the car is scrap even at BaT pricing). Also check front shock towers, they have similar issues but not as bad. Just keep in mind that everything but the glass rusts on these cars, and the jury is still out on the glass...
The '74 is the most desirable US model X1/9 as it's the only year that got the Euro bumpers from the factory. That will bump up the price.
What I don't like much about the photo is the way the driver's side door shuts, doesn't look too great at the A-pillar. Also, check the condition of the interior - parts are an issue with them, and interior parts doubly so. I'd be less worried about the mechanicals, worst case if you're not going for a concours resto, drop a later 1.5L in and hot it up a bit.
In reply to BoxheadTim :
All true.
The almost universal nature of rust on these things is why I said $500. If it truly is the only remaining rust-free one on the planet, I agree $3K is not out of the question.
Rust free isn't so unbelievable to me, I happen to have 2 like that. I think that of the ones still around today, a lot started out and stayed as sunny drivers only.
74 is desirable, yellow is meh to me.
Parts are cheap but labor is the same for all cars. And x1/9s even in great condition just aren't worth that much. That one looks like a lot of work. How long will it take to replace every rubber part on the car (currently it's all 50 years old)? I'd guess that's a $2k sale. And it probably won't be a worthwhile flip at any price. Since I'm already elbows deep in resurrecting a barn find, I'm staring at the amount of work in front of me. It's a lot.
They are super fun to drive, and they look so unique. And they're cheap. Get one!
In reply to SV reX :
These days I'm getting the impression that even one buried to the axles in PA mud for a decade is at least a grand. They're getting rare, so good ones are going up in price even outside BaT.
I'm just going to leave this here "for inspiration":
I'd start at a grand, and see if the seller gets offended. Walk at 1500, because no matter what, that is a project.
All the above, assuming near zero rust. (check drains in corners of frunk, shock towers, as mentioned, spare tire well, etc I've seen these rust from the underside of the front fender.)
Any idea how much people are willing to pay to have a rusty one repaired? A fair bit.
If that is really a rust free car, it would sell in a heartbeat for 5k in my hood.
I don't think I've ever seen one without rust, they seem to have the same rust proof nature as Rampages
That will sell between 5&10k if it really is rust free.
If you do get it be carful of the gas tank. They rust from the inside out. Last one I worked on was a rust free one stored for 10 years. Put fuel in it and it just peed it out. Getting a new tank was not an option so I had it cleaned at a radiator shop and soldered every pin hole. We then had the tank lined with a epoxy based liner material at another shop the specialized in coating the inside of chemical tanks.
Parts that are X1/9 only come and go. Reproduction fuel tanks became available recently, but I don't know how many were made, or if thy are still available. Last I knew windshields were not available. Very little sheet metal was ever available.
Thanks everyone. Timing didn't work out to go look at it this weekend, but I'm going to try to get to it asap.
Back in the day, I saw at least one X1/9 that had been engine swapped, to a 124 engine I think, but that was a long time ago. The idea was to mate that stunning handling with more power.
This looks like a really nice way to do that: https://jalopnik.com/a-vtec-swapped-fiat-x1-9-has-all-the-speed-of-a-modern-1834200464
In reply to wspohn :
Fiat twin-cam swaps were pretty common, especially back when it was relatively easy to find them in junkyards. Plus, they're fairly compact engines.
In Europe, people eventually switched to swapping in the Fiat Uno Turbo engine as that had both more oomph out of the box and used the same basic engine architecture, just with a hairdryer bolted to it from the factory.
Here's some proof that even a nice 74 x1/9 just ain't worth all that much.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-fiat-x1-9-6/
Looks like a very nice original car in driving shape. Sold for 11k just days ago.
ddavidv said:MUST change timing belt before start attempt. Get your parts here. I haven't seen one for sale in ages so don't know what it would be worth. You'll have to replace both master cylinders which are under the dash...one of my least favorite jobs ever. The early cars sometimes have a weird brake caliper that I'd replace with the 124 style. A mild cam and exhaust can wake these up but they will still be 1300cc so keep your expectations low. It's a car you can drive flat out everywhere and never break a traffic law. Lots of fun and actually pretty reliable once you get through the inevitable teething period.
Under the dash amd the steering column is bolted to the body through them. Really a terrible design choice on Bertone's part.
Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:Here's some proof that even a nice 74 x1/9 just ain't worth all that much.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-fiat-x1-9-6/
Looks like a very nice original car in driving shape. Sold for 11k just days ago.
That's actually a pretty good price for a BaT sale. I bid on one that was in much worse shape that ended up going for the same money or a tad more last year. Well, "going" for didn't meet its reserve.
In reply to BoxheadTim :
I agree I would have expected a bit more.
OP, here are two California x projects that might be a bit more to start but should be more than worth it.
https://xwebforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/1974-k20-project-and-1975-x-project.41927/
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