The Fiat X1/9 Is A Baby Ferrari You HAVE To Love! (1984 Bertone X/19 VS Road Test)

[@mikecefaratti]

I’ve owned an X19 for almost 40 years. Bought new in 86. Still have it and it runs like a champ. So much fun to drive. No one knows what it is

[@Toni62R]

Congrats to your great car. We love the X19 in the 70s and 80s - and today it is a head turner

[@craigtiano3455]

I've had half a dozen X1/9's, from my first car, a 1974, to a race prepped 1980 that I kept until the late 1990's. An X1/9 was my daily driver for more than 10 years. These are incredibly fun to drive. The steering is almost "go cart" like at speed, literally point and it goes there. The brakes are amazingly good. The ride isn't terrible, despite the small tires. The engine wants to rev. Sure, it'll take you 8 seconds to get to 60mph, but it feels a lot faster because you are so engaged in the process. If you're driving in the winter, you have a heating system designed for a big sedan to keep you warm (you could drive the car with the roof off, even on the coldest days!). By 1979, they fixed the rampant rusting issues. And, I can say that I never had a leaking roof in any of my cars, and they were parked outside every day and night.

[@pazooter]

8 seconds? My '74 took about 11.

[@mike_ctid_taylor]

No electronic ignition in UK cars from factory & the later cars were much better rust protected. Otherwise thanks for a positive review of our fabulous little cars.

[@markedwards4107]

Couldn't have put it better

[@robsawalker]

Mate had one in the 80s, great fun to drive. Love the reverse tacho too. A superb affordable classic.

[@pazooter]

I put nearly a 100K miles on my '74 X19. I ran it hard, red-lining the tach as a norm. In the end the engine remained strong, but the rust overcame it in the early 80's in LA. Too, the wheel bearings predictably gave out every 10000 miles; $400 to fix each time. Still, one of my all time favorite rides.

[@saltytraveller]

When I lived in Germany in the early 80's an Air Force friend of mine was selling his 79 X/19. I had never seen one, but I bought it from him. I have driven many sports cars, but none as fun as that X/19. Maybe it's time to get another one.

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

Do it!

[@mrradman2986]

I've had a Gran Finale from new in 1989. It was once punted into the back of a Passat by an XR2 when stationary in a motorway jam. The XR2 was a write off. The tow bar on the rear of the Passat was severely bent. The X1/9 was essentially undamaged bar a few scratches from the shattered headlamps of the FORD. It was a fun car to drive in the dry and went on trips to the Alps and the Med with plenty of luggage space in the two boots. I still have it as we couldn't bear to part with it so it shares the garage with my Porsche Boxster 3.2 S manual.

[@nigelbond4056]

I had an X1/9 many years ago. It was a lime green Corgi model 🤣

[@spainter1985]

Great looking car, especially the early skinny bumper ones. I assume that this being a later example will be a 1.5 with around 85bhp.

[@alfindigo]

Brilliant car, I had one in the early 1980’s, my sister had the later model with the 1.5 engine. Very prone to rust though, it eventually became too expensive to fix so I gave it away.

[@icsunonove72]

Bertone was just the employer of the man, the legend, Marcello Gandini.

[@yardelli]

All models scarce now but that's an early VS with the 2-tone paint that met mid-line - Not long after it was changed to meet at the top of the doors/wings. I had an identical VS also on an A plate from near new. Great to see the X1/9 finally getting some recognition with its Bertone/Lampredi and Gandini connections. Its thought the Abarth rally car wasn't developed further as it was suspected to be able to outpace other Fiat group competitors at the time.

[@jimmyssanctuary2194]

I noticed the Lancia Stratos pop-up headlamps and the Lotus Esprit S1 taillight assembly in there.

[@alastairwatson3201]

The most fun you can have with your pants on!

[@christopherbolton5431]

87’ X19 was my first car. I mean that model towards the end was really decked out. I had it well into the 90’s until the young person that I was blew the engine. I wish I had the money I do now to go back in time and save that car. I miss it all the time. Best memory car ever.

[@markonmotoring]

Ive fancied an X/19 probably since i was a teenager un the 90's. The eaelier solit bumper 1300 in lime green would be my choice but cery rare now (id hate that colour on mist other cars but looks great on the X1/9). I dare say the later Fiat ot Bertone 1500 with five spewd gearbix are probably a better bet. I remember someone local to me in the eaely 90's had one with what I think may jave been a Delara bidy kit.

[@fasthracing]

Driving an X19 in the rain. Is that wise?

