Man did THAT one bring back some memories! At the time I bought my Alfa, my future Brother-In-Law bought an X1/9. It was a '78 1300 4-speed and had done 53,000 miles. I liked the car, but it looked very impractical - boy was I to eat my words in the years that followed and I even did my weekly shopping in it once because he was working on the Alfa for me! She was a mid-blue metallic and had been resprayed several times before he bought it. We found out why several years later when we did the inevitable body repairs.... As you alluded to in your test drive, Ian, the car was unfazed by corners, bumps, undulations, wrong or changing camber, rough road surfaces - the car just lapped it up and waited for more. The only time I ever saw him come unstuck was when he entered a roundabout to take the third exit, but the offside of the roundabout sloped away and it had a slow seep of clay-infused surface water running down it from the grass-filled centre of the circle. He went in at his usual 30mph, swung the wheel and the X1/9 swapped ends immediately then stopped dead. He looked through his passenger window at me and laughed, keyed the ignition, turned hard right, flicked her tail and went the way he was originally intending. Such was his confidence in the car that he used to look at the speed signs advising what velocity to take a corner and drive around them at the same number of MPH. Being a passenger when someone takes a 70km/h corner at 70mph is an experience, but never once did the X1/9 put a foot wrong. Although I could never drive it that extreme, the car was indeed lovely to drive and that little soundtrack (with its high pitched whistle descant) was very intoxicating and seemed to almost dare you to push that pedal down further. Not even loose metal roads could upset the balance on that little car and it certainly went on a few. The engine and box was eventually replaced with a 1500 and 5-speed. This seemed to suit the car better from the point of view of power to weight and then economy at the top end. He eventually bought himself an E21 BMW 323i with the dogleg manual box and we set to stripping and sorting the X1/9, which he wanted to keep also. Suffice to say there was so little metal under the paint and many layers of filler, primer and topcoat, that she just got a repeat of the same (although we did use fibreglass rather than putty else the doors would have weighed a ton!) and was sent down the road. He loved his 3-series, but to me it was not half as much fun as the X1/9.
Many moons ago I had a late model and the previous owner had fitted a 2 ltr Lancia engine with twin Weber 40s. It was an absolute beast. The gear linkage was a work of art, lots of rose joints. Wish I still had it and not had a child!
Sounds amazing, I had a standard X1/9 81 reg 5 speed, I absolutely loved that car, much better than most of the performance cars I've had since! Miss my Fiat still and I'm 60 now😒
I think that's been your best road-test so far Ian....we could really sense how much you enjoyed that. The Italians have a kind of magic when it comes to sports cars....the cars are so much more than the sum of their parts. Ciao
Gorgeous cars. I recall that when the 1500 was launched (1981?) CAR magazine drove a metallic red one like this down to the south of France, which made for a fantastic article. Then they had a competition and gave one away, together with hotel accommodation so the winner could retrace their story. It must have been a great prize, for whoever won it (sadly not me - I did try!).
I had the earlier 1300cc X-19. Best car I ever owned for fun. I have owned 6.3ltr Mercedes and Toyota Land Cruiser, but the most used was the Bert. Once while out driving on a dirt road the clutch became harder and harder to use and the car ground to a halt. I opened the engine cover to see anything wrong. a stone had flipped up onto the engine and jammed the slave cylinder. I was out spear fishing and had a 5 barbed spear with me. The engine was too hot to touch so I used the spear to clutch the rock and removed it. had some really weird looks from passerby’s as they saw me attacking the engine with a spear.
I hope that green one is the one I used to stare at lovingly as a child every day as I walked past the Fiat garage on my way to school 😂 It disappeared one day to be replaced by an orange one, as achingly gorgeous and I just wanted to grow up. The big bumpers kinda spoilt the look but not the dream 👍
Hubnut needs one of these on the fleet, you certainly enjoyed driving this. Now away to dig out the MGF for a wee Hoon in it's last week of ownership with me
When Autocar magazine was planning to get an eary X1/9 as a long-term test car, they considered all the colours. The red was entirely wrong for Italian racing red, and they chose green with black interior - and added a Ferrari transfer high on the front wings near the winscreen.
The US models never came in that green colour, never had the black decals and those three-spoke alloys weren't available. Which is all a shame as I loved the look of that UK model. My 1974 was chocolate brown and had steel wheels.
What a delightful route for Fiat flinging. Excellent episode! As a Midget owner, I can see how these little Italians made the traditional British offerings of the day look like oxcarts. Regards as always from the USA.
I've owned a 1981 1500 5sp, light mettalic blue with cognac leder trim. Regrettably in 1986...a German Beemer driver, overlooked me and rear ended me on the motorway( near Werl), will i was driving a moderate 170km/ hr....the next thing i remember....was waking up in the Hospital. Lucky ive escape with only minor injuries. The X1/9....however, was a total loss. That little Fiatari, have still a big place in my heart.🤩
Amazing review! I have the same color Citroen and 2 X1/9s… Glad to see great minds think alike. Also in the stable is: Alfa spiders, Mx5 na, i3, 57 Isetta, Cayenne Turbo and Maserati Spyder. And the X 1/9 is the best drive!
What a well sorted test for this Italian car Such a surprise it’s as good on undulating roads as it is on straight line flat routes Hubnut you’ve really presented it to its best advantage ! Once again an interesting review from the man who knows -Hubnut !! 👍🇬🇧👏
After watching Harry's Garage this morning in his Project 7 in France it's uncanny how similar this video is! Although it looks like you had more fun 😄 great video Ian 👍
I know you are an extremely accomplished driver HubNut; having test driven numerous cars over many years. However, that particular test drive was just a little bit extra special - brilliant mate! These cars are indeed a superb icon of 70's/80's uniqueness......gorgeous-looking little beasts. 👍
He knows those roads like they proverbial back of hand. He used to live just over the mountains a bit, a lot of early road tests were conducted round there, having blatted motorbikes up and down the Elan valley more than a couple of times they are nice driving, lots of good sight lines allowing more 'committed' cornering, the over the little bridge sweep right and up the hill left over crest 'blind' gentle right then sharpish left, on, on, to the tee junction where went left down hill is particularly rewarding on a bike iirc. ;-)
I owned a 1974 USA model in chocolate brown. As I recall, guys sneered at it and called it a 'ladies car', women loved it. It was a fantastic car but expensive to maintain and repair. I had to get work done at the local Maserati/Ferrari dealer. A new clutch was the most expensive repair as it required engine removal. I sold it before it bankrupted me.
