X1/9 Restoration Guide

Has anyone ever seen or produced a Fiat X1/9 restoration guide?

If not do you think we could produce one or would it be a recipe for disaster with loads of liability if we recommend doing something that then causes an injury or accident?

Terry Gaskin wrote: Has anyone ever seen or produced a Fiat X1/9 restoration guide?

If not do you think we could produce one or would it be a recipe for disaster with loads of liability if we recommend doing something that then causes an injury or accident?

My short answer is: No I'm not aware of any such document, but I think it's a great idea.

My long answer is:

1.8TS Sports wrote: How about a shop that sells rare parts for X1/9s instead of keyrings and mugs? Set the format for the pages and get all of the sponsors (sellers) to add the parts they can offer, with / without discount to members save them money by undercutting ebay & paypal fees.

Neil Ottaway wrote: I'm not sure where we stand on parts, by the way. I think there may be some liability insurance issues that mean we can't get involved with selling them as things stand, but others have a better understanding of this than me.

I'm sensing a bit of uncertainty here an lots of concern about the clubs liability. Can you provide an example where somebody has been successfully sued for providing such advice, information or acting as a third party during the sale of an item?

Obviously the club has a duty of care....

Duty of care

A duty of care exists where:

a) there is a relationship between two parties, particularly where this is a relationship of trust (e.g. between service provider and service user, counsellor and client, patient and carer, employer and employee); and

b) the consequences of the actions could reasonably have been foreseen.

For example: An organisation is set up to provide advice or counselling to the general public. It is anticipated that service users may rely on such advice. Therefore, it would be reasonable for the Management Committee to ensure that those employees and volunteers giving advice were qualified to do so and that the advice being issued, was accurate and timely. In such circumstances it would also be reasonable to assume that the Management Committee have a duty of care to those in receipt of such advice.

Is it understood how producing a restoration guide differs from the forum or the clubs previously published "Technical articles, features and technical data handbook" ?

How does "Haynes" cover themselves? (other good car mechanic workshop manuals are available)

I fear I have created more questions than I answered, but I hope you find it constructive?

LOL that started a debate

I was prompted by a restoration manual I bought at the show on Sunday. Just wondered if there had been one produced and if not how much interest there would be in one. I guess most people in the club or on the forum more or less know how to do most of it. And a resto guide would only be of any use to someone that hasn't had much to do with X1/9's..

Maybe a biography type book rather than an official "you need to do this" might be more appropriate.

Did you see any of the Classic Car Rescue episodes? They used the same formula for all their restorations.

I guess it's all about how you pitch the guide, maybe it could highlight areas that require special attention on an X1/9 and report how other people have approached the problem, rather than stating what should be done.

Graeme Caie is the man to give the best advice on this I think. Hes done the whole lot "hands on" with excellent results.

a restoration guide would be good, i know i will be needing one soon

Car Mechanics magazine did such a thing in the 90s, ending the feature with a reader's competition. I wonder who won that X1/9!

Thanks Charlie for that. Dont visit here much these days and I was chuffed to see my name. My resto doesn't match the work I and others have seen from Charlies posts but what I can say is, really anyone can do it if they have the advice of others and put their mind to it. I've had my 1300 on a home made rotisserie and thats the way to go for serious rust. A local friend Guy helped me with the engine and the gearbox shouldn't frighten you as they're actually pretty simple to pull apart and re-assemble. I posted an article in the mag some time ago on the front suspension pickup points rust and that was my first welding project. We should gather all the resto posts and put it in one resto guide article.

Graeme gets my vote he should do a 100 page resto guide with photos and YouTube videos.

Maybe some good sections of improvised dance to break the sessions up......

The best advice I could give for a restoration guide would be to do it because you love the car and want a nice example to own and cherish. A full and proper resto needs time and money

As Graeme says.. If your doing the full Monty and want to do it properly?
Then the Spit is the best way to go.