[@ClassicsWorldUK]

It didn't *seem* to rust any more...

[@Haffschlappe]

Waxoil helps

[@paulmoran4095]

My first car, drove it for 7 years. It was loads of fun.

[@leeheywood-r9u]

I had one in the 80's. Loved it but unfortunately died of rust. I've watched your Bentley Turbo R road trip. Recently acquired one. In restoration at the moment. 😢

[@seed_drill7135]

I worked with a guy who had one in the late 1980s. Took them a year to get necessary engine parts shipped to the US.

[@PompeyMatt17]

mate of mine had one in silver and red interior. we used to car share, I had a Mk1 Astra GTE, he had an X19. which he never locked. His theory being, if someone going to nick it at least the door locks won't get mangled...😂

[@easydrive3662]

And then in the 90s the fiat coupe 20vt came along and blow away every bit of competition with its insane performance and looks!

[@person.X.]

I went to the motor show at Earl's Court in London the year the Fiat Coupe was released. It was far and away the most desirable car there. It was obvious it was going to be a classic from the get go.

[@paulelverstone8677]

Yeah. Not exactly true that there was nothing else like it, is it - at least not after 1984 - because then there was something exactly like it. Styling was like it, engine placement was like it, two seats, RWD, great handling, telepathic steering and with a revvy 16valver, Japanese build quality and reliability and easy to live with on a daily basis. You should do a review of that next, for comparison...

[@3ducs]

Forgot to mention what that car was.

[@paulelverstone8677]

@@3ducs I thought the clues would give it away but, if not, I was referring to the Toyota MR2 AW11... :o)

[@3ducs]

@@paulelverstone8677 Mister Two is a great car!

[@s0m3cunt91]

Also could come with a supercharger.

[@TheWatzitooya]

Ahhh. . . The Fiero

[@davidarter9670]

Brilliant little car!

[@Toni62R]

In the 70s and 80s were also other exotic cheap cars: the Matra Murena was o9ne of my favorites. And the beautiful Renault Alpine A310!!!

[@paulchilvers5032]

My 79 1.5 required a complete rustcut out and respray by 81! Untouchable in the twisties but boy did the front end lift at over 100mph

[@Haffschlappe]

You could install.a Leyland Princess 2200 inline six with Transmission in the back of the x19

[@george4u1960]

I had a 1981X19 in black I loved it. But I will tell you it’s like a toy when it gets cold I had to throw hot water on the key lock to defrost it. Somebody stole the top off twice. It was hard to find people to work on it even to get a oil change. Nobody wanted to work on it.❤

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

I had a 1.5 X19 for a few years back in in 90’s, was great fun but very underpowered

[@peterelvery]

Love the X1/9 and no rust issues in Australia, but did you not get the Toyota MR2 in Britain? That was its principle alternative here.

[@ThePedroDB]

Much more in common with the Ferrari 308 GT4 styling wise than the 308 GTB you showed. Both Bertone creations of the era (and as you said, ditto the 'Stratos). I loved my X1/9's but they rotted like crazy (even when well molly coddled and thaks to using cheap Russian steel/poor rust proofing..) and braking in the wet on Motorway's could be a frightening experience. Other than that, a brilliant little car to own!

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Another good video 👍👍👍👏👏👏

[@hughneal6881]

I always wanted an X1/9, but I could not properly fit in it. I am 6'4" and the car just did not have enough leg room for me, unfortunately.

[@antonywalker8837]

My Dad bought the one in green back in 1979. I was 17 and learning to drive. My dad being a good dad allowed me to put L plates on and drive it everywhere we went. Now 63 I still crave to own one. I have driven many cars in my life but none of them have given me the pleasure the x1/9 did. Is it me !!!!!!? My 2 boys don't get it. This car you drove, cars today don't give me that feeling. As for the wife..... let's not go there.🤷😁

[@redsidebiker]

Umm, the AW14 MR2 came out in '84. More powerful, better handling, better built. One of the best handling cars ever built. Sadness of the X1/9 was that the twin cam SuperMiriafori driveline (with a front wheel drive gearbox) fitted. That was the setup that the X1/9 deserved

[@Haffschlappe]

The Fiat might be great with a Hydra Gas suspension

[@chrismckay8349]

Do any of his shirts have buttons?

[@DavidM-mb1vx]

March-ello. Not Marsello

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Baby Ferrari that is HUUUUUGGGGEEEE STRETCH.