I was fortunate enough to own two X1/9s a 1300 in 1978 moving to a 1500 in 1982. Servicing was done by an Italian - LC Motors in Newport - top man who really knew his stuff. Always yearned for more grunt but the handling was a delight and the cross-country times achievable along A and B roads were phenomenal - and immense fun. The bumpers on the 1500 weren’t the prettiest but they were functional. When a Ford Escort landed in the back of me while waiting to enter a roundabout, I got out fearing the worst. For him there was a massive X1/9 bumper shaped impression right across the front of his car with both headlights pointing sadly to the road; on the Fiat not so much as a scratch. Brilliant car. Thank you for bringing back so many good memories
Well done! One of the most accurate representations of how this car feels to drive. And while the suspension is surprisingly compliant, what most people don't understand is how well this car handles at the limit. I regularly embarrass much more expensive and newer sports cars, in my daily drives through the twisties. I have a 79 US model with all the Euro go fast bits installed, and hi comp pistons. 30 extra HP makes this car really come alive. Thanks for a great review, and such great video of what it's like to drive one of these little gems. It made me smile to see how surprised you were at how good these cars really are.
Thought I might have seen one of my old cars there, as I owned 19 of those between 1995 and 2004. 19 X1/9's in 19 years, all of the 19's! Good to see Mr Hubnut finally seen the light and is fast becoming a FIAT fan. Adoring the little Bertone genius and now owns a Multipla. 💡
Neil that is some record! How is it you don't have No.20? Just because you muck up the number sequence? Don't buy a Mini 1000 .. or Mitsubishi Zero for that matter. (I know it has wings, but it was that or a Point Six of something or other)
@@martinda7446 those were good days, could pick decent ones up for £300, minters for a grand. Had ever model apart from a standard 1300cc too. Lido, VS, Gran Finale, both Fiat badged early 1500's and later Bertone badged models.
Great video! Nice balance of info and driving impressions- your commentary on the suppleness of the suspension and steering accuracy is spot on. Fantastic gems which to the MGB/ Midget fraternity, must have felt like UFO's. Especially the little green ones. I confess to having a trio in varying stages of decomposition/ restoration...
Keith Steadman The X1/9 certainly put a smile on your face Ian, bought my X1/9 new in 1980, 41 years later it still brings a smile to my face every time I drive the car (complete with HubNut Sticker).
I had a 1977 X1/9 and just loved it so much. Ended up buying a brand new 1979 X1/9 with 3 piece compomotive rims and P6 tires. It was so much fun . Underpowered but you made up for it in the curves. Predictable. Precise. Tons of fun
I like how they used the same side panel stamping to save cost and just filled in the USA spec side markers with black plastic....same as a TR7. I’ve always liked these. Only ever ridden in one as a child. It was a rough early small bumper car that belonged to one of my mom’s younger coworkers. It was probably only 7 or 8 years old at the time which was an eternity back then. It broke down ...a lot. Probably partially due to not many qualified FIAT mechanics in rural North Carolina. It was a very noticeable car in our small mountain town. Such a joyous review. I can tell you had a blast!
I passed my test in 1989, aged 17, and an X1/9 was my dream car! Sadly, I had to make do with a red (orange) Morris Ital 1.3HL as my first steed. When I finally had some cashola behind me, there were almost no X1/9s available to buy. I then set my sights on a Fiat Barchetta, until I realized they were all left hand drive! At this point, I was walking into town one day when I saw the most beautiful car I'd ever seen - a 1996 Sprint blue Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. Finally in 2004, I achieve my Fiat-related dream and got a low mileage 1998 Sprint Blue 20v Turbo. Still the best car I've ever owned. Had it 2 years when unfortunately it developed a complex overheating issue and we parted ways! Great video BTW!
A sublime piece of TH-camry !!! I guessed you enjoyed that, I had one for 18 years, it was my main car for much of that time and definately one of the most entertaining yet, as you say surprisingly practical, now I REALLY want another one (without the rampant rust problems that finally led to the demise of my first one....)
Rust is such an evil ender of so many great relationships with cars over the years. We should petition the government to move to just grit and get rid of the salting of our roads. Sorry for your loss. Luv and Peace.
Watching this bought back happy memories of my X1/9, also a Y reg 5 speed, a cracking little car & great fun to hoon around, I can remember having to remove the spare wheel to access the distributer, not the easiest car to work on, but nice & simple. the real downside was rust, nice to see that some have survived and are obviously well loved!
0:59 Cool! I do own a model of the concept car. It's a childhood toy. Mattel Mebetoys A-44. Bertone Runabout. Made in Italy. Scala 1/43. This is all written on the bottom of the car. My brother and me didn't play a lot with this car. Too fancy... 😃
Many memories come back. I had a 1986 Bertone X1/9 in red. Did a lot of trips with the Dutch X1/9 club, especially the trip to the Aston Martin factory, we were accompanied every day by two X1/9's from the English X1/9 club. Sweden in 1995. And then my trip to the South of France with a bunch of friends. To the 2000 Le Mans and camp there. Even going to Festival of Speed at Goodwood with a friend, can't find the year again so quickly. Nice car, especially on winding roads, which you just showed.
Thank you for this, I felt as if I had my old car back again, so familiar and so beautiful, I took mine to the lake district on hot summer days with the roof off and to this day (I'm 60) it's the most fun I have ever had in a car, I still love these little cars.
