This little detail is one of those things that keeps my ardor for cars piping hot. It’s a trivial thing, but it defies all logical explanation, which is why I find it so engaging. It’s just a side marker lamp on the Fiat X1/9, or maybe more accurately an indicator repeater. As you can see, it’s a peculiar ribbed bit of plastic with a round amber lamp inset in the middle. In US markets, it was a more conventional sort of reflector-with-a-bulb behind it. I don’t understand why it was changed for Euro markets! The US-spec one would have done the same job, just as well, or even better!
Look, there’s the American market X1/9 now. You can see that it’s sporting the federally-mandated side marker lamps, front and rear, which includes a lens/reflector and a light bulb behind it. They’re effective! Let’s look again at what the Euro-spec versions replaced these with:
At the rear, a simple black plastic blanking plate replaces the red side marker. Okay, that I get – it’s cheaper, no need for a bulb or lens, and I suppose they just couldn’t bear the idea of a reflector there for, oh, let’s say moral reasons.
Up front, though, we have that ribbed plastic panel with that amber round lens, complete with a little chrome trim ring. Let’s look at it closely again:
The black ribbed part almost looks like some sort oh heat sink, but I’m pretty sure that little light isn’t generating that much heat. It’s decorative. And that little amber lamp, I’m pretty sure it’s a turn signal repeater. But why couldn’t they have just used the existing US-spec amber lamp? Why go through all this trouble? The US-type marker light has a lens, a bulb, wire, a bulb holder inside. This thing has all that, plus an extra trim ring, and it’s more complex to assemble, requiring getting that lens inset into the black plastic bit. It has to cost more!
I can’t figure out why this exists. Why make such a change? Was any sort of reflector illegal? Even if that was the case, the rectangluar lens could have just been made without the reflector, and just be an amber rectangular lens, which would have been simpler than this setup.
I’m so confused. Maybe someone really just preferred the look?
I mean, it’s possible – the X1/9 was a stylish and clever little car – just look at the wonderful packaging of it:
You have a tiny little mid-engined car with usable trunks at both ends and a crisp, handsome look. What’s not to like?
Someone designed those marker lamps. Someone made a very deliberate decision. Someone designed the alternate ones and someone figured out how to build them and someone ordered all the parts and more someones put them together and installed them on cars.
But why?Â
Ah, the beautiful unknowability of car details. Will they ever not delight?
It’s an Italian market part, but as with all things Italian, there’s a hint of extra thought put into how it looks. One of the great joys of Italian cars is they make sure everything LOOKS perfect long before they consider if it works well.
> before they consider if it works well
And they usually skip that step.
It is definitely optional
These side indicator repeaters were required in Italy at the time of development and it think throughout the EU from the mid 80s. I’m sure the US one would have been illegal with the retro reflector element. But those Italian ones were almost always circular, perhaps that was a rule? It would have been a standard part clipping into the rectangular moulding.
I’d love to have one of these.
My vanity plate will be “Cygnus.”
I’d be in a Rush to do that too.
We had a 1976 X1/9 in that same green. We LOVED that car. The epitome of slow car fast. Very compliant suspension way more comfortable than a Porsche 914. Handled fantastic! 1300cc’s of pure Italian joy. Fun fact-it never let us down and we had it for 4 years. We drove it all over the eastern part of the county from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, Florida to New York. With the top stowed in the frunk you could drive in a rainstorm and the airflow would take the rain over the car while you stayed dry. Sold it and bought our beloved Alfa GTV 2000. Sold that & bought a Volvo 240-put 300,000 mi on that beast. On our 3rd 240 now, a project 87 245DL manual everything.
My ’73 Innocenti Mini has the same round repeaters in the front fenders (no black plastic vents tho), I think it was a rule at the time that Italian cars had to have Italian made lamps, why else does my Mini have it’s English engine gearbox and suspension and Carrello headlights, T/S and Altissima taillights? BTW, even tho they look exactly the same as the English Lucas taillight assemblies, they’re just slightly different enough that the lenses won’t interchange – and try finding some NOS Altissima taillights these days! (They’re out there, but super spendy!)
That answers it as far as I am concerned. They also make an appearance on Italian-market Citroën DS.
