Summer weather is here, and this Bertone X1/9 is the more unorthodox choice for the open air motorist. Introduced in the early 1970s as the Fiat X1/9, this car was the replacement for the rear engine 850 Spider. This was a radical departure with its four cylinder engine mounted amidships, something that, other than the Porsche 914, was normally reserved for more exotic iron. This ultimate example of the X1/9 is for sale in California and has been comprehensively restored.

1987 Bertone X1/9

Obsessively restored 1987 Bertone X1/9

Looks and drives like a brand new car - many, many thousands of dollars spent over the course of 5 years, all receipts and photo documentation available
80k miles, <500 miles since restoration
Black/Black
Leather interior

Engine:
Complete stock rebuild no modifications
Polished stainless steel expansion tank
Re-cored radiator
All new hoses
Ceramic coated water pump
Ceramic coated water pump pipe
Remanufactured alternator
Remanufactured and matched fuel injectors
Polished intake manifold
Ceramic coated exhaust manifold, shield and down pipe
Polished stainless steel exhaust system

Drivetrain:
Rebuilt gearbox
Resurfaced fly wheel
New clutch pressure plate, bearing and disc
All new clutch hydraulics including metal lines
New CV joints

Suspension and wheels:
Nickel plated uprights all around
New wheel bearings all around
All new suspension bushings
Koni red adjustable shocks rebuilt by Performance Shock Inc. in Sonoma
New front control arms
Rebuilt steering rack, new tie rod ends
Epoxy and powder-coated rear suspension arms and links
Nickel plated Bertone lug nuts
Refinished and powder coated original Speedline wheels

Brakes
All new hydraulics, including metal lines
Nickel plated Fiat Uno turbo front brakes, freshly rebuilt with polished pistons and new ventilated rotors and pads
Powder coated brake shields
Polished aluminum freshly rebuilt stock rear calipers with new rotors and pads
New brake hoses all around

Interior
Refinished leather seats
New original Bertone steering wheel
New original Bertone gear lever
Immaculate dashboard no cracks
New carpet
“Brown wire” mod to increase power to all accessories
LED instrument lighting
LED interior lighting
Rebuilt pedal box
Tool roll
Owners manual etc.
Original jack

The X1/9 survived in the US market through 1987, even after Fiat pulled out of the market in 1982. Bertone took over the marketing and importation of the car from there and quite a few were sold thereafter. These late X1/9s are quite affordable these days and I’ve seen a few out there in good condition. For the price of a used economy car, you can have something that everyone on the street will want to stop and talk about with you. The best X1/9s will hover around $10,000 to $14,000, so I'd suspect this restored example has a reserve set somewhere around that range.

-Paul