The Autobianchi Bianchina is a minicar produced by the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

automaker

Autobianchi Autobianchi () was an Italian automobile manufacturer, created jointly by Bianchi, Pirelli and Fiat in 1955. Autobianchi produced only a handful of models during its lifetime, which were almost exclusively small cars, with the biggest being the sho ...

, based on the

Fiat 500 The Fiat 500 ( it, Cinquecento, ) is a rear-engined, four-seat, small city car that was manufactured and marketed by Fiat Automobiles from 1957 until 1975 over a single generation in two-door saloon and two-door station wagon bodystyles. Launch ...

. It was available in various configurations: ''Berlina'' (saloon), ''Cabriolet'' (roadster), ''Trasformabile'' (fixed profile convertible), ''Panoramica'' (station wagon), and ''Furgoncino'' (van). The car was presented to the public on 16 September 1957 at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. Initially, the car was equipped with the smallest Fiat engine, air-cooled 479 cc, producing . In 1959, the engine power was increased to and in 1960, the cabriolet version was launched. In the same year, the Trasformabile, whose engine cylinder capacity was increased to 499 cc (18 hp), was made available in a Special version with bicolour paint, and an engine enhanced to . This body style featured a fixed B-pillar and partial roof, like the rest of the opening was covered with a foldable fabric hood, while the Cabriolet version had no B-pillar. The Trasformabile was the only version to feature

suicide doors A suicide door is an automobile door hinged at its rear rather than the front. Such doors were originally used on horse-drawn carriages, but are rarely found on modern vehicles, primarily because they are perceived as being less safe than a fro ...

, and in 1962, it was replaced by a four-seat saloon. The engine and chassis were the same in both. In 1965, a minor facelift was made. In France, the models were sold under different names: the Berlina became the ''Lutèce'', the Familiare the ''Texane'', and the Cabriolet was marketed as the ''Eden Roc''.

Production

File:1961 Bianchina.JPG, Trasformabile File:Bianchina Cabriolet.jpg, Cabriolet File:Autobianchi Berlina 1962 (front) - Flickr - mick - Lumix.jpg, Berlina File:Autobianchi Bianchina familiare.jpg, Panoramica File:Autobianchi Bianchina Furgoncino tetto basso.JPG, Furgoncino (low roof) File:Bianchina Furgoncino 2.jpg, Furgoncino (tall roof) The Bianchina was produced from 1957 to 1970, for a total volume of approximately 275,000. ''Source: Club Bianchina and Bianchina Classic Club''

Autobianchi Bianchina Giardiniera

Autobianchi also used the Bianchina name for the

Autobianchi Bianchina Giardiniera Autobianchi () was an Italian automobile manufacturer, created jointly by Bianchi, Pirelli and Fiat in 1955. Autobianchi produced only a handful of models during its lifetime, which were almost exclusively small cars, with the biggest being the s ...

.''Bianchina - Giardiniera'', www.autobianchi.org
Retrieved on 30 July 2014

In popular culture

The 1966 movie ''

How to Steal a Million ''How to Steal a Million'' is a 1966 American heist comedy film directed by William Wyler and starring Audrey Hepburn, Peter O'Toole, Eli Wallach, Hugh Griffith, and Charles Boyer. The film is set and was filmed in Paris, though the character ...

'' with

Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, t ...

and

Peter O'Toole Peter Seamus O'Toole (; 2 August 1932 – 14 December 2013) was a British stage and film actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began working in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic ...

features Hepburn's character driving a red Autobianchi Bianchina cabriolet. Italian comedy character

Ugo Fantozzi Ugo Fantozzi () is a fictional character, appearing in Italian literature and film, created by Paolo Villaggio. The character, initially part of Villaggio's television monologues, later became protagonist of a series of short stories published at ...

, created by

Paolo Villaggio Paolo Villaggio (; 30 December 1932 – 3 July 2017) was an Italian actor, voice actor, writer, director and comedian. He is noted for the characters he created with paradoxical and grotesque characteristics: Professor Kranz, the ultra-timid G ...

and protagonist of television monologues, short stories, and films, famously drives a white Bianchina, usually somewhat damaged and with a

four-leaf clover The four-leaf clover is a rare variation of the common three-leaf clover. According to traditional sayings, such clovers bring good luck, though it is not clear when or how this idea began. One early mention of "Fower-leafed or purple grasse" is ...

decal on the left side. The car is known for its tendency to become badly damaged throughout these stories. In the animation film ''

Despicable Me 2 ''Despicable Me 2'' is a 2013 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Illumination Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. The sequel to ''Despicable Me'' (2010), it is directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, and wr ...

'', the car of Lucy Wilde resembles a Bianchina Trasformabile.

References

External links

Registro Autobianchi

Bianchina Classic Club
(Italian only)

( Autobianchi Bianchina Furgoncino) {{Autobianchi Autobianchi vehicles, Bianchina 1960s cars 1970s cars Cars introduced in 1957 Rear-engined vehicles Station wagons