I've always loved the Fiat X19, and remember when they were quite common on the road. The styling is perfect and pop-up headlights. I used to own a car that was on sale at the same time as the X19, it was a TR7 convertible, and that was similar to the X19, lots of BL parts made up that car and it was easy to maintain.
Wow this has brought back some memories, we used to have one of these in the early 80's when I was a kid 👍It was a 1300 4 speed on a 'S' plate, bronze with the black "ladder" stripe down the side, like the green one in your video, I remember being taken down to Penbryn Beach, my mum driving and me in the passenger seat with our 2 dogs, they weren't small dogs either 😂 Fond memories of my dad in his purple roll neck jumper and mustard corderoy trousers driving through the welsh countryside with the roof down 😊 We sold it to replace it with something more practical, a Mini 😂
My father bought one identical to the green 1300 (1978) in the mid 90's. Now owned by my sister. We fitted a FAZA fast road cam and a carb off a Lancia 1600 motor. Rev it as hard as you like. They can take it. They have high cornering limits but watch it in the wet, When they let go, they let go big time. (ask my father) Light and nimble. My Lotus Esprit seems a brute by comparison
Loved the joyous tone of this review mate. Great when a car surprises in such positive and seemingly rewarding ways. What a thing! Another classic that’s aging very very nicely.
Wow what a fantastic 2 seater sports car. I certainly did enjoy the ride along with Ian and I certainly felt that I was sitting along with him in the passenger seat. Thanks once again for another great test drive video.🙂🙂🐲🐲🐲
I was in high school in the early 1980s and had a 1974 one of these - dark brown with beige interior (corduroy maybe, cannot remember). It was an absolute blast to drive. Unfortunately had a host of electrical problems - one day the school principal pulled me from class as the car’s horn had started sounding in the parking lot and wouldn’t stop (and the horn button would shock you when you tried to stop the noise). Also, I lived in Texas then, and you really need AC in Texas - too hot to drive with the sun blazing in town without it (even with the top off). Despite those issues I absolutely loved it - nimble as a cat.
Hi Ian, love watching this over and over again! It’s quite a popular note that people said the later MR2 was modelled on the X19, as you rightly stated. Well here is a little Gem . One of the admirers of the Fiat was non other than Lotus genius Colin Chapman himself, referring it as a true sports car much in the way of his own 1960s Lotus Elan . Well he bought one for his daughter, who I believe had an accident in one , sustained injuries in the process, Colin remarked how the car folded up , the X19 has crumple zones front and rear , the passenger compartment strengthened much like a modern car. Well, as you know Lotus we’re to use Toyota parts in their later models , particularly the Eclat . When Colin visited Toyota around very early 1980’s he went into the development department finding several stripped down Fiat X19s !! Proof indeed. Great vid
Great video. Your enthusiasm is contagious. I worked at a fiat dealer for about 6 months in 1977. In that time we had 6 X1/9's in because the boot lever was broken off by someone slamming the door closed without making sure the lever was returned to the closed position. Only the Italians would put it there.
They were very popular in the States when they came out. They could drive circles around the barges that were on the road at that time.I haven't seen one on the road in ages. Thanks for the ride along.
These little two seaters are such great backroad fun. Sadly my MX5, Satsuma, had to depart on Saturday and having just watched this another B road hooning tool is definitely on the cards.
Most enjoyable video yet Hubnut!! Brought back so many memories, both of the X1/9 and hooning around beautiful Wales in the 80s in a FIAT Mirafiori Sport, another forgotten car! In the late 70s I worked for Lancia at Ealing Road Wembley and they had a couple of X1/9s in to compare with the Beta Montecarlo. I have to say, despite its smaller engine it was a lot more fun than the Monte and way cheaper!! Not the result the lancia Bosses wanted to hear! LOL! More FIAT and Lancia test please Ian!! :)
If it didn't there would be a different sort of noise to accompany your downshift. The tinkle tinkle clunk of hardened steel parts bouncing off of aluminium casings and asphalt and hitting the floor.
@@martinda7446 not really. That whine noise, somewhat akin to supercharger whine, is due to the way the gears are physically cut during manufacturing. I remember reading about this and either straight-cut gears make that noise, or rounded-off ones do. One or the other. Your joke about breaking the transmission suggests you don't kick the gas to ease the revs into sync, which, admittedly, is what makes the synchros whine like me and OP were refering to
@@gionder Not really sure what you mean. I was just joking by saying that if the synchro slipping the gears running up to match the speed of the road wheels didn't happen it might be because it exploded. I have been driving manual vehicles since 1978 and have heard that noise most every day dozens of times - It has to occur if you change down with a regular manual box, that is why I said if you don't hear it it may have bust.
@@gionder PS you are talking about a ''crash box'' with straight cut gears. These are much tougher but noisy and a pain in the arse for normal people. OK for racing. Gears need to be speed matched before they can slide over each other and mesh. The synchroniser allows cars to match gear speeds automatically. Otherwise a driver would need to match speeds by double declutching.
I have had a couple of these cars. living in Los Angeles and San Diego it was a blast, literally the most fun car I have ever owned. You have to get a Ferrari up to 100 MPH to enjoy it, in this or any other small sports car you can throw it around a corner at 25 and get a visceral thrill. Great video, I have been looking for another and think I found it, this video was such a motivator. thank you very much.
The soundtrack of the X1/9 overlain by your gleeful commentary put the same smile on my face & I'm sat on the sofa. Might have to pop out later on.....
Great camera position for the excellent and wonderfully exuberant test drive, you felt you were there. Ian, you really need a small, lower weight, low powered sports car on the fleet. If you are feeling down after a day of removing and re-assembling rusty brake drums, a blast down those welsh lanes will soon put a smile back on your face!
I always liked the look of these cars, I always thought they looked way ahead of their time. I never realized that they drove like something way ahead of the time. Brilliant test..
