The Fiat X1/9 debuted in 1972, and seems to have perfect characteristics. Mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, with a manual transmission, it was the lightweight Italian sports car of your dreams.

Co-manufactured by Fiat and Bertone from 1972 to 1982, then solely by the design house until 1989 (as the Bertone X1/9), the small mid-engine sports car was produced in nearly 170,000 units.

This became the Fiat X1/9, which stayed in production from 1972 all the way through 1989 ... About Us News Car Life Racing Contact Us Newsletter Car Rankings Podcasts Hearst Autos Careers Gear Guide.

Fiat handed over production of the X1/9 to Bertone in 1982 and killed the model off in 1989, which just so happens to be the year Honda’s VTEC engine made its debut on the JDM Integra.

The Fiat X1/9's status as an intriguing oddball has never really been in question. ... About Us News Car Life Racing Contact Us Newsletter Car Rankings Podcasts Hearst Autos Careers Gear Guide.

One such example is the Fiat X1/9 that was penned by Bertone back in 1972. The strange-looking mid-engined sports car was based on an even stranger concept called the Bertone Runabout.

Latest News Reviews Brands Car Types Buying Culture Tech Beyond Cars Racing QOTD Features. ... The Fiat X1/9 Is Dynamic, Whatever That Means. By Michael Ballaban August 3, 2013 8:00 am EST.

Fiat X1/9s are the high fliers of the car equities. Your stock portfolio should do so well. The last example we tested, at the start of the 1978 model year, list­ed for $5195.

Like its more conventional competitors, the X1/9 was no muscle car. The sprint to 60 mph took a modern eternity--about twelve seconds. Speeds exceeding 100 mph were possible.