1955 Bandini Siluro

This Bandini #358 was built in Forli, Italy, in 1955. It was the last of the Siluro (torpedo) style Bandini, and it was slightly lower and more streamlined than the earlier ones. It was also the only Siluro to have the Series Two, 70 horsepower, twin-cam engine installed.

An American-made Crosley engine powered the early Bandini. This lightweight and compact engine were very versatile, having been used with boats, aircraft, and even fire pumps. It had an aluminum block with five main bearings, a monobloc with two valves per cylinder, gear driven single overhead cam, and more. Bandini immediately began modifying the Crosley engine for racing, including a longer stroke (raising the displacement to 747cc), steel crankshaft, new pistons, camshafts, and an oil pump.

The Bandini raced in the SCCA H Modified Championship in 1955 and 1957 and the SCCA South-West division championship from 1961 until 1963. They also had many victories in different categories on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Ilario Bandini was born in 1911, the son of a farmer living in Forli, Italy. Even though he was best remembered as a car builder, he also had a flare for engineering and mechanics. His skills and knowledge led him to create and patent inventions. He is characterized as a short man who had a passion for life that matched his enthusiasm and his excitement.

By the age of 27, having experience working and studying as a mechanic, Bandini began his own company. The era was 1938, and the world was still suffering from the aftershocks of World War II. Many of the manufacturers that had existed before the war were gone, or their factories had been destroyed or converted into creating machinery for military purposes. Bandini began making small vehicles; most were intended for sports and racing. Some were weekend drivers, while others were built specifically for the racing circuit. Bandini favored spiders and coupes. He used Fiat and American Crossley engines which he would modify to increase the overall output and performance. Most were 760 cc through 1300 cc. The engines were originally placed in the front of the vehicles, but this changed when mid-engine design started to become popular. Quickly realizing the benefits of the mid-engine placement, he was one of the first manufacturers to build vehicles in this form.

Many vehicles were built to be raced in the 750 cc. class. The vehicles were important and vitalizing the junior league of Italian racing.

The Bandini badge design came from the symbol of his hometown. It featured a bantam rooster crowing.

In 1992 he was 81. Having lived a long life, he passed away. At many vintage sporting events, the Bandini built automobiles can still be found. A museum in Forli houses seven examples of the Bandini sports cars.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2010