I really should resist this....but I may not

[AndyS]

If I picked that car up, I'd be expecting it needs a complete engine rebuild/injector service, plus a major brake service, wheel bearings, heater core and radiator flush, gas tank flush, maybe some tranny work and a frozen clutch, etc. etc. I know you don't want to hear this, but I brought back a couple of old cars, and its the dozen things you didn't think of / expect that end up killing you. Or you may get really lucky, and a gas tank flush, full fluid change, and a tune up and it may come back to life without any terrible side affects of its long snooze. for $600, may be worth a try.

[leftfield6]

I think I am going to go for it. It's easily worth way more in parts. I did a little research and found the wheels themselves may be worth more than $600. From what I can research using some ID numbers I found on the wheels, they are a rare OZ Wheel made in the 80s in very low quantities. I found a pic on another site of a set someone had polished.



I was counting on redoing the brakes, replacing all hoses, fuel lines, cables, etc. Sending the injectors out for cleaning would be expected. Clutch? I hope that's good, but if I have to I can drop the trans. X1/9 transmissions are pretty small and easy to work with. Just hoping the engine internally is good.

I've had two X's before, and (blasphemy alert) I actually liked them better than the Spider.

[AndyS]

I've had two X's before, and (blasphemy alert) I actually liked them better than the Spider.

when set up right, you just can't beat a small mid engine sports car for flinging through corners. An X19 with built up 1500 engine in the 100HP range is more fun to drive than most 124 Spiders. Certainly will out handle them hands down unless the 124 has had a lot of suspension tuning done to it. Stock, they were just too slow for me though, and they fall in the bad California smog years (late 70's through 80's) to do much about it where I live. that's one of the reasons I went for the MR2. I still think the X19 has better lines and a more classic style than the MR2, at least the exteriors.

those wheels look cool. are they 13 X 6's?

[leftfield6]

those wheels look cool. are they 13 X 6's?

They are 13 inch wheels, not sure of the width. They look skinnier than the ones in the picture above, or maybe just the polished look makes the pictured ones look deeper.

[AndyS]

those wheels came in a 13 X 8 in the 4 X 98 pattern. found this online

[Daniel]

13 X 8 in the 4 X 98 pattern. found this online

gez that little car should be able to float on water with those

[kmac33]

Does sound like a good, no lose, deal - especially considering the wheels that come with it. If you end up pulling the trigger, let me know. I'll be more than happy to help you "tinker" on it

[leftfield6]

Well, I could not resist. He has my money, and I have a title. Due to work and travel schedules, I won't be able to actually take physical possession of the car for a couple of weeks, so that will be killing me.

[ga.spyder]

I am a little late on this,but after Kevin twisted my ear about MR2's yesterday ,I had to look in.In response to Bernies buddies at DC Fiats,I have had both,and felt the Spider did everything better than the X.I found it very cramped,slow and twitchy.My 82 Spider is basically stock,as was the 81 X.The Spider would eat its lunch on a track or a mountain road.When modified they are great little pocket rockets,but stock...gimme a Spider!
That being said,I bought it from the original owner,very cheaply.The paint and wheels were badly oxidized,and it needed wheel bearings and shocks.After some tlc,I sold the car and made good money off it.I was amazed it was sold in a couple days.I dont think I asked enough for it! Here is the after pic

[124JOE]

nice looking car

[ga.spyder]

Thanks,Joe.It was a very nice little car,just not for me.My wife loved it,but with kids in college,we needed the money more than a rarely driven car. I am a big guy,and the car was very uncomfortable.The xweb forum is full of mods you can do to get the seat further back,and get the steering wheel shimmed up.I found the stock X to be lacking power up here in the mountains.Hills I could accelerate up in 5th with the spider,required a downshift to 3rd in the X.I never did any modifications to the car,engine or seating,or I may have liked it a lot more.

[124JOE]

het craig im a little guy and would fit in it real good
i heard the x is faster
mabey it needed a good tune up
or a bump in timing
ofcorce its too late

2 years ago i seen a blue one
down by the river after the flood"didnt see any damage"
i threw my card inside it but nobody called

[ga.spyder]

Joe,that car was tuned right.I can only tell you that my stock 2000 f.i. Spider will kick the dog out of the stock 1500 f.i. X/19 that I had.The difference in the torque is the most noticeable..the Spider pulls out of corners,and up inclines much harder.You can really throw the X's thru the tight turns though.

[AndyS]

X19 needs about 100HP to really be a fun car. I had a 1500 in my Fiat 128 with a 1300 head (upped compression) duel 40 DCNF's, and European cam. made over 100 HP . ran the lighter 1300 flywheel set up. thing almost needed a rpm limiter it revved so fast. I drove a friends X19 with a very similar set up,and it was a blast. stock, the cars are just too slow though. My 903 powered Fiat 600 makes almost as much power to the wheels as a stock X19, and weights almost 1000 pounds less. That's why Bayless Racing and faza made a lot of money way back when. Because the cars mostly fall in the California "forever regulated" smog years, it makes modding them a pain in the a** though. every 2 years you'd have to make them stock again.

if you Spider guys ever get a chance to drive a X19 that has been set up for 100+ HP, you will be in for a surprise. what these cars had going for them over the Spider was excellent weight distribution, and a better front end suspension/steering design. (rack and pinion versus the antiquated steering column /slave box design on the Spiders)

[leftfield6]

Well, as a 1986 model in the state of Georgia, it's officially off the emissions inspection list. Geaorgia says anything 25 years or older no longer needs emission inspections. Of course even under 25 years, GA has never had the kind of limitations you guys in CA have to deal with. I'm always amazed at what I hear about CARB, and some of the over the top regulations they require.

I've had an injected X before, a 1981 like Craig had, except mine was silver. Pretty much agree with his assessment of the X's limitations. Torque monsters they are not. I think what I like about them is the swiss army knife nature of the car. In a tiny car not much bigger than a go-cart, you've got more luggage space than the Spider, still with room to store the targa. Better mpg as well. I was getting 32-34 on my X on the highway, 25-27 in town.