[southernstar]

I don't recall any Fiats that resembled the Boxster. Yes, they produced the Fiat X/19 - a transverse mid-engine roadster with a fixed sail/rolbar and a lift-off fiberglass roof panel. Although pretty enough, it was very angular in appearance and it lacked power (a single overhead cam 4 cylinder/transaxle from the Fiat 128).

Yes, they also produced the Lancia Montecarlo (aka Lancia Beta Montecarlo or Lancia Scorpian in the USA) and this was code-named the Fiat X/20 during development. It too was angular in appearance with fixed sails/rollbar and a lift-off roof and was not much more powerful, making use of the Fiat 124 twin-cam but with additional weight.

Lancia also produced, in rather limited numbers. the Stratos - another mid-engine sports car that was also quite angular, but which had comparable (if not superior) peformance to the Boxster as it had the benefit of the same V6 engine as the Ferrari Dino.

As indicated, if they made a production, mid-engine sports car which resembled but pre-dated the Boxster, I certainly don't remember it.

Brad