Reunion with two childhood dreams
03/01/2019
It's rare that you get to drive two automotive dreams of your youth in comparison on the same day.
The Opel GT and the Fiat X 1/9 were both cars that I would have liked to have bought at the age of 18, when I finally had my license after passing my driving test.
But they were both too unreasonable and, despite used car prices, unaffordable. But they were both so incredibly exotic. Only two seats and attractive shapes.
Although there were only just over three years between their appearance on the market, they could hardly have been more different. The Opel GT had a front engine and a cabin set far back, a classic sixties silhouette.
The Fiat X 1/9, on the other hand, was a mid-engined car with wedge-shaped lines.
In terms of performance and weight, they were in similar spheres and, thanks to large-scale production technology under the hood, they could be easily serviced in any brand dealership.
However, while the Opel GT was only granted a short life (just under five years), the Fiat X 1/9 was built for around 18 years.
So how do they compare today? They are both a lot of fun, each in their own way. They still look sporty and the seating position alone makes you feel like Jacky Stewart or Niki Lauda. All-round visibility is surprisingly good in both, even if the wide roll-over bars in the Fiat are a disadvantage here. The fact that the Fiat is more modern is not only noticeable when driving, but also when the folding headlights are extended using an electric motor. The Opel requires muscle here.
We've written about the Opel GT before, but we've just dedicated a new driving report to the Fiat X 1/9 . Have fun!
