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.