Filed under: Coupes, Auction Action, Euro
eBay Find of the Galaxy: 1979 Fiat X/19
We know that eBay's slogan says "You can get it on eBay," and for the most part that's really a great thing. Let's just say that certain Autobloggers appreciate the fact that there's a place on the web where one can easily acquire a mint-condition print advertisement for the 2-door 1970 Chrysler Imperial whenever the urge to do so strikes.
Sometimes, however, a longer perusal of the site uncovers finds that are so startling, one can only think, "Well, yes, you can get it... but should you?" Such is the case with the 1979 Fiat X/19 seen above. It began life as one of the attractive little Bertone-bodied 2-seaters. While we admit that many of the ones we see today (at least in this writer's Northeastern habitat) are in lamentably poor shape, we're pretty sure that we prefer stock examples, no matter how sad and rusted, to this.
Plenty more... follow the jump for the rest of it, including photos.
Thanks to Horst for the tip!
[Source: eBay]
The X/19 you see here has been fitted with a 400 small-block Chevy V8. We have no problem with folks stuffing V8s into small European cars. Had there been a way to retain the Fiat's stock looks to complement the American power, we'd be standing up and applauding. However, that didn't appear to be possible, and the owner saw fit to rebody the Fiat in such a manner that it now looks ready to battle advancing AT-ATs on the ice planet Hoth.
The seller describes it as being "one-of-a-kind" (no arguments here), "streetable" yet "hard to drive" (we can only imagine) and feels that it "needs to be in a museum" (or perhaps Ripley's Believe it or Not). He closes by calling it "the true meaning of hotrod" (we surrender). The cherry on top is the asking price: $40,000 (our wallet surrenders).
We'd like to take this opportunity to offer prospective buyers an important reminder:
Their armor's too thick for blasters. You'll have to use your tow cable.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
GDUB 6:33PM (12/18/2006)
That is the coolest doorstop ever.
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Scott 7:04PM (12/18/2006)
Oh the humanity!!!
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adam 7:08PM (12/18/2006)
this might be the ugliest vehicle i've ever seen...autoblog should do a "ugliest mods ever" RR series...
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chuck goolsbee 7:16PM (12/18/2006)
oh... my.... gawd...
I have to admit, I have a soft spot for X/19's. My future brother in law had one in high school, and it was go-kart fun. The Lancia Statos inspired design was such a keen capture of 70s zeitgeist as well.
This however, is ... butchery. The (I hesitate to use the word) designer obviously wasn't paying attention when the famous phrase "less is more" was uttered. Unless he was hired to create a 70's B-movie Sci-fi prop car, he failed at whatever goal he was aiming for.
His asking price is ... laughable. Just because it cost that much to build does NOT make it worth that much, sorry.
--chuck
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Alexandre Souza 7:19PM (12/18/2006)
OMG, what a bad-tasted-joke! :oD
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big jimmy 7:20PM (12/18/2006)
weird car
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Kingcob Bob IV 7:34PM (12/18/2006)
LOL! This reminds me of a friend I used to have that was gonna buy a cheap lamborghini kit and install it on a fiero.
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Max 7:42PM (12/18/2006)
It looks like someone installed a garden shed on the back of that poor car. It's a good thing its all metal. That means its worth about 10 cents a pound.
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toyota 7:42PM (12/18/2006)
I think the car looks okay wtf is wrong with you people?
Atleast the bodykit, hoodscoop, wing, mirrors, etc help improve the performance of the car by aerodynamics. Oh wait none of you guys would know anything about that because you are DUMB ****s
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david s 7:43PM (12/18/2006)
I think Stefan Eriksson should be sentenced to driving this car for the rest of his life.
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David 7:54PM (12/18/2006)
Fiats were fun. Especially the X1-9. I owned 2 Fiat 124 Sport Coupes of this era and can think of at least two possible scenarios.
These Fiats had such severe rust problems they were derided as biodegradable. The body work probably rusted away. Or, this might have been salvaged from a wreck where only the center section and running gear remained viable. I hope the responsible party didn't cut away good Bertone body work to create this.
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Scott 8:16PM (12/18/2006)
#9
Seriously?
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Cheezedog 8:33PM (12/18/2006)
4 things...
First I agree with the comment about it looking a garden shed was used in its contruction.
Secound I like to add that it looks like eather a coffee can or section of PCV piping is being used raising the air filter away from the engine...
Third, Captain Kirk is on line two, He wants his shuttle pod back.
And finaly... Whoever said something to the affect that this thing is now more arrow dynamic.. does not realize not only does a car have to be able to displace air around it to cut through the wind, it also must allow the air it displaces to easily return to its origional position as if it never been disturbed. And from what I can tell, this car could drag 5 car lengths full of displaced air.
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Doi 8:53PM (12/18/2006)
Hey - He stole that design from my 6th grade Math binder!
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sfast 9:00PM (12/18/2006)
That is the coolest...animal control truck I have ever seen.
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Austin M 9:17PM (12/18/2006)
My mother's Fiat X/19 burned to the ground at a stoplight while her sister was driving it (long time ago). She noticed the seat getting a little warm (back in those days when heated seats weren't a good thing) and jumped out. She then stood on the curb and watched it roast its way down to the asphalt. There is something about Italian cars and spontaneous combustion that has yet to be explained to me.
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dave 9:17PM (12/18/2006)
are you sure this is'nt the next generation from nissan?
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bepsf 9:34PM (12/18/2006)
Someone please spray this with some salt-water...
....lots of it.
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MMS 11:42PM (12/18/2006)
HAHAHAHAHA I just threw up in my mouth a little.
and on my shirt
and my lap too
the best part is the discription:
ONLY ONE OF ONE
400 SMALL BLOCK CHEVY OLDSMOBILE TORONADO TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY.
ALL HAND BUILT BODY ALL METAL (NOT A KIT CAR).
VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES, IS LICENSED AND STREETABLE BUT SELDOM DRIVEN AND IS HARD TO DRIVE. (AUTO TRANS BIG CAM) BUT LOOKS LIKE A MILLION BUCKS.
NEEDS TO BE IN A MUSEUM SOMEWHERE.
IT IS EXPENSIVE AND SERIOUS INQUIRES ONLY.
THIS IS THE TRUE MEANING OF HOTROD.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
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Eriq 12:28AM (12/19/2006)
LMFAO
I can't tell if the hood is meant to shovel snow or vacuum road dirt. And are there any ice cream cones in the back?
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