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Center forward - VW-Porsche 914 and Fiat X 1/9 in a (historical) comparison test

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Created on November 1, 1973

Reading time 7min

Written by:

Jürgen Rapp

Photos:

Ludvigsen Partners

Fiat

Archiv Porsche AG

Porsche AG / Porsche Schweiz AG

Archiv

Ludvigsen Partners

Fiat

Archiv Porsche AG

Porsche AG / Porsche Schweiz AG

Archiv

VW-Porsche 914/4 vs Fiat X 1/9 - Vergleich der preiswerten Mittelmotorsportwagen

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Zeitgenössisches Farbfoto

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Drei Pressewagen vor dem Hotel Igeia in Palermo

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Vorführwagen für Journalisten auf Sizilien

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Bei Testfahrten auf Sizilien

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) - der Keil von Bertone

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) - keilförmig und mit Klappscheinwerfern - der Moder der Zeit gehorchend

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Zeitgenössisches Werbefoto

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Fiat X 1/9 (1974) - mit Ketten im Schnee

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Fiat X 1/9 (1974) - unterwegs auf Bergstrassen mit geöffnetem Targadach

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Vor dem Start-Ziel-Gebäude der Targa Florio

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - keilförmig und zweisitzig

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - ein Keil von Bertone

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - mit Klappscheinwerfern

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Auf 3,83 Metern länge brachte Fiat zwei Kofferräume und den Motor unter

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Zusammen mit seinem Vorgänger Fiat 850 Spider

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Fiat X 1/9 (1974) - zusammen mit verschiedenen Derivaten des Fiat 128

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - der Gandini-Entwurf auf dem Bertone-Stand am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1973

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - Weltpremiere des von Bertone entwickelten Targa-Sportwagens - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1973

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1973

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Blick in den Innenraum mit abgenommenem Dach

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Blick in den Innenraum mit installiertem Dach

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Geradliniges Armaturenbrett

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Der Innenraum mit Mittelkonsole und recht langem Schalthebel

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Hübsches Lenkrad und Instrumente hinter einer Blende

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - die keilförmige Front

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Blick in den vorderen Kofferraum

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - Front- und Hecklampen

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Intelligente Raumausnutzung hinter den Sitzen

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Luftein- und -auslässe in der Karosserie

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) - technische Zeichnungen

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Schematische Draufsicht von Antrieb und Fahrwerk

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Schnittmodell der Karosserie

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Fiat X 1/9 (1973) - die Produktion bei Bertone

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Auf dem Fliessband bei Bertone

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Fiat X 1/9 (1972) – Karosseriemontage bei Bertone in Grugliasco

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VW-Porsche 914 1.7 (1970) - in sattem Orange

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VW-Porsche 914/4 (1969) - gerne in grell-bunten Farben geordert

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VW-Porsche 914 2.0 (1973) - für Piloten und Pilotinnen

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VW-Porsche 914 (1971) - Gemeinschaftsproduktion von Volkswagen und Porsche - Abbildung aus einem Verkaufsprospekt

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VW-Porsche 914 (1971) - Stauraum gibt es vorne und hinten - Abbildung aus einem Verkaufsprospekt

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VW-Porsche 914 (1973) - er wurde zum Verkaufsschlager

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VW-Porsche 914 2.0 (1973) - fürs Picknick zu Zweit

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VW-Porsche 914 (1971) - auf regennasser Strasse - Abbildung aus einem Verkaufsprospekt

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VW-Porsche 914 (1972) - macht sich auch vor dem Eigenheim gut

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VW-Porsche 914/2.0 (1972) - Sicht eines Testwagens von schräg hinten

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - das Basismodell mit Stahlrädern und Radkappen

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VW-Porsche 914 (1971) - Werbeillustration

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - Seitenprofil, Modell mit Alurädern

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VW-Porsche 914 (1973) - da kommt Fahr- und Mitfahrfreude auf

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - Demonstration der Nassfahreigenschaften

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VW-Porsche 914 (1973) - für sein sicheres und sportliches Fahrverhalten gerühmt

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VW-Porsche 914 (1969) - Basismodell auf Ausfahrt

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VW-Porsche 914 (1971) - mit Fünfganggetriebe und Sportmatic erhältlich - Abbildung aus einem Verkaufsprospekt

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - weckt viel Interesse

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - Präsentation mit attraktiver Unterstützung

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VW-Porsche 914 (1969) - was genau soll uns dieses Bild sagen

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VW-Porsche 914 (1969) - strikt zweisitzig

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VW-Porsche 914 (1969) - ausgestellt auf dem Karmann-Stand bei der IAA 1969

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - mit abnehmbarem Dach - Genfer Autosalon 1970

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - mit Vier- und Sechszylindermotoren - Genfer Autosalon 1970

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VW-Porsche 914 4 (1969) - der von vielen heiss erwartete Volks-Porsche - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1969

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VW-Porsche 914/2.0 (1972) - Blick in den zweiplätzigen Innenraum

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - minimalistisches Interieur

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett

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VW-Porsche 914/2.0 (1972) - Blick auf den Fahrerarbeitsplatz - alles gut greif- und einsehbar

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VW-Porsche 914 (1972) - Neuerungen im Interieur - einstellbarer Beifahrersitz, Wischerhebel am Lenkrad und Lufteinlässe

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VW-Porsche 914/2.0 (1972) - zwei sportlich straffe Sitze

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - die herausragenden Scheinwerfer

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - Türgriff und Sitz mit Kopfstütze

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - Klappscheinwerfer eingeklappt

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VW-Porsche 914/2.0 (1972) - der vordere Kofferraum schluckt nur kleine Gepäckstücke

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VW-Porsche 914 (1972) - die beiden Kofferräume ergänzen sich zu 370 Liter Volumen - genug auch für viel Reisegepäck

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - der Kofferraum schluckt einiges

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - das Targadach wird oben im Kofferraum untergebracht

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VW-Porsche 914 (1970) - die Zugänglichkeit zum Mittelmotor ist mittelmässig

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VW-Porsche 914 (1971) - Durchsichtszeichnung des Vierzylinders

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VW-Porsche 914 (1969) - Durchsichtszeichnung

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Summary

A good DM 11,000 was enough to buy a Fiat X 1/9 in 1973, while almost DM 14,000 was needed to purchase the VW-Porsche 914/4 1.8. Both were real sports cars, and in terms of design they stood out clearly from the everyday pulp of the time. However, despite the price difference, there was no clear winner in the comparison test, rather the desire for the ideal mix.

This article contains the following chapters

Only the 914 has a genuine mid-engine
"Coal shovel" and quite a lot of aesthetics
Head to head in the race for the fastest roof
Technical data & measured values

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When you see the Fiat X 1/9 and the VW-Porsche 914, you are almost inclined to speak of twins, as they have one fundamental thing in common: a mid-engine and Targa roof. In the X 1/9 the roof disappears under the front hood, in the VW-Porsche in the rear luggage compartment. However, if you take a closer look at them, you will quickly discover the important differences. Production cars with a mid-engine are in the crossfire of criticism, although this design has advantages for racing cars: the largely central arrangement of the heaviest vehicle parts results in even wheel loads and thus enables high lateral acceleration when cornering. What applies to racing cars is partly transferable to road cars, but the disadvantages are clear: The engine is breathing down the driver's neck, and insulation against noise and heat can never be 100%. In addition, accessibility to the engine and its cooling create new problems, problems that are inherent to the principle and not necessarily to the detriment of one make or another.

Welcome to Zwischengas!