{{ $t('Summary') }}
Designed and developed by the engineer Luigi Papi, it was presented in 1962. The concept of this version is related to the habits of the time: in the 1960's a family car (the station wagon of today) was considered as a working tool and not as a real car, that's why this version was born. Autobianchi used the 499cc Fiat 500 engine with 18 horsepower and the main components of the Fiat 110 F. Only 33500 examples of the Berlina F were produced. There are few left in good condition. Our example was originally delivered new in Italy and was spared from corrosion which was the number one enemy of these Italian bodyworks at the time. The car underwent a complete restoration in 2010 after importation from Italy to Belgium and is to date in great condition, exterior, interior, and engine-wise.
{{ $t('History') }}
The Autobianchi Bianchina is a family of compact cars built on the Fiat Nuova 500 platform. Introduced in 1957, the Bianchina family of cars was available in a variety of body styles. These styles included the Berlina (sedan - in France called the Lutèce), Cabriolet (roadster), Trasformabile (drop-top), Panoramica (wagon), and Furgoncino (van). Powered by a 499cc inline two engine, the Autobianchi Bianchina was in production until 1970, although the Bianchina Giardiniera variant was built until 1977. The significant drop in sales of the convertible in 1960 and 1961, led the Autobianchi design office, under pressure from the sales department, to study a new model to replace the convertible, which was outdated and not very habitable for a family of four. The engineer Luigi Rapi, who had already designed the cabriolet, was asked to design the new sedan, which, according to the guidelines of the marketing department, should have an interior that could accommodate four adults without being bulkier than the convertible. The new four-seater saloon, marked 110 DBA, reproduced the line of the cabriolet, with the addition of a decidedly new upper roof with a squared-off roof at the rear. From an aesthetic point of view, the car did not meet with much favour. It was the pagodina roof that made the new Bianchina look a little awkward. On the other hand, the Bianchina "television" (as it was immediately nicknamed) offered excellent roominess and was well finished. The mechanicals are the same as those of the Fiat 500 D. Compared to the Fiat 500 D, however, it has upwind doors and greater robustness due to more substantial sheet metal. The bumper rostrums with black rubber bumpers are massive, and even the bumper blade appears more solid than that of its cousin. The price was affordable, 525,000 lire on the list and 560,000 on the road.
{{ $t('Exterior') }}
The saloon body is finished in its original white color, which was re-applied during the restoration in the mid 1980s and said to still present well with no significant rust or dents. There is a paint crack on the fonrt hood, as depicted in the gallery. All trim and badging are present and are in good condition. Both body and brightwork show a light patina, but with no significant finish issues. Doors, engine lid, and front trunk align, open and close properly. Overall a very healthy body. This toy for grown-ups will please both the collector and the city dweller who wants to drive differently in his daily life.
{{ $t('Interior') }}
The interior presents like new, with reupholstered red seats and door panels carefully patterned after the originals. The headliner and correct black rubber mats are in great condition. All painted surfaces appear to be in good condition and the basic instrumentation and controls are reported to work well. The odometer currently reads 80k kilometers but cannot be verified as representative. The interior includes an ashtray, which from 1965 onwards, appeared on the dashboard. A new correct speedometer from the Veglia Borletti brand, reading 0 to 120 km/h.
{{ $t('Engine and Gearbox') }}
It is powered by a 499cc air-cooled 18hp engine, coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission. The air filter is increased with the recirculation of exhaust gases and the axle shafts and clutch are increased vs the previous (D) version, as well as the fuel tank which was increased to 22 liters and took on a new barrel shape, increasing the capacity of the front compartment. The engine and gearbox were completely rebuilt as part of the restoration in 2010.
{{ $t('Maintenance Documentation') }}
No service history available
{{ $t('Additional Costs Documentation') }}
No additional costs are to be foreseen.
{{ $t('Known Issues') }}
The car looks and drives great.
{{ $t('What we should know') }}
The Bianchina Historical Register has promoted a worldwide census to find out how many survived to be scrapped. In total, there should be around 3,000 4-seaters that have not been scrapped, of which only 400 are Special versions. The 1966 movie How to Steal a Million with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole features Hepburn's character driving a red Autobianchi Bianchina cabriolet.[3] Italian comedy character Ugo Fantozzi, created by Paolo Villaggio and protagonist of television monologues, short stories, and films, famously drives a white Bianchina, usually somewhat damaged and with a four-leaf clover 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, the car of Lucy Wilde resembles a Bianchina Trasformabile
