1959 Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile
Collaboration between Fiat, Bianchi, and Pirelli
Coach built body over Fiat chassis & drivetrain
Luxurious second car for Italian upper-middle class families
Gives impression of powerful acceleration due to diminutive size
In the 1950’s and 60’s, several companies, such as Autobianchi and Moretti, utilized Fiat mechanical components and built luxurious coachbuilt bodies around them. Fiat 500 engines were incredible versatile in their tuning possibilities, and companies like Abarth offered a variety of parts that significantly enhanced power output in these air-cooled engines. For example, without additional components, the 1959 Bianchina Special model was given a bit more pep (25bhp) than prior Bianchini (21bhp), and in 1960 was tuned up to 26bhp.
In 1885, 20-year-old Eduardo Bianchi established a bicycle-making business in Milan, and before long was making motorized three-wheelers and later four-wheelers. In the 1920s, Bianchi was third behind only Fiat and Lancia in Italian car production.
In 1955, Bianchi approached car maker Fiat and tire maker Pirelli about a partnership, and thus the Autobianchi Company was formed. The first product was the Bianchina, which was based on the Fiat 500, but positioned as a more luxurious, ‘second-car’ alternative. The Bianchina was the first car produced by the company, and the name paid tribute to Eduardo Bianchi’s ‘car’ from 1899.
The first body style to roll off the assembly line was the Transformabile which would remain as the only body-style available until 1960, when the Cabriolet (roadster) was introduced. Other configurations also became available in time. The Transformabile featured a fixed B-pillar and partial roof, as the rest of the opening was covered with a foldable fabric hood.
With their peppy, air cooled, rear-mounted Fiat 2-cylinder engines, 4-speed manual gearboxes, 4-wheel independent suspension, and 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, Autobianchi Bianchinas are excellent examples of some of the world’s finest micro cars. Mini cars are often viewed as a cheap transportation alternative - the Bianchina was a much different species. Its premium ewuipment and design features separated the Bianchina from its competitors, as the car was marketed to a completely new audience.
Autobianchi’s aim was to target upper-middle class families along with affluent women in the changing times of Italy, known as “Il Boom Economico” – the Italian economic miracle of the late 1950’s, which finally helped to lift the country out of the depths of post-War depression. The Bianchina was the perfect car for this period of Italian history. It was small enough to easily navigate the wild streets of Rome, though had all the same flair as big American cars of the period.
Specifications:
Configuration: Rear engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine: 479 cc OHV 2-cylinder engine
Horsepower: 17 @ 4,000 RPM
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Brakes: 4-wheel drum brakes