CL listing here in Atlanta for a 1986 Bertone X1/9. Has been parked for 7+ years. I talked to the guy today and got the story, and was going to go take a look at it, but he and I could not coordinate schedules. It's only about 10 minutes from my house.
From the pics, the paint looks rough. For that 7+ years it was sitting outside uncovered. Engine has not been started since at least 2004. Definitely a project, and I already have one of those, my 83 Pininfarina. Wife wold NOT be happy. My motorized fleet currently has a daily driver Honda Element, a VW Vanagon Westfalia, the previously mentioned Pininfarina, a motorcycle, and a scooter. 5 modes of transport for me, on top of her Civic Hybrid.
Still, somehow a Pininfarina and a Bertone seem like a matched set.
I think I need counseling. Anybody in the Atlanta area got a back 40 I can hide this thing in for a few years?
sitting for 7 years isnt so bad i've seen worst still were worth restoring . I might be painting my own spider
and plan on doing the primer with rollers then sanding each coat down as i prep before shooting it with paint .
Maybe the paint can be rubbed out ? just go through all the normal things drain gas tank, change fluids, replace
hoses, timing belt and give her a good inspection ZrooM ZrooM ...
Well, 4 out of 5 of you are just feeding my addiction.
Andy, I hear ya, I know that 7 years of sitting is not a good thing. I'm basically considering the drivetrain a crap shoot, since even when I go look at it today, it will not be started. The seller does have the good sense to not let anyone start it until fluids have been flushed, plugs pulled, and some MMO is squirted into the cylinders. According to him, it's got 54K showing on the odometer, and ran fine when it was parked.
Basically looking at it a a shell. A repaint is a given, so the questions are how much rust, and how much damage the car has suffered sitting for so long. Mouse damage, insect infestation, who knows what I will find. I get the feeling that, for less than $500, I could tow it away.
FWIW, DC Fiats is a very large club (we recently added our 200th member), and quite a few folks have both a Spider and an X. Of those that do, the majority state that the X is the better car. Better on the highway, better on the twisties, way better in the rain. A more modern car, for sure.
I personally don't like much of anything designed by Bertone (the Bora is at least one exception ). In perhaps the only example in automotive history, the Japanese (MR2) made a prettier car than the Italians, IMHO. And really, it's all about looks when you're talking about classic cars, since a Kia would out-perform any of 'em. If the X appeals to you, take her home.
an older more basic classic sports car from the 60's that has sat for 7 years is different than a mid engine car from the mid 80's that has sat outside for 7 years with no preparations taken. i would worry about damage to anything that touches coolant, gas, and anything rubber. Plus as you mentioned rats munching on wires. its not that it can't be brought back, its that its probably better to spend a little more time finding a running registered car for a few bucks more. Its not like these are super rare cars, although finding sorted out good runner takes a bit of searching.
I''d personally rather spend time prettying up, tuning and dialing in a decent running car than trying to bring back a basket case, especially when dealing with something that is probably going to be worth less than $10,000 when completed.. that car would be the ultimate parts car for $500 though!
Andy,
LOVE the MR2! That thing is beautiful!
I had a silver 86 that was my very first "new" car. Loved everything about that car except the T-Tops. Damn things leaked from almost new and Toyota could not figure out how to fix the issue (hope yours doesn't suffer from the same problem). I had to keep a beach towel in the car to put in the driver's seat if it rained - would actually pool right at the base of the bottom cushion.
I was very jealous of the Supercharged versions after they came out, so I really appreciate how lucky you are to have that great "daily driver".
Ended up trading mine in 8 years and 160,000 miles later on an E36 M3.
Kevin McMullen
1974 Fiat Spider - Restoration Complete! But the mods/refinements continue
1980 Fiat Spider
2013 Subaru WRX
That '86 Mr. Two now falls outside of the grip of Big Brother in many states. Why not restore one of those? I bet there's a forum for that model, with all manner of performance capabilities if emissions aren't measured.
those cars still come up with low miles on them and don't sell for a ton of money. lots of bang for the buck in a sports car. build quality was exceptional, that is why so many are still around. make great daily drivers-working A/C, good defrosters, get good gas mileage too.
1967 Fiat 124 Spider
1964 Fiat Abarth 850TC conversion
1962 Abarth Allemano 1 liter Coupe
kmac33 wrote:Andy,
LOVE the MR2! That thing is beautiful!
