1960 Autobianchi Bianchina Cabriolet

Edoardo Bianchi built his first automobile around 1900. Over the years, Bianchi's were often high-end luxury vehicles manufactured to very high standards. After Edoardo passed away and the destruction of the Bianchi factory during World War II, manufacturing was suspended. Giuseppe Bianchi, Edorado's son, took control of the company in 1946 and resurrected the production of bicycles, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles. In 1957, Bianchi formed a partnership with FIAT and Pirelli, creating Autobianchi with the purpose of building passenger vehicles. This new endeavor used a new purpose-built factory in Desio. Their first model was the Fiat 500-based Bianchina, named after Edorado Bianchi's first automobile. It made its debut as a Trasformabile coupe, with lots of chrome and a full-length folding sunroof. Whereas the Fiat 500 had been built as basic transportation, the Bianchina was marketed as a 'recreational vehicle' or a 'second car.' It was positioned up-market and marketed to affluent middle-class ladies.

In 1960, the newly introduced Fiat 500D engine became standard equipment in the Bianchina range. By this point in history, the lineup included two new models - a Cabriolet and a Panoramica estate car. A fourth version, the Quattroposti saloon, arrived the following year.

The current owner of this car, Mr. van Huystee, purchased this example in the mid-1990s. It has been given a comprehensive refurbishment and finished in a period paintwork scheme of sunny light blue with a two-tone tan and cream interior. It has a rollback roof in black fabric, 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, an independent suspension, and a 4-speed manual gearbox. The air-cooled, two-cylinder engine is fitted with a single Weber carburetor and offers approximately 17 horsepower.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016