Today, we’re looking at Fiat’s mid-engined X1/9. I should logically have done this one after I covered the Fiat 128 as it uses the 128’s engine and gearbox shifted to the rear - rather in the manner of the later Metro/MGF ‘flip’ I also featured recently. The X1/9, introduced in 1972, was designed, and later manufactured, by Bertone. It carried that company’s badge, rather than Fiat’s, from 1982. I saw this one at Techno Classica Essen in 2014.
@Glencoe@davidwilkins This car was never meant to have bumpers... Removing the inside end blocks was mandatory to keep the line as slim as possible. Later US style bumpers were an absolute disaster...
In 2016, Fiat introduced the 124 Spider, which was designed to capture something of the character of the 1966 124 Sport Spider I featured yesterday. This car was based on Mazda’s MX-5/Miata and manufactured by Mazda as well. But the appearance was modified quite a bit, and the engines came from Fiat too. Geek point - the cooperation with Mazda was initially aimed at producing an Alfa, not a Fiat. Snapped at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016.
@davidwilkins I'd like to like this car, but I can't for various reasons (turbocharged engine decked out with artificial pops & bangs, flashy shape, much more expensive). I'd rather go for a ND 160, with a few bits and bobs from BBR-GTI (Super 200, suspension & brakes upgrade).
Most Autobianchis sold in small volumes. The exception was the 1969 A112 hatch, which was seen in significant numbers all over Europe in the 1970s. It stayed in production until 1986. Under the skin, it borrowed much from the larger Fiat 128, and also provided the basis for Fiat’s own pioneering super-mini, the 127. Always really liked these. This one was at Automotoretro in Turin in 2016.
One last car from the illustrious history of MG. I somehow missed the MGA in my recent broadly chronological sequence, so here it is. Produced between 1955 and 1972, the sleek MGA marked a complete break from its more traditionally styled predecessors. This one, in Old English White, was snapped at the NEC Classic Car Show last year, and has a few choice under-the-skin upgrades such as a five-speed gearbox.
As well as introducing MG versions of its Rover saloons and hatches, in 2002 MG Rover also revamped the MGF sports car, which was rebadged as the TF. The most visible change was a slightly more aggressive frontal treatment. But under the skin, there was a stiffer body shell and the replacement of the previous hydragas suspension with coil springs. Snapped at the 2023 NEC Classic Car Show.
@Glencoe@davidwilkins MG was probably on a budget when developing this car, reusing an existing powertrain without any modification was probably the best solution costwise. The F/TF is quite a fun car to drive, mostly due to mid engine layout. Performance wise, all TFs are fitted the bigger F Trophy airbox that lifts inlet restriction that plagued nearly all cars using the 1800K stock fitment.
@stefan
Despite RFC 4193 selection algorithm for ULA ensures low risk of collision, ULA registry (if maintained) ensures no collision can appear.
As ULAs are not publically routable but can be routed in private organizations, avoiding a prefix already registered prevents conflicts when merging networks/organizations.
My ISP delegates me a fixed /48 prefix but I'm using an ULA prefix that simplifies network management (DNS) and ensures ipv6 connectivity stays up even when ISP prefix delegation fails (had issues few months ago with the DHCPv6 client of my previous router).
Yesterday, I explained how Austin’s 1969 Zanda concept was designed to take a mid-mounted version of the Maxi’s engine and gearbox. In 1995, the mid-engined MGF followed the same principle: mechanically it was based on a 180 degree flip of the Metro’s front subframe, engine and gearbox. Another link to the Maxi/Metro - the MGF had Hydragas suspension, although this was replaced by steel springs when the F became the TF. Pic taken at the British Motor Museum
@JorvikAngler@andrewprice@davidwilkins Even when fitted with PRRT, MLS head gasket, uprated oil rail ladder & head bolts, the waterpump flowrate isn't sufficient when you're stuck in traffic jams on engine idle. Adding an electric waterpump to ensure higher flowrate is really a worthy mod.
@Saga_Cite Le merci était pour @cypouz. L'oubli de la virgule était totalement impardonnable et devait effectivement nécessiter une remise dans le droit chemin...