HisNameIsJoel
Low Mileage
Hey everyone! First time posting here. Two weeks ago I hadn't even heard of the X1/9 (even though I currently own a 2016 500e). There was someone here in Eugene selling a beautiful red 1980 X1/9 in fantastic condition for $5500. The wife said no and so it got away, but I've been obsessed ever since. Then a few days ago, I stumbled across a "barnyard find" '77 X1/9 in unknown condition. After talking to the current owner, he's willing to give me a stupid low deal ($500!) just to come down to Medford, OR (3 hour drive) to haul it off. Here's the current posting:
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/507623049977573/
When asked for more details he said this:
I know the 77s have the less powerful motor, no A/C, and the older dash style. Would swapping in one of those Honda motors be a good idea or would that blow my budget? Can I also swap out the dash for one of the newer ones? Anything else I should look out for?
Thanks everyone!!!
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/507623049977573/
When asked for more details he said this:
I also was not familiar with the car. I got it home, cleaned it up a bit. It has spotty rust and feels like the clutch cable is undone. I put cheap tires on it so I could roll it in and out of the garage,. We got the engine to turn with jumper cables (I wanted to make sure it was not siezed up) but didn't want to start it until il and fresh gas were put in place. It is fully intact and I have a hundred or so spare parts (lights, A Arms, Transmission, engine block etc.). I'm just not a mechanic and these things go for $10-15K restored. Not high dollar, but a fun project for someone more mechanically inclined than myself. I don't know much more than the man who had it passed away long ago and it sat in a yard in Shady cove, OR Since 92. The seats cleaned up nicely. There are buts of rust here and there but nothing through the metal. Im willing do wheel and deal. Aldo have extra wheels for it. It has light rust on a few metals parts, some rust on the body but like I said, not through the steel.
So my question to you experts is this: what am I getting myself into? Is $500 for this a good deal? I'm not the most mechanically sound, but my buddy here in Oregon is a Ford/Chevy mechanic and has offered to help. My 500e lease expires at the end of September and I'll be without a car. My original budget was about $6k for a "fun" car that I'd also use as a daily driver. If I spend 500 bucks on this car and invest the rest of the $5500 into getting it up and running, think I can do it by September? Or am I asking for a world of hurt and I'll either be junking or parting it out?
I know the 77s have the less powerful motor, no A/C, and the older dash style. Would swapping in one of those Honda motors be a good idea or would that blow my budget? Can I also swap out the dash for one of the newer ones? Anything else I should look out for?
Thanks everyone!!!