Very advanced (for its time) underneath. Tough as well. Only the X and Volvo passed the US crash standards one year back in the day. The test had to be made less stringent so domestic U.S. cars could be sold there!
What a nice and interesting roadtest. I remember very well , that the elder brother of a boy in the neighbourhood drove one of those in green colour. I was a teenageer and it was always my dreamcar. Especially those popup lights I loved a lot. No wonder that one of my cars had popup lights too (Mazda 323F). The X 1/9 of my neighbour was an early 1.3l with 73 HP and 5speed gearbox. I never had an oppertunity to drive in that car, but now, because of this test I got a nice impression how it must have been. Here in Germany most of them rusted away because of salty winters. My neighbour drove it the whole year and it was always funny when he started drifting in the snow in the carpark. Today the prices for this modells in good condition are very high. Never thought that you can find so many in your country. So thanks a lot for this entertainig roadtest. 👍
My brother took me for a drive in his blue 1300 X1/9 in the mid 80s. He said "watch this" as we were driving down Hendon Way and promptly took a 90 degree left turn. Went round like it was on rails, I was amazed. I had a 2.8 Capri at the time, the same maneouvre would have been disastrous in that. These are bloody brilliiant wee cars.
Once got driven from London to Warwick in a friend's X1/9. It was pouring with rain, and my friend was a frustrated wanna be racing driver. I've never been so frightened in my life!
Really enjoyed this video. Italian cars do it for me. Way back in 1975, I was driven around the coast road in Cape Town (probably one of the most scenic and stunning routes in the world) in a 1972 Alfa Romeo GT Junior. Now I drive a Alfa 159 and love every minute of it.
Forza Italia! You sir, have great taste. Have an X1/9 and my last two daily cars have been Alfas. Truth be told the X is the best car I have ever driven for its driver experience.
I bought mine in 1976 and it was the most fun car I've ever owned. I lived in the mountains in Oregon in the US and I put Metzeler snow tires on it in the winter and never got stuck. I would actually push snow with the spoiler.
this is my first time being aware about the x1-9, and i immediately fell in love, seems like an absolute joy, forget the mx-5 and mr2, i would take one of these
I wanted one in the 1970s & got to ride in a friend's. Amazing handling. He pushed it to the limits & drifted it but it was so low to the ground it hardly leaned at all. Super nimble & light. About the time I could buy one they quit making them.
Had one in the mid 80's early 1.5 sold it to a friend who kept it for at least 10 years! He was also courting my sister at the time, I seem to remember him getting her drunk and she threw up all over the centre console 😲 I think the amour disappeared from the relationship at that point 😄
I had a metallic green Dinky one with the speed blocks on the sides, and I have always loved them. They are amazing to drive too, they used to feel quite fast in the 80s!
A classic case of 'less is more' and a brilliant piece of road. I used to borrow my brother's in the '80s and have great fun with it. More recently I've had similar sensations with my MX-5s.
I had a 1977 Fiat x19 when I was in high school in Burbank California.... what a great and fun car! I had lots of adventures in it.. spirited night drives on Mulholland Drive, trips to Zuma Beach, Santa Monica Beach, Redondo Beach, into the mountains at Idlewild It was a hand-me-down from my brother who was a Fiat mechanic. He installed dual Weber carburetors on it it had a great sound and handled so brilliantly.... unfortunately, it had a tendency to blow head gaskets pretty regularly.
I think most of us had as much fun riding along as you did driving it. Tremendous!
Brilliant video. Hubnut makes you want to drive whatever is being tested. That put a smile on my face, nice one Ian!
Hubnut at his absolute best! Ian really knows his stuff and his enthusiasm is infectious! Brilliant!
Yep. 👍😁😛
Indeed
Man did THAT one bring back some memories! At the time I bought my Alfa, my future Brother-In-Law bought an X1/9. It was a '78 1300 4-speed and had done 53,000 miles. I liked the car, but it looked very impractical - boy was I to eat my words in the years that followed and I even did my weekly shopping in it once because he was working on the Alfa for me! She was a mid-blue metallic and had been resprayed several times before he bought it. We found out why several years later when we did the inevitable body repairs....
As you alluded to in your test drive, Ian, the car was unfazed by corners, bumps, undulations, wrong or changing camber, rough road surfaces - the car just lapped it up and waited for more. The only time I ever saw him come unstuck was when he entered a roundabout to take the third exit, but the offside of the roundabout sloped away and it had a slow seep of clay-infused surface water running down it from the grass-filled centre of the circle. He went in at his usual 30mph, swung the wheel and the X1/9 swapped ends immediately then stopped dead. He looked through his passenger window at me and laughed, keyed the ignition, turned hard right, flicked her tail and went the way he was originally intending.
Such was his confidence in the car that he used to look at the speed signs advising what velocity to take a corner and drive around them at the same number of MPH. Being a passenger when someone takes a 70km/h corner at 70mph is an experience, but never once did the X1/9 put a foot wrong. Although I could never drive it that extreme, the car was indeed lovely to drive and that little soundtrack (with its high pitched whistle descant) was very intoxicating and seemed to almost dare you to push that pedal down further. Not even loose metal roads could upset the balance on that little car and it certainly went on a few.
The engine and box was eventually replaced with a 1500 and 5-speed. This seemed to suit the car better from the point of view of power to weight and then economy at the top end. He eventually bought himself an E21 BMW 323i with the dogleg manual box and we set to stripping and sorting the X1/9, which he wanted to keep also. Suffice to say there was so little metal under the paint and many layers of filler, primer and topcoat, that she just got a repeat of the same (although we did use fibreglass rather than putty else the doors would have weighed a ton!) and was sent down the road. He loved his 3-series, but to me it was not half as much fun as the X1/9.
Honestly, I wasn't at all disappointed you couldn't test it on a motorway. I just loved watching you gleefully punt it down roads it was made for.
The shape is still fresh today. Well done for all of you keeping this cars in such great condition.
