On a fine sunny morning with the roof off, just 1 week after purchase, it started to overheat. Then water went everywhere. Making it carefully to the shop, it was discovered that 2 coolant pipes running underneath the car had corroded. Sadly the only way to remove the pipes was to cut them out of the underside of the car. NZ$800 later...
The cable that opened the engine cover snapped, but this was easily repaired through the 'rear boot'.
Throttle jams open every now and again.
Currently the clutch doesn't work, and I suspect it's the hydraulics that are playing up, rather than the clutch itself.
The X1/9 really impresses on a fine, warm day when you can remove the roof panel and cruise al-fresco. It stows cleverly in the front 'boot'.
But the advantage of leaving the roof on, from a handling point of view, is improved rigidity, and reduced 'scuttle shake'. Mid-engine handling is an art to master, and proves razor sharp through the turns.
The seemingly standard FIAT 1500 loves to sing, red-lining somewhere in the sky, and gathers speed quicker than you think. Yet it can be driven quietly around town as required. Count the savings as the simplicity of the engine brings pleasant bills.
However, other repairs can be very costly indeed. Some parts are diffcult to find, and labour hours can run up bigtime.
Many X1/9's, like many other old Italian cars, suffer terrible rust. I'm fortunate to have a rust-free car.
A tragically beautiful car, styled by Marcello Gandini - a stylist at Bertone already celebrated for the Lamborghini Muira, who went on to style the Countach, Diablo, Murcielago, every Lamborghini since 1968. He also penned the Bugatti EB110, and the Citroen BX.
All due respect to both Bertone and Ghandini for they are both master of car design, but the Lamborghini Murci
Another comment to say, The Diablo was an American design by Chrysler in the early 80s. The Diablo came to exist after the purchase of Lamborghini through Chrysler. Best proof example is the movie The Wraith, featuring the all American design Turbo Interceptor which if you look closer resembles the Diablo today in more ways than one.
Actually, Ghandini did do the Diablo (as can be researched easily), though the final design was toned down and modified by the Chrysler team. The original design for the Diablo was then slightly widened to become the Cizeta Morodor V16-T.
Italian auto spares in Onehunga, Auckland can source just about all parts you will ever need for your X1/9. Cheap Gearbox overhauls too, which is good cause they constantly chew up sincro's.
We had a 1978 X1/9 in my family. Not the most sensible car one could buy at the time with a BABY and a four year old and to this day I can't figure out how my daddy put me under the tunnel and My brother on Mum's Lap and got away with it.
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