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(Editor’s note: This being the traditional deadline week for filing federal income taxes — yes, we realize that deadline has been extended this year because of the pandemic — we’re focusing the Pick of the Day selections to vehicles being advertised for sale for four figures. The thought is that you might be getting enough of a refund to buy one of these cars, or after paying Uncle Sam, you might have enough left over to consider one of our suggestions.)
Imagine, a mid-engine Italic exotic being advertised on ClassicCars.com for only $6,500. Sorry, it’s not a Ferrari or Lamborghini, but a 1986 Bertone X1/9, and it’s being offered for sale by its original and only owner.
“I am the original owner of this Bertone X1/9 Targa,” the private seller says in the ad. “5 speed manual transmission. Outside is blue on blue. Interior is black and burgundy. It has a removable hardtop, power windows and AM/FM cassette.
“It was purchased out in Half Moon Bay, California, where it spent 10 years then to Maryland and is currently on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
“The car has had normal service. It was never used when there was salt on the road. The body is clean with a few nicks. The interior is in good condition.”
The seller notes that the sports car is shown with aftermarket wheels, adding, “I also have the original (factory) wheels.”
The Bertone is equipped with an AM/FM radio with cassette player and has power windows. The car shows 124,000 miles and is powered by its original fuel-injected engine, the ad says.
In 1986, that engine would have been a 1,498cc 4-cylinder rated at 75 horsepower and enabling the little 2-seater to sprint to 60 mph in 12.4 seconds.
The cars were designed for Fiat by Bertone, at the time headed by Marcello Gandini. The design was inspired by Gandini’s 1969 Autobianchi A112 Runabout concept car. The little mid-engine X1/9 features cargo trunks in both the front and rear.
Fiat produced the X1/9 from 1972-1982, when Bertone took over production, which lasted into 1989.
To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
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