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
The Bianchina was produced from 1957 to 1970, for a total volume of approximately 275,000.
Model Years produced Power (hp (metric)) Capacity (cc) Production Trasformabile series 1 1957–1958 15 479 17,000 Trasformabile series 2 1959–1960 16.5 479 10,000 Trasformabile series 3 1961–1962 17.5 499 7,000 Trasformabile Special 1959–1962 21 499 1,500 Cabriolet series 1 1960 21 499 1,050 Cabriolet series 2 D 1961–1964 21 499 5,500 Cabriolet series 3 F 1965–1969 21 499 2,750 Berlina D 1962–1964 17.5 499 26,500 Berlina F 1965–1969 18 499 33,500 Berlina Special D 1962–1964 21 499 4,000 Berlina Special F 1965–1969 21 499 5,000 Panoramica D 1960–1964 17.5 499 75,000 Panoramica F 1965–1969 17.5 499 85,000 Panoramica sun roof 1960–1969 17.5 499 Furgoncino van, low roof 1965–1970 17.5 499 Furgonetta van, tall roof 1970–1977 17.5 499 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 Club at web.archive.org Bianchina Classic Club (Italian only) ( Autobianchi Bianchina Furgoncino)