The mini was a CKD kit? Could be just aim to increase the local content or avoid import taxes, UK was not yet part of EEC I think. Or maybe there was some nice state subsidy available if you bought some parts from the right guy/the correct voting district.
On the other hand, I don’t think it was possible to set up country specific rules regarding origin of parts in the seventies, but slightly different lighting regulation in individual markets and the necessary tooling costs?.
I suspect the reason the US-market side market wasn’t used is because it contains a retro-reflector. There was a change in regulations around the late 90s or early 2000s that allowed US-market lights in Europe, and European-market lights in the US, provided the mandatory lights for the intended market were also present. Before then, lights and reflectors required in the US but not required in Europe would not meet European regulations, so the side reflectors had to be deleted. I think the E60 BMW 5-Series was the first car to use exactly the same lamp units on both sides of the Atlantic, or maybe one of the same-era Volvo models.
The Italian market required these side repeater direction indicators long before any other European market required them.
S/V40 had them in the late 90’s. 96-97?
Could this be as simple as the difference between the first-gen X1/9 (the 1300) and the second gen (the 1500)? The green one shown above is a 1300 while the one with the US-style marker lights is a 1500. You can also see the federalized bumpers on the 1500.
Looks like the same round indicator light, you will find on numorous Fiat’s and even Lada’s
https://www.russian4x4.de/out/pictures/master/product/1/13488_Product.jpg
100% Italian styling. You can clearly see the look of disdain on the woman in orange in response to someone asking why she doesn’t just use American-style side markers.
Le sigh. It’s CLEARY an homage to the eyelashes on the headlights of a Lamborghini Muira, as both were designed by Marcello Gandini.
Do I have to explain EVERYTHING around here?
Yes.
How did it come to this? I studied at the Royal College of Art. Was tutored by J Mays. I was a designer once, damn it. Now look at me. Look at me!
And the sun sets on the British empire … Blame Brexit, everyone else does.
Oh I do, don’t worry.
You sir, need a pint. The first round is on me.
I actually thought of that as well,the Miura has to be some sort of inspiration for it.
Um, it’s Italian. So ribbed for pleasure?
I thought it was common knowledge that the superleggera blinker fluid Italians were using in their sporty cars at the time needs more cooling than the regular stuff. EPA prohibited using the exotic fluid in American market and with domestic blinker fluids the cooling fins weren’t needed so the whole area could be used for illumination.
Not to mention how hard it has become to find the pre-1976 superleggera blinker fluid, for when Italy still required clear front indicators.
It has too many other problems for people to notice that LOL
I DD an ’81 for a few years. Reliability was not a problem. Neither was fuel economy. It was the perfect way for a HS kid in the ’80s to play Miami Vice on a budget.
play the powerball 😀
Username checks out.
*dons 1940’s style pork pie hat*
You’re GODDAMNED right!!
This is probably not a side-marker but looks exactly like the required side turn signal for being able to register it in the italian market (at the time).
SUCH pretty little cars. Especially in crazy colours. I’d love one.
I never realized the X-1/9 had the fuel tank and the spare IN THE BACK. Wow, now I want one more than ever.
Maybe they gave us the better marker lights to make up for the big bumpers.
They’re actually not in the back, they’re mounted mid-ship immediately behind the seats and in front of the engine. The spare wheel is behind the right seat accessible from within the cabin, while the fuel tank is on the other side.
It’s Italian, so it’s probably that way for reasons similar to why they only use specific sauces with specific pasta shapes.
That is some good packaging details in the cutaway… look at that fuel tank and spare tire tucked up against the firewall.
Those are not the only good packaging details here.
Take a look at the model in the orange hot pants. I’m certain the European side markers were ribbed for her pleasure.
You know who else is baffled and confused: the model in orange.
Hot. Pants.
She looks disgusted at something off in the distance.
Bianca needs a Binaca.
It’s the kind of fussy flourish you would expect on late ’50s American car, where it wouldn’t look out of place at all, because more was always more. Here it just looks odd, not even very well integrated with the overall design.
Also, wouldn’t this have preceded the design for the American version’s marker lights?
And what about your article on their bonker ladder bumpers! Those were quite interesting little cars. https://www.theautopian.com/lets-take-a-moment-to-remember-those-bonkers-fiat-x1-9-ladder-bumpers-cold-start/