[@alex9502]

Or the lancia scorpio 1976 my favourite

[@robertwatts1664]

Wanted to buy one back in the 80s….unfortunately, I’m over 6 foot tall, so couldn’t fit inside!

[@craigtiano3455]

6'5" tall, and fit fine. The cars built from 1979 onwards had a redesigned interior, which makes them a really tight fit for people over 6' tall. The earlier cars are no problem at all, although you do have to splay your knees a bit around the steering wheel if your pants leg dimension is more than 34".

[@iv3shf]

That car had a lot of drama since its conception, it should have been the car for the rally war ibetween Fiat and Lancia (HF Stratos) it should have been the Fiat counter attack to Lancia, but never was, The commercial model was bluntly copied by De Tomaso who saw the prototype and asked Tom Tjarda, (the man behind the 124 Spiders..) to draw it made the De tomaso Vallelunga and presented it before Fiat (they went wild..) In the Targa florio Fiat was with the 124s and the X1/9 with the old 128 Rally conception (both with the same father.. Gandini) in 1974 on the X1/9 they put the 124 Abarth engine in it, (X1/9 Abarth) but the sister Stratos Zero with the Ferrari engine was winning practically everything, so they gave up on the X1/9 to start the X1/20... Lancia Beta Montecarlo (later SE037.. you all know that) and kep on putting money behind the Stratos, at the end a lot of should have been but never was..

[@3ducs]

Fun little car but how can you see where you're going with all that mist on the windows?

[@lewis72]

The DVLA hs this, and a much later one, still listed as a Fiat.

[@Garg3984]

Don’t drive it in the wet. Like it’s on ball bearings

[@yeoldegamer5112]

You showed the wrong Ferrari 308 😉

[@rashathwal9075]

Shame the one you used was a real rough dog, so much overspray 😮

[@kenblaney8599]

Then the Toyota MR2 came along and showed how it was done.

[@paulrenowden8617]

Yet ironically rotted away as quick as an X1/9...

[@berwhaletheavenger]

@@paulrenowden8617 Wrong. The Fiats were rotting at less than a year old.

[@paulrenowden8617]

@@berwhaletheavenger Hmmmm, ok. My old neighbour had an X1/9 and replaced it with an MR2. The X1/9 had some rust at five years old, the MR2 was terminally rotten at 5 years old and scrapped at 6. The X1/9 lived on until it was crashed into at 8 years old.

[@clivebrackstone1896]

Ive had 2 X19s...and 3 MR2S MK1 MK2 AND MK3. The fiat was a dog and a rot box and with 85bhp couldnt pull jimmy saville off your little angel.. not 1 of the mr2s where rotton. And even the mk1 with its gorg 7,600 rpm twin cam 16v unit with 128 bhp destroyed it..... AND NOT A SIGN OF ROT ANYWHERE

[@paulrenowden8617]

@@clivebrackstone1896 THANKS FOR SHOUTING AT ME. COULDN'T UNDERSTAND OTHERWISE.

[@TG-pd3ft]

I'm astonished the owner let you take that out in the rain. you can almost see it rusting as you drive

[@Carrera-gp9od]

That title is a bit of a stretch …..

[@x19man1]

I used one as a daily driver from 1987-1992; absolute most unreliable car on the planet, beating even my previous Alfa Alfetta (which took some doing). Literally nearly killed me once when it broke down on the motorway... never again anything italian...

[@crosisofborg5524]

It looks more like a fiero than a Ferrari

[@cratecruncher4974]

You wouldn't drive your Ferrari in the rain though. Come to think of it I wouldn't drive my X1/9 in the rain either. It is Italian.

[@berwhaletheavenger]

Quite nice looking in the original form but really, they were little more than landfill, typical rot prone unreliable seventies Fiat junk. Toyota showed a few years later with the MR2 how it should be done.

[@stephen300o6]

Baby Ferrari is not the most original line.

[@samuell4775]

...puts cars like the pretentious Mini to shame.

[@richknudsen5781]

Sorry guys but most of those in America went right to the scrap yard when the engines failed, like most cheap italian imports here do. Glad you had better luck but still,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@markbowden7238]

Where I live they rusted out before the engines failed. Their owners kept them on the street, unlike Ferrari owners. So I guess it was a money issue plus terrible weather and salt. I don't understand your logic - you say owners scrapped their cars when the engines failed, despite the engines generally are regarded as bulletproof if properly maintained. Could be you live somewhere dusty and dry?

[@susanhenderson2322]

Worked on th3se when new, NOT a Ferrari , its a cheap and chearful somewhat unreliable fix it again tony.