Before the Fiero and the MR2, There Was the Fiat X1/9

I've always liked those.

They used to bring FIATs into the Port of Wilmington DE.  I remember in 1979 or 1980 a huge holding lot full of X1/9s got flooded during a hurricane.  I mean hundreds of cars, plus a bunch of 124s and 128s.  I imagine it was a significant portion of all the FIATs exported to the US in that year.

I always wondered if any of them got dried out and shipped to dealers.

I've had 2.  

That are absolutely wonderful little cars.  Super practical for daily use (AC would have been nice though) with a ton of storage for a car that size, that the top fits in the frunk is awesome.

Super fun to drive, you can really wind them out and have a blast driving w/out being the take my license territory. 

this is timely...

I used them as daily drivers and autocross cars for many years, vastly underrated cars.  My favorites were an '81 injected with Konis as the only mod.  Perfect as a daily driver.  And my '74 with a 1500, dual Webers, 4.89 gear.  My buddy Steve Hoelscher built the motor and transaxle and it was a blast to drive.  Pic below actual car, but after I sold it.  

I love them . . . wanted one badly in the early 90's, but I had no money. 

And my first one

I met Robert (the guy in the video) at an Atlanta SCCA solo event before he did the engine swap.  I immediately nerded out over his X, took pics, and asked him probably too many questions.  Nice guy and a cool car even before the transformation.  It's great to see what he's done with it since then.  

Also, I'm pretty sure Toyota took "inspiration" from the X1/9 when they designed the first MR2 just as they did with the Cosworth BDA when they engineered the 4AGE.

Going to the Fiat on the Dragon events, the guy in charge has a son with an X1/9 and Acura drivetrain swap.  Damn nice looking car, I'd love to find one right now while I'm in search of car #3.

I've only driven one on track. It was a students car and total stock bit it was super fun to drive, zippy motor and very chuckable.