The X19 was as cute as it gets for that era, lovely looking. The overall proportions of the Porsche 924 looked a bit awkward IMHO, but the 928 was something else altogether, it was like something off the set of 'Space 1999'.
The fact that Captain Koenig was separated from his beloved collection of 928s caused him a lot of unhappiness and he found no solace in the Moon buggies.
@BobMartin You call car with integrated painted bumpers in 1976 akward? Even Mercedes had bumbers looking like last minute job at that time. 924 was still a cool car in min 90's, I can't imagine how cool it was 20 years before.
@@althejazzman Yeah ive seen a few for sale just trying to find a good one i don`t have to put much effort into fixing is my problem as spares get rarer especially for the interiors :) Great cars though.
The engine is a Mercedes design pre VAG for DKW. Fuel injected for the 924. I own a 1976/77 first year 2ltr carburetted Audi 100 GLS. It's a very well made engine with wide cam lobes that cover the cam follower diameter.
There were real car shows for every day people back then, Tony really doesn't like the expensive stuff. Of course now car shows are very different, its all about entertaining rather than informing.
Harris Mann designed the triumph TR7 which looked very similar to this Fiat and he worked for Leyland before this Fiat came out so i`m not sure of what the reporter meant by that comment . But maybe he was on about the engineering more than the styling?
I agree John, Tony always does seem a little pissed off. Was it because he couldn't afford any of the cars he was testing, or was it just that he didn't like cars at all?
One of the things about sale these reviews is how little to no regard was given to the cars condition. Marques just didn't seem to care. Was cleaning cars so niche in the 1970's?
Maybe its the fade on the film, but both of those cars look faded already from the factory. Maybe its that reddish-orange color, the lighting, film degredation, but it seems like all these old Thames films from the 1970's make the cars already look faded/worn even though they were new. Maybe that was just the quality of 1970's cars. Also I really do love the Toyota MR2, Mark I. Yes its a blatant rip off of that Fiat, but it actually works, reliable, durable, handles better, faster, way better build quality. The MR2 is still on the road in the US, I've never seen a Fiat X-19. The Japanese usually don't have the original idea, but they are the ones who hone that idea, perfect it, make it a gem of a car IMO.
The MR2 was a car of another decade, It had been introduced when the last X1/9 were sold in the US, that's why you see more of it (It's like saying that you see more Frod Escort than Ford Pinto on the road), but costed 24% more, rusted like there was no tomorrow and, when they copied the FIAT drawings, the Japanese lost the ones about luggage space.
why o why are thames tv testing cars you can no longer buy , it`s madness , come on Thames , how about reviewing cars you can actually buy ? those new morris itals look quite nice :-O
9200 for a 911 in 1976. Since the dinosaurs to the year 1976 just 9k in price? In just 45 years it's over 90,000! Someone has been fiddling the financial books!
Leyland already had the Triumph TR7 out in 1976, same wedge shape but front engine rwd....also I'm certain I could see some rust appearing on the X19 as they were filming ;)
I had an x19 in the 80s which was a lot of fun to be honest then I had another one in 2000. I can tell you the car was not so good in today's deriving.
I love these vidoes, please keep them coming. Thanks
Anyone else notice the classic car videos appear on sunday mornings? Great stuff. More please.
Old Tony always seems slightly pissed off
Except when he's in a Ford.
Loved the X-19, my mate had a gold one, beautiful car.
Prettier than that 924 anyway.
The X19 was as cute as it gets for that era, lovely looking. The overall proportions of the Porsche 924 looked a bit awkward IMHO, but the 928 was something else altogether, it was like something off the set of 'Space 1999'.
The fact that Captain Koenig was separated from his beloved collection of 928s caused him a lot of unhappiness and he found no solace in the Moon buggies.
yes horrid
The 924 only looked right after it was made over into the 944. That X19 is so sweet, I’d love to see a modern day interpretation.
BobMartin : 924 was very elegant and balanced in style. The X19 looks a bit busy...
@BobMartin
You call car with integrated painted bumpers in 1976 akward?
Even Mercedes had bumbers looking like last minute job at that time.
924 was still a cool car in min 90's, I can't imagine how cool it was 20 years before.
I love these videos too just wish they were a bit longer
The 924 is still a car i occasionally think of getting when i see a good one at a decent price. Just because you rarely see any about these days.
Still about 600 on the road, which is twice as many X1/9 left. Plenty at porsche924.co.uk
@@althejazzman Yeah ive seen a few for sale just trying to find a good one i don`t have to put much effort into fixing is my problem as spares get rarer especially for the interiors :) Great cars though.
Emily Bishop what have you replaced it with? seems like it was a good choice
I had a 79 x1/9. Loved it. It had no rust.
How amazingly modern that Porsche 924 must of looked back in 1976.
