DogFX Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Well, I finally got off my rear end and started to clean my 1986 Bertone X1/9 that I brought back from almost extinction. The PO could not find the time to fix everything that was wrong with her and with life getting in the way the PO decided to sell her. Almost everyone he talked to just wanted the parts and were asking ridicules pricing. So, he decided to sell the X1/9 to me for $500.00 with a promise that I would not just sell her. Then I got my motivation to get her on the road, my six year old son fell in love with the X1/9 and is calling it his car. After one year and six month (and $3.2K) she is back on the road. This is a before Adam's pic (untouched pic); After getting her mechanically restored and reliable I was going to hit the paint next. At first, I thought that I might need to take the X1/9 to a shop to bring the paint back out or a total paint restoration. This morning, I instead pulled out my old (really old) Adam's Revive and Butter Wax and wow!!! I really can not believe what happened to the paint. Applied some old VRT to the tires and to some rubber parts of the bumpers, well, just look at the pictures I attached. (Untouched pic, just brighter sun and hotter day and one year later) Now, the paint is not perfect but now I can focus on other aspects of the X1/9 that need attention and then perform a total frame off later. All of the haze in the paint is gone. I did not believe that it would make this much of a difference. Now, to update my inventory of Adam's... Thanks Adam's. V/r, Nebraska Mike mc2hill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Can't honestly say I've ever seen or heard of that car before, but you did a great job on the paint correction. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrmccabe Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Good looking Fiat ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odds and Ends Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 I did a nice refresh on a customer X1/9 a year or so ago. I will post some pics when I get in front of my computer. They're cool little cars..... Congrats on the rescue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogFX Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) rrmccabe, This version is after Fiat. This one is a Bertone. Fiat gave all rights to Bertone in 1982 and then Bertone performed a few upgrades and continued to make them until '88. Rumor is that there are a few '89. She still uses the Fiat 1.5l engine. And thanks for the kudos. Rich, Thanks... Butter wax is exactly what it states... Goes on and comes off like butter. I posted some restoration pics on my gallery page. It took over 1.5 years to get her on the road because I would get into one thing to repair and find more. Most of the time was waiting on parts and convincing my wife that I "have to" spend the money. Now with the temps over 94 degrees I am really thinking I need the air conditioner working...lol. Taking of the top just lets the relentless sun in. Thanks again everybody for the kind words. V/r, Nebraska Mike Edited June 12, 2016 by DogFX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogFX Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) Odds and Ends, Pics would be great... In about two years I am going to strip her down and take her to a local shop for a frame off. I am afread of what they might find...I have some strange spots in the body that concern me. Plus, she was white then fire engine red then metallic red. Would like to take all of that off and do it right. These little cars are a challenge to work on but a lot of fun. V/r, Mike Edited June 12, 2016 by DogFX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogFX Posted June 12, 2016 Author Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) Can't honestly say I've ever seen or heard of that car before, but you did a great job on the paint correction. Welcome to the forum! Rich,Tell Adam that I am back...took some time off for family but now have another car to show. I used to be in Korea. Going to have to upgrade the pads for my old Porter Cable that I got from you years ago. Do you have new pads that will fit? The old ones finally rotted out on me. V/r, Nebraska Mike Edited June 12, 2016 by DogFX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc2hill Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Get yourself the 5.5" backing plate with the 6" pads, add the upgraded 2 step polishes, and you are all set! DogFX 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_pappy Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 (edited) Wow, I have not seen an X1/9 in years, very cool, and looks great. Nice to have a father son project. Bruce Edited June 13, 2016 by b_pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odds and Ends Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Here is the one I did.....1977. It was badly faded and I got tons of dirt and oxidation off during the polishing phase. I think the coolest thing I did was repaint the white Bertone logo on the side panels. It really made the end result "pop". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordFocus897 Posted June 13, 2016 Share Posted June 13, 2016 Wow pretty cool! Good to know you can rescue paint in that bad of condition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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