This Fiat X1/9 Brings Sunshine To Antwerp

Owner: Marc Van Linden

Age: 51

Location: Antwerp, Belgium

Year, Make, and Model: 1974 Fiat X1/9

Photographer: Marc Van Linden

Marc purchased this 1974 Fiat X1/9 almost twenty-two years ago from its first owner, a proverbial little old lady. It had only run about 30,000km in its first eighteen years and he bought it to replace another X1/9 that had rusted through. Yeah, Marc loves these little Fiats.

You see, even before he could drive, before Marc learned that it had been penned by none other than Bertone head of design Marcello Gandini (who also designed the Lamborghini Miura, Countach and Lancia Stratos among others) he fell in love with the X1/9’s shape and mid-engine layout.

In his free time when not shooting photographs, Marc is also a fan of track days and enjoys hitting the tarmac with his local club (Scuderia Antverpia) as he lives about ninety minutes from one of the greatest circuits in the world– Spa Francorchamps. And when he’s not racing or touring in his Fiat he’s also got three Lotuses to choose from: an Elise, an Exige and a 340R!

But X1/9s are his first love. In addition to the aforementioned X1/9 that was consumed by rust, he also built a Dallara X1/9 replica racecar but eventually sold it as he doesn’t spend as much time at the track as he would like. Regardless of how often he can hit the track, having this sunny Fiat in his garage makes him smile.

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