Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
1/16/24 12:23 p.m.
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Think this Fiat X1/9 looks familiar? It should, as it once competed in our annual Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge.


Billed as capable of just over 370 horsepower, the X1/9 is powered by a Japanese-market K24 A2 engine that’s boosted by a Rotrex C30-94 supercharger.

The seller also notes that the car isn’t street-legal, though it does come …

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DavyZ
DavyZ New Reader
1/16/24 1:26 p.m.

It's Legal in NC!  I think all that needs to be done is to register it and it is old enough (by far) to be exempt from smog/safety checks as far as I am aware.  I do like the car greatly, especially with the engine swap.  

Robbie (Forum Supporter)
Robbie (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
1/16/24 2:00 p.m.

20k is an absolutely bonkers good deal it would seem. just saying. 

and maybe counting my spare change...

CyberEric
CyberEric SuperDork
1/16/24 2:28 p.m.

Super cool! That front aero was a nutty!

singleslammer
singleslammer PowerDork
1/16/24 2:33 p.m.

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

Good, I don't need to send this to you

Jerry
Jerry PowerDork
1/17/24 8:28 a.m.

I saw this earlier, I was very interested until not street legal.  (I need to at least get it to/fro.)

Robbie (Forum Supporter)
Robbie (Forum Supporter) MegaDork
1/17/24 10:38 a.m.
Jerry said:

I saw this earlier, I was very interested until not street legal.  (I need to at least get it to/fro.)

If it has a title and lights I'd just drive it home, its not like 'racecars' get some sort of stamp from the govt that says 'no longer street legal'. I'd assume that getting plates for it in most states wouldn't be too bad either since you can probably do it by mail and you just need the title. There may be some work involved in getting things you would want for the street working again, like lights, wipers, defrost, etc. And maybe the title is salvage or something that would make it need an inspection, which could get interesting. But for the most part I would think a competent person could easily get plates for this and make it road worthy at least for the drive to and from the track. 

but I would also not buy this for a daily driver haha. 

fiatmonkeyman
fiatmonkeyman New Reader
1/17/24 11:06 a.m.

I have the "street legal" version and I will tell you, the hard work is done on this car. There isn't a lot to these X19s to start with so an enthusiast or enthusiast-minded repair shop should be more than capable of converting it to srteet legal. Now, just don't plan to do this is in California and you will be fine (BTW, my 74 kswap superchared IS a Cali car...). Kidding on the California thing. I did it.

 

https://youtu.be/bvbgZqcSatg?si=GhhVM8sEJOC-UYyO

 

 

 

 

wspohn
wspohn UltraDork
1/17/24 11:22 a.m.

I'd be a lot more impressed with that if it looked like a stock street car instead of a comic book fancy,  but the basic choice of car and engine make good sense.

fiatmonkeyman
fiatmonkeyman New Reader
1/17/24 12:06 p.m.

In reply to wspohn :

That's the great thing about opinions, which I welcome. I also did the k-swap to a completely stock appearing x19 as well, without the supercharger so I didn't need to modify the frunk or add an intercooler. There are a lot of examples out there too. You can't squeeze more than 220-ish HP / 150 ft/lb torque but still loads more than a common stock engine.

And I agree; the choice of car and engine make good sense.

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