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The Fiat for the discerning - Autobianchi A 111 in the (historic) test

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Created on July 25, 1970

Text:

Engelbert Männer

Photos:

Archiv

11

Archiv

11

Autobianchi A 111 (1970) - full-size front-wheel drive sedan with the technology of the Primula and the appearance of the Fiat 124/125

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Autobianchi A 111 (1969) - at the Paris Salon 1969

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Autobianchi A 111 (1971) - simple yet elegant rear end with large trunk

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Autobianchi A 111 (1971) - at the Paris Salon 1970

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Autobianchi A 111 (1970) - compact sedan with transverse engine and front-wheel drive

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Autobianchi A 111 (1971) - the Fiat 124 for academics

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Autobianchi A 111 (1971) - in contrast to the Fiat 124 with rectangular headlights

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Autobianchi A 111 (1971) - double rear lights and tiny lettering

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Autobianchi A 111 (1970) - rectangular front, distributed in Switzerland by Citroën - Geneva Motor Show 1970

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Autobianchi A 111 (1971) - Cockpit with three round instruments and two-spoke steering wheel

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Autobianchi A 111 (1970) - The drive unit including front axle and steering

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Summary

By the term "muscle car", author Engelbert Männer was not referring to a mid-range sedan with an over-powered American-style engine, but to the effort required to drive it. For as modern as the Autobianchi A 111 was in some respects - transverse engine, front-wheel drive - it was just as old-fashioned with its stiff steering and leaf springs all round. This historical test report explains why it was nevertheless more distinguished than the Fiat 124.

This article contains the following chapters

More space thanks to front-wheel drive
Three blades instead of four bolts
Neutral, but power-sapping
Equipment and market situation
mot overall assessment
Plus points
Minus points
Technical data

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The first Autobianchi product in 1958 was the Bianchina based on the Fiat 500, which was occasionally marketed in Germany as a coupé and (occasionally) convertible. The 500 Panorama, a mini-station wagon with a 499 cc/18 hp engine for DM 4051.50, was still in the range and was hardly in demand. The Autobianchi Primula (from 1964) was a notable success. It was offered - initially with a 1221 cc/55 hp engine - as an estate saloon in the German Fiat range, but was immediately sidelined in terms of model policy when the Fiat 124 arrived in 1966. Since fall 1967, the company Hagen, Krefeld, has been responsible for Autobianchi imports to Germany. In the late fall of 1967, the 1197 cc/60 hp engine from the Fiat 124 was also adopted for the Primula; new designation Primula 65 C (test in mot 19/68). Two versions: two-door estate sedan for DM 6349.20, four-door estate sedan for DM 671.50. The Primula coupé with a 1438 cc/69 hp engine was not well received; it was taken out of production in 1969 without a sound. However, the Primula 65 C model was also not destined to have a long life.

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