ralper

Yup its mine. I have mixed feelings about this but I really don't have the time for it, and Liz thinks we'd be better served with a small, 4 wheel drive pickup.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/161693734536...CA:MOTORS:1123

Legal Bill

You set the reserve on the low side, Rob. But maybe it will take off when folks see this is a sale.

ralper

I know. I'm hoping that the bids will keep coming, but I did want it to be sold. We're probably going to pick up something like a Toyota Tacoma 4 Wheel Drive pickup. It will be more useful and Liz won't be afraid of it.

Still, I have mixed feelings about selling the X. Both Adam and I really have enjoyed owning it.

Legal Bill

Maybe you'll make a profit and be encouraged to buy more classic cars!

ralper

The thing is X-1/9s never got a lot of love. I don't know if it was because of the poor build quality of Fiat in general or because it just doesn't look like a British sports car, An MGB in the same condition as my X would bring 7 to 9,000 dollars.

As I said, we're probably going to look for a small pickup but Adam and I are already talking about an MG.

Legal Bill

Rob, I just looked through the pictures and was wondering why you said the car probably has 50,000 to 75,000 miles on it? Unless I knew something about the actual mileage I would have just given the indicated mileage and said "speedometer and odometer work, but I bought it from the original owner's estate, so actual mileage is unknown." I say that because the pictures make it look like it is a very low mileage, original condition car. Was the speedo broken when you bought it? Do you see a lot of wear on the pedal pads?

ralper

Based on the ride quality. I think the car has more mileage than is indicated on the odometer. In 1994 the odometer reading was 283 miles based on the report on e-bay, but I suspect the odometer was replaced prior to that. The car was bought new in 1987 by the person whose estate I bought it from. I have the original bill of sale.

I'm trying to give an honest evaluation of the car and based on having owned one (bought new in 1978) I really believe that this one has more than 15,000 miles on it. Not more than 50,000 to 75,000 but certainly more than 15,000. It doesn't feel like an X with only 15,000 miles. I know that it sat covered for quite a number of years, and that's why I do believe that from 1994 to now it only has 15,000 miles, but prior to that, who knows.

You probably are right that I should have worded it mileage unknown, but I wanted to paint what I thought was an honest picture.

By the way, the speedo and tach work perfectly. The only thing not working in the car is the air conditioner and I think that's just for a lack of Freon.

tof

I'm with Bill on the mileage. I think it might just be only 15K given what you DO know.

I helped a friend pull the engine from an X a few years ago. In a gravel driveway. Without a hoist. We just jacked the ass end way up and dropped the engine onto a heavy piece of cardboard, then dragged it out from under the car. The rebuild was along the same shade tree lines but upon reassembly the car has run fine for a couple of years now. It's up for sale because what started as "a little bit of rust" is slowly consuming the body.

Legal Bill

Yeah Mike, the condition of the interior tells me this could be a legit low mileage car. A harsh ride can be due to age. The seals in the shocks and the rubber bushings on the control arms age and perish and the ride deteriorates.

tof

My thoughts on the interior.

By the way, Rob, GLWTS. If it has to go I hope you get a great price for it.

Speaking of rust, my aunt owned the predicessor to the X, a Fiat 850 spyder, in upstate New York. She drove it year-round. Shortly after she sold it, the engine "fell out" of the rusted engine bay.