Autobianchi Bianchina

The Autobianchi Bianchina is a minicar produced by the Italian automaker Autobianchi, based on the Fiat 500's chassis and mechanicals. It was available in various configurations: ''Berlina'' (saloon), ''Cabriolet'' (roadster), ''Trasformabile'' (fixed profile convertible), ''Panoramica'' (station wagon), and ''Furgoncino'' (van). The car was presented to the public on 16 September 1957 at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan.

Initially, the car was equipped with the smallest Fiat engine, air-cooled 479 cc, producing . In 1959, the engine power was increased to and in 1960, the cabriolet version was launched.

In the same year, the Trasformabile, whose engine cylinder capacity was increased to 499 cc and , was made available in a Special version with bicolour paint and an engine enhanced to . This body style featured a fixed B-pillar and partial roof, like the rest of the opening was covered with a foldable fabric hood, while the Cabriolet version had no B-pillar. The Trasformabile was the only version to feature suicide doors, and in 1962, it was replaced by a four-seat saloon. The engine and chassis were the same in both.

In 1965, a minor facelift was made and in the Berlina, the regular engine gained a half horsepower.

In France, the various Bianchina models were sold under different names: the Berlina became the ''Lutèce'', the Familiare the ''Texane'', and the Cabriolet was marketed as the ''Eden Roc''. In the United States, the importer marketed them with Fiat badging rather than as Autobianchis. The Panorama was also assembled by Neckar Automobilwerke AG in West Germany as the "Neckar Panorama".

Production

File:1961 Bianchina.JPG, Trasformabile
File:Bianchina Cabriolet.jpg, Cabriolet
File:Autobianchi Berlina 1962 (front) - Flickr - mick - Lumix.jpg, Berlina
File:Autobianchi Bianchina familiare.jpg, Panoramica
File:Autobianchi Bianchina Furgoncino tetto basso.JPG, Furgoncino (low roof)
File:Bianchina Furgoncino 2.jpg, Furgoncino (tall roof)

The Bianchina was produced from 1957 to 1970, for a total volume of approximately 275,000.

''Source: Club Bianchina and Bianchina Classic Club''

Autobianchi Bianchina Giardiniera

Autobianchi also used the Bianchina name for the Autobianchi Bianchina Giardiniera.''Bianchina - Giardiniera'', www.autobianchi.org
Retrieved on 30 July 2014

In popular culture

The 1966 movie '' How to Steal a Million'' with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole features Hepburn's character driving a red Autobianchi Bianchina cabriolet.

Italian comedy character Ugo Fantozzi, created by Paolo Villaggio and protagonist of television monologues, short stories, and films, famously drives a white Bianchina, usually somewhat damaged and with a four-leaf clover decal on the left side. The car is known for its tendency to become badly damaged throughout these stories.

A pink with black polka dots Trasformabile is featured in the 1986 music video, "Nobody's Fool," by glam metal band, Cinderella.

In the animation film '' Despicable Me 2'', the car of Lucy Wilde resembles a Bianchina Trasformabile.

The car is owned and driven by Lolita Lobosco in the eponymous Italian detective series broadcast in the UK by Channel 4 in its Walter Presents series (S1 E2, 01:01:30).

References

External links

Registro Autobianchi



Bianchina Classic Club
(Italian only)


( Autobianchi Bianchina Furgoncino)

{{Autobianchi

Autobianchi vehicles, Bianchina
1960s cars
1970s cars
Cars introduced in 1957
Cars discontinued in 1970
Rear-engined vehicles
Station wagons
City cars