1987 FIAT X1/9

This is the current owner’s 20th Fiat X1/9, so it’s fair to say he is something of an enthusiast! And, not to be outdone, the chap he bought it from was similarly afflicted, having owned the car himself for ten years before selling it on. 

The mileage is reasonable, it has been in the care of sympathetic owners and there has been some recent significant expenditure. So, this isn’t an under-the-arches special that’s been bodged and patched over the years until rising prices prompted a flowery listing alongside an optimistic asking price.

That complex superstructure might have endowed the X1/9 with the best handling this side of a Ferrari alongside unbeatable crash protection but it was, at heart, still Italian, which usually means rust, and usually lots of it.

And if the rust hasn’t killed your classic X1/9 then the car’s infrequent propensity for locking its front wheels under hard braking means that accident damage further decreases the chances of finding a solid one. But not with this example; there are no signs of either rust or accident damage. The owner has seen plenty of poor examples in his time to know where to look for rust, and confirms that, even when stripped down for repaint, none was found; makes this example almost unique in our experience.

The red paint had faded over the years past the point that it could be successfully revived, which prompted the current owner to splash out on a glass-out professional respray in its original colour scheme of red-over-black in late 2017. The Fiat looks splendid as a result, bolstered by the fitment of the optional extra rear spoiler – but if you prefer your X1/9’s bare, a spare boot lid sans spoiler is included with the vehicle…

The original alloy wheels are in very good condition, and the four new tyres still have plenty of tread.

Problem areas are limited to a two-inch section of peeling underseal and a 10p-sized patch of light surface rust on the inner edge of one of the doors.

The interior is this car’s weakest area, but that’s as much a reflection of how good the rest of the car is as it is a statement on the inevitable wear and tear any thirty-year-old car will pick up. The black leather seats are gently patinated, and the stitching has come away in a couple of places. As a daily driver, the interior could easily be kept ‘as is’ but anyone wanting to show the car or maximize its value would want to get it sorted.

On a more positive note, all the car’s electrics work, which should go a long way to reassuring potential bidders that they’re buying a good example of this appreciating Italian classic. A small exception: the radio is not great which gives the new owner the opportunity to install his favorite sound system – graphic equalizer anyone?

The 1500cc engine’s timing belt was replaced less than 1,000 miles ago, and routine servicing, including oil changes, has been carried out on a frequent basis.

This means that the engine - complete with unleaded cylinder head – starts and performs as it should, as does the gearbox, which doesn’t have the usual Fiat problems of a weak synchromesh and gears that jump out under deceleration. The suspension and brakes are in similarly fine fettle and in no need of any immediate attention.

The exhaust was replaced two years ago, and the ignition system has been upgraded to an electronic system that does away with the points - and a whole world of hassle.

The car comes with all its old MOTs dating back to the very first in 1990. However, having spent the past two decades in the care of two X1/9 enthusiasts who have diligently maintained the vehicle regardless of cost, the paperwork trail is otherwise sparse; the two previous enthusiast owners simply cracked on with whatever jobs needed doing themselves, so there are no invoices from garages or Fiat specialists, simply because their experience and knowledge meant they didn’t need any professional help.

So, you’ll need to buy on the car’s current condition, but if it’s any help, the online MOT history shows only the sort of niggling faults that any Italian car owner will be familiar with…

Check out the Gallery for photos of the car as it is now, and some showing it’s stripped state prior to the repaint confirming the excellent condition of the metalwork.

The price of good Fiat X1/9s has been gently rising over the past few years, - and they still have some way to go in our opinion, it is a piece of dramatic mid-engined Italian exotica after all. With the very best cars still struggling to breach the five-figure mark, we expect this Fiat X1/9 VS to go for around £2,750-3,750, a relatively low valuation that takes into account the need for a small amount of interior refurbishment in the future if so wished. Remember the reserve is always lower. 

If it were ours, we’d invest a few hundred pounds on getting the seats repaired or retrimmed in the original style. This work would see this car transformed into one of the very finest usable X1/9s in the United Kingdom. It’s often said that you should choose a car as much by its ownership as much as by its absolute condition.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Swansea; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.