Autobianchi 1957-1996 - Pacesetter in the compact class
Summary
There were around 10,000 car brands and designers - most of them have disappeared. One of these vanished brands is Autobianchi, which built mostly compact and sporty vehicles between 1957 and 1996. As a Fiat and Pirelli subsidiary, Autobianchi brought a number of influential vehicles onto the market, including the A 112 and the Y 10.
Estimated reading time: 3min
Preview (beginning of the article)
Autobianchi SpA was founded jointly by Fiat and Pirelli in 1955. It embodied an indirect continuation of the Bianchi brand. The Autobianchi Bianchina 500 presented in the fall of 1957 was technically based on the Fiat Nuova 500 with an air-cooled two-cylinder rear engine.While the Nuova 500 was a spherical box, the Bianchina presented itself as a handsome 2+2-seater coupé in pontoon form with a folding roof and chrome trim. From 1960 onwards, it became the basis for larger estate and saloon models as well as a lovely, winky convertible. The Primula, which was added in 1964, also had a Fiat engine, but with its front-wheel drive, transverse engine, hatchback and tailgate, it anticipated the principle that would characterize the compact class years later. In 1969, Autobianchi launched the A 111, a notchback alternative to the Primula, and the A 112, a successor to the Bianchina.
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