The engine is a Mercedes design pre VAG for DKW. Fuel injected for the 924. I own a 1976/77 first year 2ltr carburetted Audi 100 GLS. It's a very well made engine with wide cam lobes that cover the cam follower diameter.
It's amazing how much the flared arches on the 944 improved the look against the 924.
Very much
I used to own a Fiat X-19. Fabulous car. Road holding was amazing.
I had 2!
Regret to this day getting rid of our X-19. Great fun car. We had a no rust example as well. Handling was epic.
There were real car shows for every day people back then, Tony really doesn't like the expensive stuff. Of course now car shows are very different, its all about entertaining rather than informing.
Yes they've become retarded almost entirely thanks to Clarkson, who is worshipped by the neanderthals.
But for information there are a lot of youtube channels (carwowo, carsireland, whatcar, etc) so where not dependent anymore on 1 tv reviewer.
Great clips - keep 'em coming :)
An extremely good looking car
that 924 still looks pretty nice today :) 2:00 i feel tony would like a 924 but his TV salary is not enough to cover it...
I have an original sales brochure for the x19 from the late 70's always wanted one
But you just said you'd got one. Oh, you mean the car, not the brochure. Sorry. My mistake. Silly me.
lovely Fiat
how comes the porsche is already pink
Superb review
But it wasn't really a review at all - he didn't even sit in the Fiat, let alone drive it.
I'd take the x1/9 and a 55 gallon drum of Fluid Film.
Harris Mann designed the triumph TR7 which looked very similar to this Fiat and he worked for Leyland before this Fiat came out so i`m not sure of what the reporter meant by that comment .
But maybe he was on about the engineering more than the styling?
He was probably hinting that Leyland should go down the mid engine route too.
@@anthonybeech676 You are probably right that is why i mentioned he maybe onto the engineering
The X1/9 was designed in 1969, first production was 1972, well ahead of the TR7. The Italians were way ahead IMHO.
but unfortunately BL had a habit of turning Mann's designs into lumpy looking cars
@@antman5474 Yup that is right the original Allegro design looked great.
I agree John, Tony always does seem a little pissed off. Was it because he couldn't afford any of the cars he was testing, or was it just that he didn't like cars at all?
Aah, the rich man's Fuego.
Lol.
2:07 even the press car missfires, I feel less bad about mine missfiring now 😅
This guy always baulks at the price of luxury / prestige cars
not Bastables best take off
Still probably the quickest take off achieved in a 924. Not Porsche’s finest hour.
Tried his best.
Sounds like it’s running on 3 cylinders
Tony was the original Alan Partridge
Either of those are what Triumph should have been making instead of the TR7
To short I was looking forward to a proper road test Shame
One of the things about sale these reviews is how little to no regard was given to the cars condition. Marques just didn't seem to care. Was cleaning cars so niche in the 1970's?
Maybe its the fade on the film, but both of those cars look faded already from the factory. Maybe its that reddish-orange color, the lighting, film degredation, but it seems like all these old Thames films from the 1970's make the cars already look faded/worn even though they were new. Maybe that was just the quality of 1970's cars.
Also I really do love the Toyota MR2, Mark I. Yes its a blatant rip off of that Fiat, but it actually works, reliable, durable, handles better, faster, way better build quality. The MR2 is still on the road in the US, I've never seen a Fiat X-19. The Japanese usually don't have the original idea, but they are the ones who hone that idea, perfect it, make it a gem of a car IMO.
The MR2 was a car of another decade, It had been introduced when the last X1/9 were sold in the US, that's why you see more of it (It's like saying that you see more Frod Escort than Ford Pinto on the road), but costed 24% more, rusted like there was no tomorrow and, when they copied the FIAT drawings, the Japanese lost the ones about luggage space.
why o why are thames tv testing cars you can no longer buy , it`s madness , come on Thames , how about reviewing cars you can actually buy ? those new morris itals look quite nice :-O
9200 for a 911 in 1976. Since the dinosaurs to the year 1976 just 9k in price? In just 45 years it's over 90,000! Someone has been fiddling the financial books!
Ah the 924, which shared it's engine with a VW van and the AMC Gremlin.
The 924 still seemed expensive considering it was dog-slow and made from VW bits.
"Pop Porsche" - I like that
Leyland already had the Triumph TR7 out in 1976, same wedge shape but front engine rwd....also I'm certain I could see some rust appearing on the X19 as they were filming ;)
X1/9 was designed in 1969, production started in '72 :D
The red colour is faded already
I had an x19 in the 80s which was a lot of fun to be honest then I had another one in 2000. I can tell you the car was not so good in today's deriving.
Sorry the scrap car was the Fiat X1/9 and not the Porsche.
£46k for the 924 and £20k for the Fiat at today's rate
I remember clearly one in a rundown garage rusted out in 1983 so was less than 7 years old and a rusted piece of scrap.
VW van engine.....meh
ok boomer