The factory original two-tone paint retains an excellent shine, appropriate for a car with low mileage and having spent most of its life in a garage. We did have a small section of the driver’s door repainted. This was to correct some issues with the paint, there was no bodywork needed. The rest of the paint is believed to be original. The metallic finish is good overall, though the silver paint has aged differently throughout the car. It is only apparent if you look closely, and this is often to be found on older silver metallic paint jobs. The body is straight and the panel fitment is consistent.

The glass throughout the car is original and in excellent shape with no hazing or signs of aging. All the windows have their appropriate factory markings, as well as original stickers. Rubber trim and seals throughout the exterior appear in excellent shape considering their age. The black plastic trim retains its color with minimal fading. The front spoiler does not look like it has ever suffered an impact. There are some minor scuffs on the bumpers. The hand-applied pinstripes do look like they were applied by hand on close examination. The lights and lenses are free of cracks or imperfections, are factory original, with the proper stainless-steel screws.

The 13x5 factory Cromodora wheels show nicely. The only area of note is the driver’s side rear wheel’s edge has a small scrape or blemish. The rest of the wheels are in excellent condition with no obvious flaws.

The car is original and was used on occasion, so there are some minor imperfections. The only ones of note are a few dents in the Targa roof and some discoloration, though this is only visible at an angle with proper lighting. Also, there are some very small black marks in the clear coat on the driver’s side lower door panel, where the car is dark silver. Again, this is only noticeable at the proper angle with correct lighting. The detailed photos of the car show all the small marks and imperfections, and please take your time looking through them.

The overall condition of the interior is exemplary of the car’s low mileage and indoor storage. The red leather seats are in excellent condition and still retain their brilliant color, are smooth and supple, with minimal creasing. The side bolsters and lower cushion on the driver’s seat has some slight wear. The dash and center console are crack-free with no obvious defects. The driver’s side armrest has a small crack. The carpets are clean and tight, with minimal wear. All the buttons, stalks, and switches are in good condition. The red leather steering wheel has some very small imperfections and the survivors are slightly flaccid.

The windows go up and down smoothly, and the doors and handles all function well. Inside all the buttons, knobs stalks and switches work properly. The lights pop up, the wipers work, radio and etc. I was unable to verify if the tape deck works or if the rear defroster element heats up.

The condition of the mid-engine bay matches the condition of the rest of the vehicle and is clean and well sorted. The often-missing air duct for the alternator is still intact and all the proper stickers and factory warnings are present.

The front and rear trunk areas are very clean and look like they did when they left the factory. The rear trunk carpeting and lower padding are secure and tidy. The front trunk area is also clean with all the factory hardware, and the proper rubber holders for the Targa top. The corners and crevices of the trunks are yellow because of the dealer “Rusty Jones” treatment. The gooey substance was sprayed everywhere to keep moisture and rust away. The factory jack and spare are present.

The underside of the car shows well. The underside was cleaned and detailed. The belly pan and rockers are all factory original. The front and rear suspension arms were cleaned of any surface rust while all the rotors and calipers were replaced. There is some surface rust on some hardware but overall the underside is in conjunction with the low mileage well-kept condition of the car.

The Bosch fuel-injected motor starts easily, has a steady idle, and runs smoothly. It revs quickly and functions properly.

The transmission shifts well into all the gears. And feels like the low mileage unit it is. The clutch catches smoothly and works with no issues.

The brakes function well, with a hard pedal. The car stops quickly and straight. The suspension feels tight and compliant, with no rattles or odd noises.

The car has brand new Vredestein tires in the correct factory size.

The Fiat drives very well and is the closest one will get to a new Fiat X1/9. The red interior is delightful to sit in and makes any passenger or driver smile upon entrance. Once fastened into the funky cockpit everything is laid out well and easy to use. The unassisted steering is communicative and delightful. The car is very low, and you can feel right away that it will rotate easily, but not in an unattended and frightening way. It is small and nimble and encourages spirited driving. Even though it has modest horsepower, the lightweight and excellent chassis dynamics make for a rewarding experience. The car feels modern but is still very analog. The Fiat X1/9 is a show car come to life and is brilliant to behold or drive.