^Nice tech tip!

Rob, please let me know if you are interested in past issues of Road and Track that reviewed your car. If so, I'll see what I can dig out for you.

 

The relay was a $90 part 20 years ago. I was too cheap to replace it. It would not work on occasion, so I used the screw driver trick for a couple of summers until I picked up a parts car that had a good relay in it.

 

Good luck Rob keep us posted.

 

I know exactly what you mean. Why is the S2K so reliable? Here's the car I would buy to compliment my S2k, a '64 Plymouth Valiant convertible. https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4446535796.html

 

Well, I washed it and got most of the stains and discoloration off of the car. It looks great. Unfortunately I couldn't get it started. I'm a bit baffled.

I'm considering have it flatbedded to a local foreign car mechanic. His rates are reasonable. Ironically, he knows the car. He serviced it for the original owner. He's assured me that he can get it running.

 

Rob, is there an X1/9 forum where you can get help with typical problems?

 

I had a 74 X 1/9 I bought in 77. Loved it to death when it ran, but it just didn't have any oomph. Midwest Bayless in Columbus Ohio has a great website and lots of parts if you need them. I seriously considered getting one and having them do their K20 Honda motor conversion. Those things just scream, and have the Honda reliability we all love.

 

Bill, I did join one forum but it's based in the United Kingdom. I'm sure there are forums here as well, I just haven't found them yet.

 

I had a '78 Fiat X-1/9. I can say, without any hesitation, it was the worst built and least reliable car I've ever owned. The seats split. The windows kept falling into the doors, I had all kinds of mechanical and electrical problems. It made my British Leyland Triumph TR6 look like a quality car.

But, when it ran it was an awful lot of fun to drive. That's why I bought this one. This one is a Bertone and I've heard the quality is better than the Fiat's but that remains to be seen.

My son wants me to do the K20 conversion, but I want to leave it with the stock engine.

Thanks for the Midwest Bayless tip. I'm going to check it out right now.

 

Sometime this afternoon my Bertone is being flatbeded to a local foreign car repair shop around here. The owner/mechanic is supposed to be very good and he had worked on this particular car in the past. I want him to get it running.

Who knows. Maybe I'll bring it to the next meet (if its close, I'm not sure a I'd trust a Fiat/Bertone to go more than 100 miles )