Many moons ago I had a late model and the previous owner had fitted a 2 ltr Lancia engine with twin Weber 40s. It was an absolute beast. The gear linkage was a work of art, lots of rose joints. Wish I still had it and not had a child!
Have you told your kid that?
Cars are cheaper than children.
Sounds amazing, I had a standard X1/9 81 reg 5 speed, I absolutely loved that car, much better than most of the performance cars I've had since! Miss my Fiat still and I'm 60 now😒
Not seen an X1/9 in years, i'd love one !
Perhaps now you'd be able to afford the insurance...
I think that's been your best road-test so far Ian....we could really sense how much you enjoyed that. The Italians have a kind of magic when it comes to sports cars....the cars are so much more than the sum of their parts. Ciao
Gorgeous cars.
I recall that when the 1500 was launched (1981?) CAR magazine drove a metallic red one like this down to the south of France, which made for a fantastic article. Then they had a competition and gave one away, together with hotel accommodation so the winner could retrace their story.
It must have been a great prize, for whoever won it (sadly not me - I did try!).
I still remember that article very well too. I also entered the competition..I didn't win it either! 😂
With the back camera mount you could see how fun it was to drive!
I had the earlier 1300cc X-19. Best car I ever owned for fun. I have owned 6.3ltr Mercedes and Toyota Land Cruiser, but the most used was the Bert. Once while out driving on a dirt road the clutch became harder and harder to use and the car ground to a halt. I opened the engine cover to see anything wrong. a stone had flipped up onto the engine and jammed the slave cylinder. I was out spear fishing and had a 5 barbed spear with me. The engine was too hot to touch so I used the spear to clutch the rock and removed it. had some really weird looks from passerby’s as they saw me attacking the engine with a spear.
I hope that green one is the one I used to stare at lovingly as a child every day as I walked past the Fiat garage on my way to school 😂
It disappeared one day to be replaced by an orange one, as achingly gorgeous and I just wanted to grow up.
The big bumpers kinda spoilt the look but not the dream 👍
Hubnut needs one of these on the fleet, you certainly enjoyed driving this. Now away to dig out the MGF for a wee Hoon in it's last week of ownership with me
I love these, I have a few toy cars still from when I was a kid. The Green with black decals is the best paint scheme IMHO 👌
When Autocar magazine was planning to get an eary X1/9 as a long-term test car, they considered all the colours. The red was entirely wrong for Italian racing red, and they chose green with black interior - and added a Ferrari transfer high on the front wings near the winscreen.
The US models never came in that green colour, never had the black decals and those three-spoke alloys weren't available. Which is all a shame as I loved the look of that UK model. My 1974 was chocolate brown and had steel wheels.
What a delightful route for Fiat flinging. Excellent episode! As a Midget owner, I can see how these little Italians made the traditional British offerings of the day look like oxcarts. Regards as always from the USA.
Buy one Ian...it would make a great project. Edit, this is one of the best videos you've done too. Your enthusiasm is infectious.
I've never seen those pre federal bumpers. The design seems much more charming with them.
I've owned a 1981 1500 5sp, light mettalic blue with cognac leder trim. Regrettably in 1986...a German Beemer driver, overlooked me and rear ended me on the motorway( near Werl), will i was driving a moderate 170km/ hr....the next thing i remember....was waking up in the Hospital. Lucky ive escape with only minor injuries. The X1/9....however, was a total loss.
That little Fiatari, have still a big place in my heart.🤩
That sheep was admiring you and your X1/9 as you went hooning past
I couldn't help but hear Matt Monro singing "On Days Like These" watching Ian Hooning around the Welsh country roads. Definitely an Italian Job
Yes, he missed a great trick there
Just watch out for that bulldozer!
Very appropriate as it was designed by the same guy who penned the beautiful Miura.. :)
The Welsh Job!
Amazing review! I have the same color Citroen and 2 X1/9s… Glad to see great minds think alike. Also in the stable is: Alfa spiders, Mx5 na, i3, 57 Isetta, Cayenne Turbo and Maserati Spyder. And the X 1/9 is the best drive!
What a well sorted test for this Italian car Such a surprise it’s as good on undulating roads as it is on straight line flat routes Hubnut you’ve really presented it to its best advantage ! Once again an interesting review from the man who knows -Hubnut !! 👍🇬🇧👏
After watching Harry's Garage this morning in his Project 7 in France it's uncanny how similar this video is! Although it looks like you had more fun 😄 great video Ian 👍
particularly after Harry ended up down that gravel road with the dead end... did not envy him there hahaa
I’ve literally just watched these two videos in succession as well 😂
I know you are an extremely accomplished driver HubNut; having test driven numerous cars over many years. However, that particular test drive was just a little bit extra special - brilliant mate! These cars are indeed a superb icon of 70's/80's uniqueness......gorgeous-looking little beasts. 👍
He knows those roads like they proverbial back of hand. He used to live just over the mountains a bit, a lot of early road tests were conducted round there, having blatted motorbikes up and down the Elan valley more than a couple of times they are nice driving, lots of good sight lines allowing more 'committed' cornering, the over the little bridge sweep right and up the hill left over crest 'blind' gentle right then sharpish left, on, on, to the tee junction where went left down hill is particularly rewarding on a bike iirc. ;-)
I owned a 1974 USA model in chocolate brown. As I recall, guys sneered at it and called it a 'ladies car', women loved it. It was a fantastic car but expensive to maintain and repair. I had to get work done at the local Maserati/Ferrari dealer. A new clutch was the most expensive repair as it required engine removal. I sold it before it bankrupted me.
