Fiat X1/9 VS

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Designed by Bertone’s styling chief Marcello Gandini (of Lamborghini Miura and Countach fame), the Fiat X1/9 was launched in 1972 and was the world’s first truly successful mass-produced mid-engine sportscar.

A classic ‘70s wedge, the styling was derived from Bertone’s earlier Autobianchi Runabout concept car, itself inspired by the power boats of the late 1960s. Endowed with superb handling characteristics thanks to its perfect weight distribution, it was initially powered by a 75bhp 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine and four-speed gearbox from the Fiat 128, but from 1978 this was replaced by a more powerful 1.5-litre unit and five-speed ‘box.

With 85bhp on tap, it could now sprint to 60mph in under 11 seconds on its way to a top speed of 110mph. All-round disc brakes and independent suspension front and rear kept the whole plot on the road. For summer motoring, a detachable targa roof panel (stored in the front luggage compartment) swiftly turned the car into an open Spider. Despite this, the structure remained exceptionally strong as it had been designed to meet draconian US crash tests which never actually came into force.

At first the car's monocoque body was produced at the Bertone factory in Turin and then transported to Fiat's Lingotto factory for final assembly, but from 1982 the whole car was produced by Bertone. By the time production came to an end in 1989, some 170,000 examples had been sold worldwide.

This 1987 VS model features the attractive ‘wide body’ styling, Speedline 'phone dial' alloys and three-spoke steering wheel of the later cars. It has had just three former keepers and has been in the same collector/enthusiast ownership for the last 8 and a half years and is showing only 69,411 miles which is believed genuine. It presents very well in two-tone black and red with a lift-out roof panel and a black leather interior that shows little wear.

An August 1999 invoice on file shows that the cylinder head was removed and a replacement unleaded head fitted with re-shimmed camshaft, new bolts and gaskets along with a new exhaust system at a cost of £536 at 62,617 miles. The file also includes an owner’s handbook and 19 old MOT certificates dating back to 1991 when the car had covered only 10,399 miles which is also corroborated by a purchase receipt from April 1990. It has an MOT until July 2020 with no advisories recorded.

One of only 219 X1/9 VS models still registered in Britain today, it must surely be among the nicest survivors and even has a nice VS number plate.