rx1900
1981 X1/9
Hi folks. For those of you you care about such things, there is a very interesting article - well actually a long "letter to the editor" with lots of pics - in the August 2014 edition of Auto Italia magazine.
Magazine is available - well at least up here - at the larger bookstores.
It was a long letter from a chap in Australia (who even identifies himself) who claims to be in possession of the one and only Abarth X1/9 Stradale version. I believe Abarth made about 5 prototypes in full rally trim, and one only "stradale" (I think that is Italian for street) prototype. They were going to make 500 of the stradale versions for homologation purposes. All to the spec of the one stradale version they made. At the very last minute (even after the homologation papers were made), Fiat pulled the plug. No more were ever made..
He claims to have purchased the X1/9 Abarth Stradale from Al Cosentino of FAZA fame. I think we all knew that indeed Cosentino possessed this particular X1/9. But I think nobody was too sure where it ended up. Now we know.
Interestingly enough, he also claims that at the time he bought the Stradale (in 2006), he also purchased from Cosentino an Abarth 030 (I think this is sort of a Scorpion with a Fiat V6 in it), AND all remaining inventory of Faza. It has been known (or at least rumoured) for years that some guy from Australia bought all the FAZA stuff. He also got reams of Abarth paperwork, and thousands of historical photos from Abarth. Most never published - and lots of negatives never printed !!
Strangely enough, I've never seen any of the FAZA inventory up for sale. I guess we dont know what was left, and why he has been sitting on it for 8 years !! Maybe some cool stuff will surface now...
Anyway, it was an interesting read. Also in this issue is an article (and test drive) of a road version Delta S4 (it's on the cover) with only 300 kms on it. And a long article on the Fiat 124 spyder and coupe.
Do any of our Aussie members know this chap ?
Regards, Doug
Magazine is available - well at least up here - at the larger bookstores.
It was a long letter from a chap in Australia (who even identifies himself) who claims to be in possession of the one and only Abarth X1/9 Stradale version. I believe Abarth made about 5 prototypes in full rally trim, and one only "stradale" (I think that is Italian for street) prototype. They were going to make 500 of the stradale versions for homologation purposes. All to the spec of the one stradale version they made. At the very last minute (even after the homologation papers were made), Fiat pulled the plug. No more were ever made..
He claims to have purchased the X1/9 Abarth Stradale from Al Cosentino of FAZA fame. I think we all knew that indeed Cosentino possessed this particular X1/9. But I think nobody was too sure where it ended up. Now we know.
Interestingly enough, he also claims that at the time he bought the Stradale (in 2006), he also purchased from Cosentino an Abarth 030 (I think this is sort of a Scorpion with a Fiat V6 in it), AND all remaining inventory of Faza. It has been known (or at least rumoured) for years that some guy from Australia bought all the FAZA stuff. He also got reams of Abarth paperwork, and thousands of historical photos from Abarth. Most never published - and lots of negatives never printed !!
Strangely enough, I've never seen any of the FAZA inventory up for sale. I guess we dont know what was left, and why he has been sitting on it for 8 years !! Maybe some cool stuff will surface now...
Anyway, it was an interesting read. Also in this issue is an article (and test drive) of a road version Delta S4 (it's on the cover) with only 300 kms on it. And a long article on the Fiat 124 spyder and coupe.
Do any of our Aussie members know this chap ?
Regards, Doug
