March
The a small flyer you see below was created by Alan Steele, a member of the FIAT Club of NSW for the journalists who were at the Official Press Release Day at Warwick Farm on May 3rd, 1978.
May
Peter Wherrett talks about Bertone however the video also features the media demo series 1 X1/9 of the time. Full episode here https://youtu.be/3HXroOw9PJc
First news paper article on the Fiat X1/9
16 of July 1978
Key Points: Article mentions the X1/9 has not arrived as yet however Fiat Australia is importing 750 of them in and 350 of them are spoken for. A sale price of $9500 was also quoted.
October
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
December
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
Key article points: It’s mentioned this was a test car and is fairly new. The article mentions the 1500 5 speed is 18 months away. Price would be $11,700.
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
Not much reading as you can imagine as mostly artwork. The featured X1/9 is a series 1 Green plate JRN592. This would be the last article on this press car.
Notice the ladder stripes are missing from the back under the bumper for some reason.
September
Key Points: Mentions that there will be 400 series 1.5 imported and we won’t see the series 2 till 1980.
Marks Notes: I think we got less then 400 as i have only worked out we got about 300 so far. First compliant series 2 was in Jan 1981. Also there is a conflict with article April 1981.
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
Peter Wherrett TV show uses a series 1.5 for the intro to his show Torque. I’m yet to locate the actual video of the review as yet. Full episode here https://youtu.be/idhKElh8n6I
Key Points: Mentions the series 1.5 was recently release.
Marks Notes: This was printed in December 1979 and indicates the series 1.5 was only recently released. There are series 1.5 with March 1979 compliance plates so they were either sitting around for some time or the article is wrong.
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
QLD Newspaper article January 1981, This is a Series 1.5 (1300 4 Speed) So not sure why they are featuring it the same year as the Series 2. Also mentions assisted breaks thats incorrect.
Key Points: Article mentions that they are still selling the series 1.5 and expected delivery of the series 2 is months away. Priced at $11,000
Marks Notes: This was printed in April 1981 yet he mentions the series 2 is not released yet. However there was already compliant series 2 in January 1981. So i think Fiat held on to the series 2 stock until they sold out the series 1.5 stock. Note the picture here is the same X1/9 for December 1979.
September
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
Information on this article not written yet click cover to download it.
QLD Newspaper article September 1981. Mentions the launch of series 2 (1500cc 5 Speed). A few mistakes, however like 15” wheels and power assisted breaks. This was never the case world wide.