I had a silver 86 that was my very first "new" car. Loved everything about that car except the T-Tops. Damn things leaked from almost new and Toyota could not figure out how to fix the issue (hope yours doesn't suffer from the same problem). I had to keep a beach towel in the car to put in the driver's seat if it rained - would actually pool right at the base of the bottom cushion.
I was very jealous of the Supercharged versions after they came out, so I really appreciate how lucky you are to have that great "daily driver".
Ended up trading mine in 8 years and 160,000 miles later on an E36 M3.
didn't mean to thread jack. I probably shouldn't show you this. my other 2 in Silver. picked this up several years ago from a Toyota mechanic that bought it from the original owner. had less than 100,00 miles on it and was about $3000. I painted it and fixed a few oil leaks. recently did ST sway bars, and that turned it into a super slot car. had to do the head gasket last year as it was slowly developing a compression leak between the cylinders.runs better than ever now. Love the 7500 RPM redline these things have. the NA is just as fun as the SC even though it is not nearly as fast. as a friend said who drove both of mine, its fun because you get to push the gas pedal further on the NA, plus hear the TVIS kick in at 4700 RPM's.
1967 Fiat 124 Spider
1964 Fiat Abarth 850TC conversion
1962 Abarth Allemano 1 liter Coupe
Andy, that last post may have just crossed the line ...looks way to much like my 86, just no t-tops and I had the "web" pattern alloys. I can't believe you only paid $3K for that!!!
I sincerely hope that this last post plus Bernie's hasn't triggered the wheels turning in my brain to the point that I start hunting for another car to restore
And to at least somewhat get back on thread...I have seen a few X19's driving around Atlanta recently with for sale signs. Both fairly rough looking, but probably a safer bet than something that hasn't run in that long. I know you can find other local options - probably for just a little more money.
Kevin McMullen
1974 Fiat Spider - Restoration Complete! But the mods/refinements continue
1980 Fiat Spider
2013 Subaru WRX
There must be some common gene running in our blood. I, too, owned one of the first generation MR2s. I had a 1985 silver MR2, sunroof, but no trunk spoiler or lower body cladding. Loved the simplicity of the lines on that original body style. Had the Tron style wheels, and a black cloth interior. The sunroof was fully removable and stored in the front luggage compartment much like the X1/9 targa top does. Loved the heck out of that car!
Okay, back to the bargain priced Bertone. Just got back from looking at it. I must say, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised. The only rust on the car is around the windshield frame, primarily in the lower corner on the driver's side. I've had experience doing that same exact repair before, so I know what I'd be in for. The rest of the body is amazingly solid. One dent on the rear quarter that didn't break the paint, and was visible from inside the trunk, so I can see the back of the dent. No rust there. No rust in rockers, no rust in floor pans, no rust in front or rear trunk. Little bit of rust on the engine cover, but easily fixed. Interior is all there, no tears in seats, dash has one crack in it.
The clearcoat has broken down, not on the hood and trunk like you would think, but actually on the passenger side. The car is the Bertone two tone paint scheme with red on the top, and the dark gray on the sides. On the passenger side the gray is faded, and looks like the clearcoat has broken down.
Amazingly, the front spoiler is intact!! Don't know that I've ever seen a project X with an intact front spoiler.
He has a $600 offer from someone else, but he doesn't want to sell it to that guy. The seller is a tinkerer (like me), he has a yard full of automotive projects, and wants to see the X go to someone who will fix it up.
If I give him $600, I have a Bertone with 54K on it, that MIGHT, with a few hours of work (new fluids, oil in the cylinders, etc) fire right up. Then again, it MIGHT be locked up, and the engine MIGHT be toast.
It's a little bit of a crapshoot, but on the other hand, there is easily $600 plus worth of parts there. So not really a cost gamble, more of a "do I want to mess with it" question.
BTW, I thought the wheels were old Western Wheels mags, but actually they are OZ Racing wheels, and look better in person than they did in the pics he sent me.
). In perhaps the only example in automotive history, the Japanese (MR2) made a prettier car than the Italians, IMHO. And really, it's all about looks when you're talking about classic cars, since a Kia would out-perform any of 'em. If the X appeals to you, take her home.
...looks way to much like my 86, just no t-tops and I had the "web" pattern alloys. I can't believe you only paid $3K for that!!!