I was fortunate enough to own two X1/9s a 1300 in 1978 moving to a 1500 in 1982. Servicing was done by an Italian - LC Motors in Newport - top man who really knew his stuff. Always yearned for more grunt but the handling was a delight and the cross-country times achievable along A and B roads were phenomenal - and immense fun. The bumpers on the 1500 weren’t the prettiest but they were functional. When a Ford Escort landed in the back of me while waiting to enter a roundabout, I got out fearing the worst. For him there was a massive X1/9 bumper shaped impression right across the front of his car with both headlights pointing sadly to the road; on the Fiat not so much as a scratch. Brilliant car. Thank you for bringing back so many good memories
Proper sportscar that is. Such fun to drive! Proof that it's not always about size!
Well done! One of the most accurate representations of how this car feels to drive. And while the suspension is surprisingly compliant, what most people don't understand is how well this car handles at the limit. I regularly embarrass much more expensive and newer sports cars, in my daily drives through the twisties. I have a 79 US model with all the Euro go fast bits installed, and hi comp pistons. 30 extra HP makes this car really come alive. Thanks for a great review, and such great video of what it's like to drive one of these little gems. It made me smile to see how surprised you were at how good these cars really are.
Just goes to show how good those 70's and 80's Fiat's were. Certainly one of my all time favourite card the X1/9. Glad to see you enjoyed it.
Great until they need repairs.
Well Ian, the Fiat influence is gaining ground......Great to see you having so much fun...
The fiat engine designed by lampredi is an amazing engine ,I had one that did over 100,000 miles reved beyond the limit everyday for over 7 years
Thought I might have seen one of my old cars there, as I owned 19 of those between 1995 and 2004.
19 X1/9's in 19 years, all of the 19's!
Good to see Mr Hubnut finally seen the light and is fast becoming a FIAT fan. Adoring the little Bertone genius and now owns a Multipla. 💡
Neil that is some record! How is it you don't have No.20? Just because you muck up the number sequence?
Don't buy a Mini 1000 .. or Mitsubishi Zero for that matter. (I know it has wings, but it was that or a Point Six of something or other)
That's commitment the the model!
@@martinda7446 those were good days, could pick decent ones up for £300, minters for a grand. Had ever model apart from a standard 1300cc too. Lido, VS, Gran Finale, both Fiat badged early 1500's and later Bertone badged models.
Great video! Nice balance of info and driving impressions- your commentary on the suppleness of the suspension and steering accuracy is spot on. Fantastic gems which to the MGB/ Midget fraternity, must have felt like UFO's. Especially the little green ones. I confess to having a trio in varying stages of decomposition/ restoration...
Keith Steadman
The X1/9 certainly put a smile on your face Ian, bought my X1/9 new in 1980, 41 years later it still brings a smile to my face every time I drive the car (complete with HubNut Sticker).
I hope the owner of the car enjoys watching as much as I did and you did the actual drive!
Someone had massive fun :D Yay!!
I had a 1977 X1/9 and just loved it so much. Ended up buying a brand new 1979 X1/9 with 3 piece compomotive rims and P6 tires. It was so much fun . Underpowered but you made up for it in the curves. Predictable. Precise. Tons of fun
I like how they used the same side panel stamping to save cost and just filled in the USA spec side markers with black plastic....same as a TR7. I’ve always liked these. Only ever ridden in one as a child. It was a rough early small bumper car that belonged to one of my mom’s younger coworkers. It was probably only 7 or 8 years old at the time which was an eternity back then. It broke down ...a lot. Probably partially due to not many qualified FIAT mechanics in rural North Carolina. It was a very noticeable car in our small mountain town.
Such a joyous review. I can tell you had a blast!
I passed my test in 1989, aged 17, and an X1/9 was my dream car! Sadly, I had to make do with a red (orange) Morris Ital 1.3HL as my first steed. When I finally had some cashola behind me, there were almost no X1/9s available to buy. I then set my sights on a Fiat Barchetta, until I realized they were all left hand drive! At this point, I was walking into town one day when I saw the most beautiful car I'd ever seen - a 1996 Sprint blue Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo. Finally in 2004, I achieve my Fiat-related dream and got a low mileage 1998 Sprint Blue 20v Turbo. Still the best car I've ever owned. Had it 2 years when unfortunately it developed a complex overheating issue and we parted ways! Great video BTW!
A sublime piece of TH-camry !!! I guessed you enjoyed that, I had one for 18 years, it was my main car for much of that time and definately one of the most entertaining yet, as you say surprisingly practical, now I REALLY want another one (without the rampant rust problems that finally led to the demise of my first one....)
Rust is such an evil ender of so many great relationships with cars over the years.
We should petition the government to move to just grit and get rid of the salting of our roads.
Sorry for your loss.
Luv and Peace.
Watching this bought back happy memories of my X1/9, also a Y reg 5 speed, a cracking little car & great fun to hoon around, I can remember having to remove the spare wheel to access the distributer, not the easiest car to work on, but nice & simple. the real downside was rust, nice to see that some have survived and are obviously well loved!
0:59 Cool! I do own a model of the concept car. It's a childhood toy. Mattel Mebetoys A-44. Bertone Runabout. Made in Italy. Scala 1/43. This is all written on the bottom of the car. My brother and me didn't play a lot with this car. Too fancy... 😃
What a lovely wedge! I only learnt about this car a few years ago and was so amazed, such great colours too.
I could look at that car ALL DAY (if I imagine it without those bumpers) 3:38 beautiful turquoise one in the backgound
I definitely can see yourself getting one of these in the future, you seemed to absolutely love it!
Many memories come back. I had a 1986 Bertone X1/9 in red. Did a lot of trips with the Dutch X1/9 club, especially the trip to the Aston Martin factory, we were accompanied every day by two X1/9's from the English X1/9 club. Sweden in 1995. And then my trip to the South of France with a bunch of friends. To the 2000 Le Mans and camp there. Even going to Festival of Speed at Goodwood with a friend, can't find the year again so quickly. Nice car, especially on winding roads, which you just showed.
Hoooon!😁 Haven't seen one of those in ages. Thanks for the ride, Ian!👍
I just watched this on x 1.5 speed and it looks great.
