Hi Joe,

Well It's now back in England parked on my drive after driving it off the Belfast/ Liverpool ferry at 6:45 this morning.

It's a January 1980 Fiat X 1/9 that my mother bought new, took to Spain from 1985 to 1997, sold to an Irish couple who drove it back to Louth where they used it until 2010 when they sold it to an old chap who lives in Downpatrick who sold it to me.

I have it's history going back to the original sales invoice from 3rd Jan 1980 from Tower of Egham who were her local Fiat Dealers for £5498 on the road, less a part exchange allowance of £1450 for her 1974 dark blue, 21,600 mile Lancia Fulvia XPA 113N which she had had from new. ( I remember it too having white leather seats)

The X1/9 went on to be registered on Malaga plates MA9913 AX from 1985 to 1997 when it went back on its original plates which it still has.

I shall probably take it to this Sunday's meet at the Cricketer's Cobham if anyone local wants to have a look at it.

It is still pretty good, over the past several years Steve at Alternative Autos among others have sold lots of new parts to the previous Irish owners.

Well it is 34 years old, but had still only done 38500 miles when I took it over.

Photos soon if people are interested.

Welcome back Pete. Hope the crossing was smooth.

Yes it was thanks Toby, but the bloody internet is just limping along and no sign of a landline phone back without major line repairs by BT.

I was surprised to be able to get on the forum at all today.

Oh well done Pete. I hope it brings you much joy.
I had a gold/orange 1300 back in about 1980 and went on my honeymoon in it(shudder).

Just recently i have seen a LHD lido for sale. But i cant justify another project to be honest.

Photos would be great mate.

Again congratulations in finding and owning your mums old car.

Nice one Pete....welcome (back) to the club


Your Mum was obviously a lady of taste - I had a Chocolate Brown Fulvia Coupe - complete with factory Mustard seats and Green carpets!

Hi Pete,

What colour is the car as I'm from Louth but now living just outside Downpatrick, so it's likely I've seen it on the roads over the years.

If I'd known you were over here, I'd have offered you free bed and board!

Hi, It's the gold one that originally came over from Spain on Malaga plates, I bought it from an old chap called Mick Sharkey in Downpatrick. It was then running on English plates rather than NI ones so it would have stood out.

I'll put a picture or two up when I've cleaned the travel stains off it later today.

I called in at a classic specialist somewhere fairly near there run by a chap called Robin I think. He had a couple of XK 120 shells he was working on, an E Type and a Lotus Cortina among others. He did some body work on the X1/9 back in 2010.

You probably know him, seems he is the only classic restorer around there.

Thanks for the retrospective offer of a bed, although I flew in on Wednesday morning and got the night ferry to Liverpool the same night, so that took care of it.

Mick had previously asked me if I knew anyone round there who could have given it a once over for me before I came over.

My first X (of 9!!) was a Lingotto Gold 1500 Pete - look forward to seeing the photos

Just putting them up now that I have washed off half the Irish Sea and the crap from the drive down from Liverpool.

The coupe dwarfs the X1/9.

Looks terrific Pete. No getting away from it that Fiat pull out the style card when they want.

And that upholstery how clean is that...

Very nice Pete.

Wow looks great pete, looking forward to seeing it on Sunday.
PS: You need to change the date on your camera

Mmmm I love TR7s

That was nice to see today Pete, I've always had a soft spot for the X1/9.
A very tidy example you have there with some excellent personal history and memories attached

Anita now requires an X1/9. There may be heartache when I point out it's (trip to Italy) OR (X1/9)...

That was in impressively good condition - the only thing: I forgot to mention those new wires for the headlights - a little small, I thought. Something thicker may improve your night vision.

Is that a gear knob or a microphone

Very cool car.

Lovely Pete Thats the colour - My Gold one was a very early T plate - very first of the 1500's. Yes - good to see it has the original 'Paddle' gear-stick. They always got slated but I thought they were great to 'hand'...... Great to see

Fantastic looking little car with a great personal history.

Nice buy Pete

Fantastic Pete - and a lovely story with it.

We used to have a W reg 1500 which I used have the lid off whenever it was dry - regardless as how cold it was

Have thought many times about getting another - seeing yours has stirred those thoughts again

Enjoy