Minneapois Street Sighting: Bertone X/19

I see a pattern emerging here; European cars :D This is a decent example of the Fiat/Bertone collabo, the X/19. Introduced to the US in 1972, the X/19 was sold as a Bertone. In Europe, it was sold as both a Fiat and as Bertone. Fiat X/19s were made from 1972 to 1982, and the Bertone version picked up in 1982 where the Fiat left off. To get into the US car market, some (disgusting) changes had to be made. Contrary to its home-continent version, the US version arrived with huge bumpers that were bigger, and more crash resistant. Good for safety, I supposed, but boy did it ruin the front and rear of the car. Yes, I do understand that rubber bumpers are not very safe, but in honesty, cars today have bumpers that don't hamper the appearance; even European cars. So why couldn't this have been years ago? The Fiat/Bertone X/19 would've been an even hotter car!

This particular X/19 is not being care for in the least; not only is the paint (what remained of it anyway) peeling dramatically, it has been spotted around downtown Minneapolis in every type of weather condition; in the rain (with the top off), in the snow (again with the top off) and even has been seen sitting in the grass under trees. What a great way to treat an interesting piece of sports car history. On a positive note, it appears that the trim is all intact and it does have the correct wheels. And, I'm glad it's not sitting in some dumbass's yard or on its way to the crusher yet--in its current state, though, I fear it may be heading to the big scrapyard in the sky. Such a sad end for what once was a good little European roadster.