Their engines are in the same place, but their prices aren't. Options

[thomasotten]

When I was a young lad, as all good tales begin, I used to think that Fiats were Porsches....

(IMG:http://www.paulzeock.com/CD1075/fiat.jpg)

[lapuwali]

Did Fiat copy Porsche? I don't know the X1/9 story.

The Fiat did come later ('74, I think), but I don't think "copy" is the right word. The engine is a transverse-engined fwd package moved to the back, and I think FIAT was, in fact, the first one to do this trick in a production car (the MR2 [both versions] and the Fiero are the same idea). It used a single-cam 1300cc four originally (from the 121?), and got a 1500cc engine later. It was always heavier and had less power than a 914.

I've never driven one, but they always did well enough at autocrosses that I have to respect them. I did own a 124 Spider for awhile, and came to like the simple robustness of the design. They're cheap and sturdy, and saddled with the same low-quality steel and indifferent body assembly problems that afflict the 914, so most of them rust into oblivion early. Like the saying goes: Karmann invented rust, then licensed the process to the Italians.