kfz-tech.de/YFi26
In line four cylinder, 1.290/1.498 cm3, 86,0 mm * 55,5 mm/86,4 mm * 63,9 mm, engine control OHC (toothed belt), dual carburettor, petrol injection with catalyst, 54
kW (73 HP)/62,5 kW (85 HP) at 5600/6000 rpm, midsized engine, transversal with rear drive, single-disc clutch, hydraulically operated, four-speed/soon also five-speed, wheelbase 2.202 mm, double wishbone f/r,
floating caliper f/r, brake booster, braking force limiter, rack and pinion steering, 145 SR 13, later 185/60 SR 13, body, Bertone, final assembly, Bertone, length 3.840/3.970 mm, width 1.570 mm, height 1.180 mm, luggage
compartment f/r, 125/155 litres, tank capacity, 48 litres, kerb weight 880/920 kg + driver, production 166.000, purchase price, 11.300 DM (1972), 16.300 DM (1979), 1972-88, electric system, 12 V/ 45 Ah/44 A, 170/178 km/h,
predecessor, 850 Spider.
Yes, this time we're starting the chapter about a car quite differently. Unusually enough for its performance on the Nürburgring, it's a convertible, which in this case has to be called a Targa,
meaning it's not ideal for racing given the necessary reinforcements.
It's not really a race either, as owners are competing in their classic cars, including a certainly very valuable Porsche Speedster (pictured). These are certainly treated more carefully than in a
real race.
Nevertheless, it's impressive how this artist and its X1/9 outrun everything, even vehicles with roughly twice the power. And anyone who suspects the most powerful Fiat engine ever in the middle of the car is completely
wrong. It's a DOHC with 77 kW (105 hp) from a 1.5-liter displacement, 15 kW (20 hp) more than usual.
It's more of a soft tuning, and you can tell by the way the engine still has plenty of power even with the rev counter pointing upwards. Does such a small engine perhaps better showcase the skills of Aurelio Lampredi, the
former Ferrari designer? We're certainly impressed by the smooth ride.
| At the top it is 4000 rpm. You can turn it up to 7000 rpm |
There's no screeching of tires; the car seems perfectly tuned. Only the not-so-aerodynamic body, with its then-favorite wedge shape, slows the car down at the beginning of the 'Döttinger Höhe' section of the track. It doesn't
help that the right windshield wiper was omitted.
| But there are also near-production engines for the X1/9, which run well over 200 km/h. |
Fiat chose me as one of the first test drivers. Why? Because at the time, I had already bought a new Fiat and was driving a VW-Porsche now. The two gentlemen who showed me the car didn't know that it was a rebuilt
salvage car.Fiat chose me as one of the first test drivers. Why? Because at the time, I had already bought a new Fiat and was driving a VW-Porsche now. The two gentlemen who showed me the car didn't know that it was a
rebuilt salvage car.
They were in good spirits, and so was I with such a new car. It was significantly different from mine, though. Yes, it was a bit more nippy, but not because of its 75 hp engine (1,300 cc), but because it felt much lighter. Very
easy to handle, more like a small car.
This also affected the seating position, which was further cramped by the fuel tank behind the driver's seat and the spare tire behind the passenger seat. Lightness also affected the chassis, whose limits were not even
remotely tested on the short test drive.
Well, it's the successor to the 850 Spider, with the 128's drivetrain relocated to the center. The tank and spare wheel well are perfectly suited for this, as they further dampen engine noise toward the interior. Incidentally, the
removed roof has its place at the front, in contrast to the 914.
Almost as one fears the American president's tariffs today, they feared the expected American safety regulations back then. These seemed to sweep away all the convertibles in the world. Targas were produced by several
companies, but the X1/9 was arguably the most affordable.
Incidentally, the X1/9's bodywork was developed and built by Bertone throughout its life and thus survived the official end of Fiat's production in 1982 as a Bertone until 1989. However, the rust problem seems to have been
further exacerbated by the fact that the Fiat was manufactured off-site.
