Autobianchi: The Story Of The Most Important Italian Automaker You’ve Never Heard Of

Unless you’re an Italian over the age of 40, you’re unlikely to have ever heard about the Autobianchi brand. Although it may be easy to dismiss it as a footnote, the Milanese firm’s role in automobile history is actually far from inconsequential… And here’s why.

The Y10 from 1985 (picture from media.stellantis.com)

From Bianchi to Autobianchi

Few people know that the Italian brand Bianchi, mainly associated with high-end racing bicycles, also built automobiles, and began doing so as early as 1900.

By the late 1930s, Bianchi had established itself as a purveyor of classy mid-sized cars and sturdy diesel trucks that competed more-or-less directly with Lancia’s products on the Italian market.

However, the end of WWII left Bianchi as nothing more than a smoldering heap of ruins, much like the rest of Italy’s industrial fabric.

While production of bicycles and trucks resumed quickly to cater to the demands of post-war reconstruction, Bianchi’s attempts to re-enter the automobile market never went beyond a few prototypes, and a deal was struck in January of 1955 with…