Thank you for this, I felt as if I had my old car back again, so familiar and so beautiful, I took mine to the lake district on hot summer days with the roof off and to this day (I'm 60) it's the most fun I have ever had in a car, I still love these little cars.
I've always loved the Fiat X19, and remember when they were quite common on the road. The styling is perfect and pop-up headlights. I used to own a car that was on sale at the same time as the X19, it was a TR7 convertible, and that was similar to the X19, lots of BL parts made up that car and it was easy to maintain.
You really need to do more road tests on that road. Just amazing! 😁
Wow this has brought back some memories, we used to have one of these in the early 80's when I was a kid 👍It was a 1300 4 speed on a 'S' plate, bronze with the black "ladder" stripe down the side, like the green one in your video, I remember being taken down to Penbryn Beach, my mum driving and me in the passenger seat with our 2 dogs, they weren't small dogs either 😂 Fond memories of my dad in his purple roll neck jumper and mustard corderoy trousers driving through the welsh countryside with the roof down 😊 We sold it to replace it with something more practical, a Mini 😂
Thanks for another great video Ian: it’s as if you’re travelling in the car with yourself. Plus a lot of insight into the X/19 model - great.
My father bought one identical to the green 1300 (1978) in the mid 90's. Now owned by my sister.
We fitted a FAZA fast road cam and a carb off a Lancia 1600 motor.
Rev it as hard as you like. They can take it.
They have high cornering limits but watch it in the wet, When they let go, they let go big time. (ask my father)
Light and nimble. My Lotus Esprit seems a brute by comparison
Loved the joyous tone of this review mate. Great when a car surprises in such positive and seemingly rewarding ways. What a thing! Another classic that’s aging very very nicely.
I had the Matchbox Bertone Runabout Die cast metal model as a kid in the 1970s which was the Gandini concept car you mentioned 👍
That looked an obscene amount of fun.
Wow what a fantastic 2 seater sports car. I certainly did enjoy the ride along with Ian and I certainly felt that I was sitting along with him in the passenger seat. Thanks once again for another great test drive video.🙂🙂🐲🐲🐲
This looks immensely fun to drive!
I was in high school in the early 1980s and had a 1974 one of these - dark brown with beige interior (corduroy maybe, cannot remember). It was an absolute blast to drive. Unfortunately had a host of electrical problems - one day the school principal pulled me from class as the car’s horn had started sounding in the parking lot and wouldn’t stop (and the horn button would shock you when you tried to stop the noise). Also, I lived in Texas then, and you really need AC in Texas - too hot to drive with the sun blazing in town without it (even with the top off). Despite those issues I absolutely loved it - nimble as a cat.
Brilliant road test Sir. Didn't make my toes curl but no escaping that tingle. Oh yes!!
Hi Ian, love watching this over and over again! It’s quite a popular note that people said the later MR2 was modelled on the X19, as you rightly stated. Well here is a little Gem . One of the admirers of the Fiat was non other than Lotus genius Colin Chapman himself, referring it as a true sports car much in the way of his own 1960s Lotus Elan . Well he bought one for his daughter, who I believe had an accident in one , sustained injuries in the process, Colin remarked how the car folded up , the X19 has crumple zones front and rear , the passenger compartment strengthened much like a modern car. Well, as you know Lotus we’re to use Toyota parts in their later models , particularly the Eclat . When Colin visited Toyota around very early 1980’s he went into the development department finding several stripped down Fiat X19s !! Proof indeed. Great vid
Great video. Your enthusiasm is contagious. I worked at a fiat dealer for about 6 months in 1977. In that time we had 6 X1/9's in because the boot lever was broken off by someone slamming the door closed without making sure the lever was returned to the closed position. Only the Italians would put it there.
Thanks for the video, I truly loved hearing the sound of the engine again. I had a 79 X19, best car ever! Love from Canada.
They were very popular in the States when they came out. They could drive circles around the barges that were on the road at that time.I haven't seen one on the road in ages. Thanks for the ride along.
Love the x1/9!
All you need now is test of its rival, the matra simca Bagheera!
These little two seaters are such great backroad fun. Sadly my MX5, Satsuma, had to depart on Saturday and having just watched this another B road hooning tool is definitely on the cards.
Most enjoyable video yet Hubnut!! Brought back so many memories, both of the X1/9 and hooning around beautiful Wales in the 80s in a FIAT Mirafiori Sport, another forgotten car!
In the late 70s I worked for Lancia at Ealing Road Wembley and they had a couple of X1/9s in to compare with the Beta Montecarlo. I have to say, despite its smaller engine it was a lot more fun than the Monte and way cheaper!! Not the result the lancia Bosses wanted to hear! LOL! More FIAT and Lancia test please Ian!! :)
this is the most hoonage I've seen from Hubnut in a long time and I'm all for it.
14:35 Only a small thing but I really miss that whine gearboxes made when you drop down to second under load.
Some cars still do that, even brand new. The VW polo with the 1.6 does that.
My 2005 Ecosport Duratec also does that
If it didn't there would be a different sort of noise to accompany your downshift. The tinkle tinkle clunk of hardened steel parts bouncing off of aluminium casings and asphalt and hitting the floor.
@@martinda7446 not really. That whine noise, somewhat akin to supercharger whine, is due to the way the gears are physically cut during manufacturing. I remember reading about this and either straight-cut gears make that noise, or rounded-off ones do. One or the other. Your joke about breaking the transmission suggests you don't kick the gas to ease the revs into sync, which, admittedly, is what makes the synchros whine like me and OP were refering to
@@gionder Not really sure what you mean. I was just joking by saying that if the synchro slipping the gears running up to match the speed of the road wheels didn't happen it might be because it exploded. I have been driving manual vehicles since 1978 and have heard that noise most every day dozens of times - It has to occur if you change down with a regular manual box, that is why I said if you don't hear it it may have bust.
@@gionder PS you are talking about a ''crash box'' with straight cut gears. These are much tougher but noisy and a pain in the arse for normal people. OK for racing.
