| Length | 41.4cm |
| Width | 17.5cm |
| Height | 14.5cm |
I originally chose to model the Fiat X1/9 because of its fairly easy shape, with lots of plane surfaces. I started out with the 62.4×20S 8479 wheels, and made the rest to the scale of those.
While the rear suspension is the traditional live axle arrangement, using two small shock absorbers, the front independent suspension is made using the parts from 8440, and a total of three small shock absorbers for each wheel. That many shock absorbers is needed because of the nature of the weight distribution of the suspension braces. Flex system cables are used for the steering, and no rack is used at all.
You'll note that the 8440 has rigid axles. However, the rear axle is made up of four black steering knuckle arms with ball joint. Together with the black steering gears enclosed, these parts can be used to make an independent front suspension. The setup is pretty much like the one used on the 8858 model, except that there is no horizontal shock absorber, and I used flex cables for steering links. And as said earlier, no rack is used, just a rotating liftarm to shift the flex cables.
The engine is an inline four transversely mounted just in front of the rear axle. I had to move the seats a couple of studs forward, making them slightly unrealistic, to make room for the gear box, which is remotely operated with the gear shift stick between the seats via two 12-cross-axles.
I used this diagram as a reference when building the car.
Back to LEGOŽ ergo sum.