Lot Ended
Description
An exciting find with concours potential; only 20,000 miles from new
in the hands of two owners; late Bertone-built car, among the last few
made; nice history file; highly original and well-preserved; rare colour;
advisory-free MOT; private plate; lots to like, little to
do
A collaboration between Marcello
Gandini and Nuccio Bertone, the wildly exuberant Fiat X1/9 caused a sensation
when it was launched in 1972, and its futuristic flying wedge styling still has
the power to stop the world in its tracks today.
A mid-engined,
rear-wheel drive two-seater with a removable Targa top, it initially had
the Lampredi-designed 75bhp 1300cc engine and four-speed gearbox from the Fiat
128, although from 1979 this was uprated to an 85bhp 1500cc Weber twin-choke
carb unit mated to a five-speed box. To meet emissions standards, American
market cars had Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection which sapped the power somewhat.
With fully independent suspension and all-round disc brakes, what the
X1/9 lacked in power it more than made up for in handling finesse. The motoring
press loved it, instantly dubbing it the ‘baby Ferrari’ for the way it thrived
on hard use and was in its element being thrown into corners on twisty back
lanes.
When Fiat discontinued the X1/9 in 1982 after some 145,000 had
been sold (over 85% of them LHD), Bertone acquired the rights and made another
20,000 or so before production came to an end in early 1989.
With no
Fiat badging, these Bertone-built cars were better made than their predecessors,
with redesigned footwells for greater legroom, plusher interiors, electric
windows and an uprated wiring loom. Rustproofing was also greatly enhanced by
virtue of electro-dip cathodic priming and PVC undercoating to better preserve
the chassis.
First registered in March 1989, this Bertone-built X1/9
(chassis number 163611) must be one of the last few made, although Bertone were
not entirely logical with their chassis numbering sequence which makes exact
production data hard to pin down. The VIN plate is stamped 15/89 which
presumably indicates something about the batch number or specific time frame in
1989 that it was made.
A scarce RHD model with the 1500 Weber twin-choke
engine and 5-speed box, it is finished in rare Giallo Cedro which suits it
beautifully, with a well-preserved blue cloth interior. It rides on super-cool
Cromadora ‘Telephone Dial’ alloy wheels with Bertone centre caps, shod with a
matching set of Avon tyres (date code June 2015).
Originally registered
as F261 CBO, it was supplied new by Fiat main agents Clytha Motor Company of
Abergavenny, being registered to them for one day only before being sold to a
local lady, Dr HJ Mars, who was to keep it for the next 22 years. In May 2011
the doctor sold her X1/9 to the current keeper, another local gent, who put his
own personal plate on the car, B10 JFR, which is transferable and is included in
the sale.
It is showing only 20,088 miles on the clock which seems likely
to be correct and is certainly borne out by the overall condition of the car.
There are four stamps in the service book, all by the supplying dealer, the last
in March 1992 at 12,512 miles (see photos). There are also seven old MOTs which
show the mileage rising from 16,055 in March 1995 to 20,056 miles in June 2019
when the car was put into storage.
Recently retrieved from its resting
place, it was sent to Ponthir garage in Newport for a light recommissioning to
get it through an MOT which it initially failed on a few minor points mainly
relating to the brakes, before securing a clean pass three weeks later, the MOT
being valid until April 2027 with no advisories recorded.
Although there
is no invoice to show what was done, there is a slightly later Ponthir garage
invoice dated June 2026 for various hoses, filters, gaskets and a new clutch
master cylinder (see photos).
An intriguing feature is the Rizzuti Bros
sticker in the back window, well-known Fiat and Abarth tuners who were operating
from their base in Street, Somerset in the 1970s and ‘80s, although what work
they might have done to this car is sadly not recorded.
Supplied with all
its original handbooks in the original wallet, it also comes with operating
instructions for the Blaupunkt Cambridge radio cassette; a current V5C stating
two former keepers and an older V5 recording one former keeper (the supplying
dealer) plus paperwork for the number plate transfer.
As you can see in
the photos, this low-mileage Bertone X1/9 is in highly original condition and
appears to be exceptionally well-preserved with nice original paintwork and
minimal signs of corrosion. It has been starting promptly and running well as we
have moved it around on site, although given the recent lack of use a thorough
service and check-over would be advisable before it is used on the road.
We did note that the brakes needed a firm shove to bring the car to a
stop, and if left idling for a long while it did leak some coolant from the
centre of the car (the radiator is at the front so presumably the hoses need
attention).
Of the c.1,300 X1/9s thought to survive in the UK, only
around 300 are taxed and roadworthy and only around 70 are 1989 models, fewer
than 30 of them taxed, which makes this a surprisingly rare machine.
Low
mileage; few owners; highly original; rare colour; good documentation; among the
last made – this Bertone X1/9 ticks all the right boxes and could be turned into
a real show-stopper with relatively little effort.
A true design classic
by two of the greatest names in automotive styling, this striking sportscar is
on offer here at a sensible guide price which should leave ample scope for the
remedial works required. An ideal base for a concours restoration, it is sure to
be of interest to any Italian car collector.
Consigned by James
Dennison – 07970 309907
– james.dennison@brightwells.com