I can see the pics now.

 

Ha. That's fast!!! Stock Bugeye 0 to 60 was 20.5 seconds. Even with the 1100 cc engine and other modifications I could do no better than 15. Plus I could not fit tires any wider that 145s, while the X1/9 could squeeze on 175s or better. It was a tough nut for me to crack and I usually came in second or third.

 

The '87 like ralper's came with 185s. My yellow and black DSP car had 225s on all four corners, but required some, ahem, body work.

 

That's awesome Rob I hope you keep us posted on your projects with the X/19. You should check out the latest issue of Hemmings Sports and Exotic cars they have two different articles regarding X/19's.

 

Thank you for the nice comments, everyone.

Right now my X-1/9 is sitting on its special spot on my driveway getting rained on. Unfortunately, I don't have another garage bay. The battery is in my basement, fully charged. If the rain (which is turning to ice) ever stops I'm going to put the battery back in and see if it starts. I doubt that it will because the car was sitting since March without being started, but we'll see.

I don't plan on doing much until after the winter (and the end of tax season), but as soon as the weather turns warm, I'm going to have it running and back on the road.

 

By then I wasn't running anymore. I had no idea they could fit that much rubber. The most I ever squeezed onto the Sprite was 155s and those would rub on hard turns.

 

Did you get a cover for it Rob?

 

Spring has finally arrived and it's time to get the Bertone running. I've charged the battery and everything works except the engine. This Saturday Liz is working all day so it's my first dedicated X-1/9 day of spring.

We have family coming for a visit this weekend. My brother in law is a retired auto mechanic so I'm sure to get some expert advice.

Adam is away at college so I'm on my own. He and his friends want to take it to school (via trailer) as a project car. If I let them have it they intend to rebuild the engine and auto-x it. I'm thinking about it, but if I can get it running without too much problem, I think I'll keep it.

Of course I'm probably going to wash and wax the S this weekend too. It's getting a bit dusty. Time for an oil change as well.

 

Enjoy, Rob. We will miss you at Spring Fling. Say hi to Liz!

 

What are the symptoms? The fuel injected X1/9s have a combination relay in the spare tire well. If you turn the key to the on position and don't hear the fuel pump run, it is probably a bad relay. One side of the relay runs the fuel pump during start up, the other side takes over once the engine fires and the engine detects air flow. A quick fix is to remove the intake hose from the air flow sensor and wedge open the flap with a screw driver. You should then be able to start the car and remove the screw driver and it will stay running.