Story by Alexander Byles
Photography by Marco Annunziata

The Fiat X1/9 ( which remains the only ever mid-engined rear-wheel drive model from the Italian manufacturer), is gaining a higher distinction among enthusiasts these days, but there have always been proponents of the affordable, accessible sportscar. Featuring a prototype-inspired model name and a forward thinking and forward-canted wedge design by Bertone’s own Marcello Gandini, the X1/9 brought some of the high-spec Italian performance staples to the masses.

The first real manifestation of the car that would become the X1/9 appeared in 1969, with Autobianchi and the release of the Bertone-designed A112 Runabout concept, a futuristic beach buggy sportscar hybrid of sorts from Gandini’s desk. When Fiat acquired Autobianchi, the Runabout project was buried even deeper below the feasible projects chosen by Fiat’s more profit-and-loss-driven managers. That was until Gianni Agnelli, Mr. Fiat himself, saw the prototype in 1971. Needing a replacement for the 850 Spider, he initiated production of the X1/9 which drew clear inspiration from the Runabout concept.