X1/9 grille differences between 74 and 87...

When Fiat added the shock absorbing bumpers in '75 they changed the shape of the grille to accommodate the shocks. They put a cutout on the sides. When you do a conversion on a late 1979 -1988 car, you need to get a 1975-1978 grille.

1974 grille shape marked in red

Shape of a 1974 grille marked in red.

Like the rust;)

The other difference is the late model cars have these grille support "teeth" hanging down. These have to be removed. Luckily they come off pretty easily. Just grab hold of one (use a glove because the sheet metal can be sharp) and start to wiggle it back and forth and they will eventually cleanly break off. The trick is to start wiggling it with a short motion, and then as the metal gets worked you'll feel it give way and then break.

These need to come off

Good, now do the rest!

Turning a 1987 Bertone X1/9 into a 1974 Fiat X1/9...

I like the look of the smaller, original bumperettes that were on the 1974 US cars. The problem is finding them as most 1974 Fiat X1/9's have turned to rust. Well with the Internet, that's not much of a problem now. After scouring the Internet, over the next 4-5 months I found a front set from Midwest X1/9 . Then a rear set came from eBay. Turn signals took a little while but they turned up at Midwest.


Before the Internet, it would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack. I don't think I've seen a 74 X1/9 for what seems like 30 years. At least not in the northeast. On the west coast I guess they are still around.

Bumper mounts are different on the early 1974 X1/9. Location marked in red.

Doing the conversion isn't as easy as I thought it would be. From 1975 on, Fiat had to go to the impact absorbing style bumper. These used shock absorbers to mount the bumper. Well these are below the mounting points used on the 74 cars. A new mount would have to be constructed. Luckily I came across a write up on the "Xweb Discussion Forum". Listed in their "best of..." Here's a link:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/12159/message/1146706528/And+for+those+of+you+without+Jumbotrons
This will be a real help when the bumpers are ready to go on the car, After it is painted.