My Newly Acquired X1/9

[vespaholic]

Hello All,
I lurked here when I had an 850 Spider.
I just bought a 1979 X1/9.
14,600 miles
All original except for a high quality respray in the original color and aftermarket Abarth wheels.
I’m restoring a set of factory wheels to replace the Abarth wheels.
It’s a blast to drive.
I’m sure I’ll be hitting you all up with a bunch of questions.
Best!!

 

[johnph]

Congratulations! Nice car.

 

[LarryC]

Congrats and we want more pictures!

 

[Larry]

Congratulations! That's a really nice looking car. I also have an '79 that I picked up with 233,000 ish miles on it... it's now got a paltry 336,000ish miles on it

 

[kmead]

Congrats. A great car. Glad you made the upgrade. Black with the chrome trim really pops.

Personally, I would keep the Abarth wheels. When you say factory wheels, which ones do you have? CD91s would be the correct wheel. The half inch of extra width and the offset of the Abarth wheels work well with the car.

Anyway, great car.

 

[vespaholic]

These are the factory wheels that came on this car. (Pic is an example).
I know the Abarth wheels are cooler and lighter.
But the car is so nice and original it deserves the correct wheels.
Plus on full wheel crank the Abarth wheels make the tires rub.
I’m not going to mess up this nice original sheet metal.

 

[86X]

Congratulation, very nice car!

 

[KBabcock]

Welcome aboard! My understanding was the steel wheels were standard while the mags were an upgrade option. If that is the case you are keeping it original with the optional mags. I'm sure someone here knows if this is correct thinking or not.

 

[vespaholic]

Good point.
For this car, however, the steel wheels are what she came with.
I have all the original paperwork back to the original window sticker.
I'll probably sell the Abarth wheels which i'll post here first.

 

[tigeravg]

Beautiful car. It looks like whomever repainted the car did a very nice job with the correct "Nero Met."
I had one (a '79) back in the day. The paint was very pretty, really stood out from solid black cars. Of cars sold in the US, that color was only available from '79 thru '84. Not super rare, but not overdone either...for a car with a 17-ish year run.

Enjoy, and congrats on the acquisition.

 

[vespaholic]

You are correct.
This was clearly a very high end, glass out, respray.
I'm very pleased with the car.

BTW: Thanks for all the congratulations & compliments!
I appreciate it!

 

[Larry]

If you want to go all original, the tire size I believe was a 165/70-13. I'd be willing to wager what's on the car now is a 185/60-13.

 

[kmead]

These are the factory wheels that came on this car. (Pic is an example).
I know the Abarth wheels are cooler and lighter.
But the car is so nice and original it deserves the correct wheels.
Plus on full wheel crank the Abarth wheels make the tires rub.
I’m not going to mess up this nice original sheet metal.

Interesting. Those wheels may have come on that car but I personally wouldn’t expect to have seen them on it.

Do you have the original build sticker and pics of the car new with those on It? Is yours a EU market car?

The only late model Xs I saw with those wheels were 79s back in the day. Most X’s from that period came with alloys, specifically the CD91s. My 1980 had CD91s and was carbureted. I presume yours is FI.

 

[vespaholic]

My car is a '79.
I have pics of it and the original window sticker.
1979's a carbureted, not FI.

 

[Rupunzell]

These are the factory wheels that came on this car. (Pic is an example).
I know the Abarth wheels are cooler and lighter.
But the car is so nice and original it deserves the correct wheels.
Plus on full wheel crank the Abarth wheels make the tires rub.
I’m not going to mess up this nice original sheet metal.

Much depends on what your goals for this 79' exxe is. If the goal is preservation and originality the trade ff will be drivability and discovering the vast potential designed into the exxe. If the goal is drivability and discovering what is possible with the exxe, originality will be discarded.
Know Fiat never allowed this Bertone design to be fully and properly developed. Might be good to read the side article on the exxe written years ago.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/x-squared-1979-fiat-x1-9

As for tire rub, it might not be the wheels, the problem could be tire size.. If the tires are 185/60/13, there is a slight possibility or front fender rub at full steering lock. Easiest way to stop this, don't go full steering lock. From a drivability and performance point, the aftermarket wheels are superior in every way to the stock steel wheels. Tires choice is more important than wheels from a drivability and performance point of view as the wheels play the supporting role to tires.. Many who decide on visuals alone will choose wheels over tires trading off grip, performance, drivability. Know the choices for 13" road/street tires today is extremely limited.


Bernice

 

[vespaholic]

I like my cars as factory original as possible.
May not be everyone's thing, but its mine.

 

[tigeravg]

I like my cars as factory original as possible.
May not be everyone's thing, but its mine.

Below is my carb'd '79 (back in 1988). These were the wheels that came with her...however, that may have been a "trim level" thing. Like, "Touring package (US dealers) features A/C, luggage rack, vinyl lined roof panel, digital clock and AM/FM cassette radio, and alloy wheels".

I believe these wheels would have been much more common than a 13" steely (with a trim ring) in '79. But, as pointed out, if you have the original paperwork, perhaps somebody went out of their way to order the car as a super base model.

It all doesn't matter if you prefer one over the other. The car will look great and still drive like a go-cart, whatever your choice.

 

[vespaholic]

My car is a base model.
No AC, No Power Windows... Both of which are a plus in my book.

 

[JimD]

The 79 I had several years ago had the steelies with trim rings. The PO had blacked out the wheels.

I put a set of CD-31 wheels on it for a while, but put the steelies back on when I sold it.

 

[dllubin]

If you want it as original as possible, make sure you've got all the original emissions control equipment on it. The 1500 carbed cars are about as bad as it got as far as compromising performance to meet emissions requirements.