Gears need to be speed matched before they can slide over each other and mesh. The synchroniser allows cars to match gear speeds automatically. Otherwise a driver would need to match speeds by double declutching.
Fantastic driving roads in mid Wales, X1/9 is superb - a great combo that brings back memories. Excellent!
The very first car I ever drove was a W plate Gold X1/9. Would love one now. Great to see Ian genuinely having a hoot in one 😂
I have had a couple of these cars. living in Los Angeles and San Diego it was a blast, literally the most fun car I have ever owned. You have to get a Ferrari up to 100 MPH to enjoy it, in this or any other small sports car you can throw it around a corner at 25 and get a visceral thrill. Great video, I have been looking for another and think I found it, this video was such a motivator. thank you very much.
the reverse rev counter is very cool
AC Cobra speedo-style!
It is counter clockwise for good reason. If it went clockwise , the yellow/red caution area could be hidden from view by the steering wheel.
The soundtrack of the X1/9 overlain by your gleeful commentary put the same smile on my face & I'm sat on the sofa. Might have to pop out later on.....
Great camera position for the excellent and wonderfully exuberant test drive, you felt you were there.
Ian, you really need a small, lower weight, low powered sports car on the fleet. If you are feeling down after a day of removing and re-assembling rusty brake drums, a blast down those welsh lanes will soon put a smile back on your face!
Such fun! I've always loved the styling and now I want one! I can think of a few roads here in the Mainland that would be great.
I always liked the look of these cars, I always thought they looked way ahead of their time. I never realized that they drove like something way ahead of the time. Brilliant test..
Very advanced (for its time) underneath. Tough as well. Only the X and Volvo passed the US crash standards one year back in the day. The test had to be made less stringent so domestic U.S. cars could be sold there!
Ian, bloody lovely drive in one of my 80s idols. Thanks mate
What a nice and interesting roadtest. I remember very well , that the elder brother of a boy in the neighbourhood drove one of those in green colour. I was a teenageer and it was always my dreamcar. Especially those popup lights I loved a lot. No wonder that one of my cars had popup lights too (Mazda 323F). The X 1/9 of my neighbour was an early 1.3l with 73 HP and 5speed gearbox. I never had an oppertunity to drive in that car, but now, because of this test I got a nice impression how it must have been. Here in Germany most of them rusted away because of salty winters. My neighbour drove it the whole year and it was always funny when he started drifting in the snow in the carpark. Today the prices for this modells in good condition are very high. Never thought that you can find so many in your country. So thanks a lot for this entertainig roadtest. 👍
My brother took me for a drive in his blue 1300 X1/9 in the mid 80s. He said "watch this" as we were driving down Hendon Way and promptly took a 90 degree left turn. Went round like it was on rails, I was amazed. I had a 2.8 Capri at the time, the same maneouvre would have been disastrous in that. These are bloody brilliiant wee cars.
Once got driven from London to Warwick in a friend's X1/9. It was pouring with rain, and my friend was a frustrated wanna be racing driver. I've never been so frightened in my life!
You really looked to be having fun on your drive. A great little car!
I think one of these should join the hubnut fleet! My mate had one, and it was white bizarrely. I've never been in one though. Looked amazing!
Really enjoyed this video. Italian cars do it for me. Way back in 1975, I was driven around the coast road in Cape Town (probably one of the most scenic and stunning routes in the world) in a 1972 Alfa Romeo GT Junior. Now I drive a Alfa 159 and love every minute of it.
Forza Italia! You sir, have great taste. Have an X1/9 and my last two daily cars have been Alfas. Truth be told the X is the best car I have ever driven for its driver experience.
I bought mine in 1976 and it was the most fun car I've ever owned. I lived in the mountains in Oregon in the US and I put Metzeler snow tires on it in the winter and never got stuck. I would actually push snow with the spoiler.
I admit I've never had the chance to sample an X1/9, and your video has me aching to get to drive one for myself!
Not quite first.
Excellent. One of those cars that I always wanted to rty but never did. Now I wish i had even more. so, yeah, thanks for that Ian.
this is my first time being aware about the x1-9, and i immediately fell in love, seems like an absolute joy, forget the mx-5 and mr2, i would take one of these
I wanted one in the 1970s & got to ride in a friend's. Amazing handling. He pushed it to the limits & drifted it but it was so low to the ground it hardly leaned at all. Super nimble & light. About the time I could buy one they quit making them.
That lime green1300 is exquisite - and reminds me of one that used to bomb around Stourbridge when I was a nipper!
Had one in the mid 80's early 1.5 sold it to a friend who kept it for at least 10 years!
He was also courting my sister at the time, I seem to remember him getting her drunk and she threw up all over the centre console 😲
I think the amour disappeared from the relationship at that point 😄
I had a metallic green Dinky one with the speed blocks on the sides, and I have always loved them. They are amazing to drive too, they used to feel quite fast in the 80s!
I've always wanted one , even more so now, and it was in that lovely metallic green so much the better !
I bought one in 1982 for £355 and now it's worth mega bucks ....................only one slight problem I sold it in 1983....................
Omg that's rapid beautiful car Brilliant video Ian 👍
I think we can safely say you enjoyed that !, Was wearing your T-shirt while watching this .
A classic case of 'less is more' and a brilliant piece of road. I used to borrow my brother's in the '80s and have great fun with it. More recently I've had similar sensations with my MX-5s.
I had a 1977 Fiat x19 when I was in high school in Burbank California.... what a great and fun car! I had lots of adventures in it.. spirited night drives on Mulholland Drive, trips to Zuma Beach, Santa Monica Beach, Redondo Beach, into the mountains at Idlewild
It was a hand-me-down from my brother who was a Fiat mechanic. He installed dual Weber carburetors on it it had a great sound and handled so brilliantly.... unfortunately, it had a tendency to blow head gaskets pretty regularly.
My uncle had one of these when I was very young. The backwards rev counter fascinated me!