Autobianchi Primula, A111 and A112: books - history

L'Autobianchi A112 de mon père

A subsidiary of Fiat created in 1955, the Autobianchi brand stands out for the refinement of its products. The flagship of the Turin giant, it soon served as its guinea pig, testing the boldest technical solutions, which would be generalized on Fiat models a few years later.
Innovative in many ways, the audacious Primula was in fact the group's first vehicle to adopt front-wheel drive and a transverse engine. The pretty saloon only met with critical success, but it would bequeath its avant-garde architecture to a charming and shocking city car, the graceful A 112, presented in 1969.
Handy, responsive and fast, the little Autobianchi perfectly embodies Italian elegance. But the sporting potential of this brilliant city chip was not forgotten. The sorcerer Carlo Abarth injected it with a sting of scorpion venom and transformed it into a fearsome racing car, a worthy rival to the no less iconic Mini Cooper.
The A 112 Abarth then carved out an impressive track record in competition and forged a true legend for itself. The car would enjoy an exceptionally long career. The French market gave it an excellent reception, helped by the dynamism of its importer, the charismatic André Chardonnet, who would distribute it in his network throughout its marketing, an adventure that would last more than seventeen years...

This reference work informs us about the history and evolution of the famous Autobianchi A112. The technology and variants of the A112 are described in detail. This book is part of the series "La voiture de mon père" and contains numerous period documents, 220 often unpublished photos and the technical characteristics of the different models.

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Dalle auto Bianchi alle Autobianchi

This book details the history of Autobianchi, an Italian car manufacturer founded in 1955 by Bianchi, Pirelli, and Fiat. It provides a clear account of the company's journey, focusing on its innovative small cars like the Bianchina, Primula, and A112.

Sandro Colombo, who worked with Autobianchi, addresses a gap in Italy's motoring history with this book. The text is accompanied by a rich collection of black-and-white images, many previously unpublished, showcasing the cars' designs and evolution. Written in Italian, it highlights key moments, such as the Primula's pioneering front-wheel-drive system and the A112's popularity in racing.

This book is a valuable resource for car enthusiasts and historians interested in Autobianchi's legacy within the Fiat group, which ended in 1995.

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Autobianchi Bianchina

This book covers the history of the Bianchina from its origins to today. The first part is devoted to the birth of the Autobianchi factory and the developments that led to the production of the 110 B model in 1957.
The technical characteristics, differences between the various series, the chassis and engine numbers, the colours and upholstery of all of them (transformable, cabriolet, saloon, panoramic, van and estate car) are described year by year. Illustrative material and original brochures of the period are called on to bring to life the various aesthetic and mechanical details.

The second part is entirely devoted to restoration, spotlighting the various stages of reconditioning with invaluable advice and descriptive photographs of individual details, from the carcass to the finished vehicle. The third part offers collection aspects and customs linked to the model with archive pictures of the principal events, the special versions, accessories, publicity exploitation and the clubs devoted to the car from Desio which still attracts thousands of enthusiasts even today.

Italian text.

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Autobianchi Primula e A 111

Finally following up on a project he had had in mind from the time of the Topolino, in the autumn of 1964 engineer Dante Giacosa was able to launch the first front wheel drive Fiat. In reality it wasn't a Fiat at all but an Autobianchi, the satellite marque based at Desio. As well as for its "all up front", the Primula also stood out due to another courageous and unusual decision: the 3-door body with a hatchback.
Unveiled to a rather cool reception from the marketplace, in part for its not exactly competitive price, the Primula declined into a series of almost infinite bodies: 2, 4 and 5 door and a coupé. In the mechanical area, the old engine was derived from the 1100, but that was replaced by a new power unit from the Fiat 124.

A year later, the car joined the A111 and then replaced it, with the mechanics of the Primula and a much more conventional, three-volume body. It was a saloon more sought after than the Fiat models of the day, but it left the market in the autumn of 1972.
Unpublished colour pictures, detailed technical specifications and a section on restoration tell in this book of the genesis and evolution of these two unique Autobianchis, not expressly conceived and designed as utilities.

Text in Italian.

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Autobianchi: vita e morte di una fabbrica

This illustrated book presents 37 years of history of the Fiat-owned Autobianchi factory in Desio, located in the Brianza region of Italy. Through the voices of workers, witnesses, and original documents, it reconstructs the story of a significant industrial and social experience.

The book is a historical and human testimony, supported by photographs and documents from those directly involved in the life of the factory. It is not only about industrial production but also about the lives, struggles, and dignity of those who worked there.

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