1965 Autobianchi Bianchina: Air Cooled Cab
When I first saw this Autobianchi Bianchina here on Florida’s craigslist, I knew something seemed familiar: the background in the photos, the car’s location in Arcadia, and of course, the size. Turns out, not too long ago we featured a 1985 Cursor Microcar that was also a barn find, and given both this tiny Autobianchi and Cursor came from Alabama and reside in the same town in Florida, I wondered if they originally shared the same barn! With a clean interior, nice paint and original bits like the tool kit and emergency warning triangle still resting in the boot, it would seem years of storage weren’t too unkind to this Fiat 500-based creation, but the seller’s vague reference to some maintenance needed will require a few follow-up questions. The price of entry is hefty, however – $26,000! Is it worth it?
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Comments
Need to undo the seller’s upgrades: wheels, steering wheel, upholstery and possibly, radio…
Absolutely! “Upgrades” are a net negative.
Audry Hepburn drives a red one in the 1966 movie “To Steal A Million” co-starring Peter O’toole.
Really stretching for them to put Eden Rock in the name. There were only two built and the last one did sell for $660,000. No doubt they want to try to bask in that celestial light but where is the relevance? They are both Fiats?
This car is n need of mechanical sorting as well as so far from OEM that the price is too high.
Eden Roc Cabriolet is the correct name or sobriquet, if you prefer.
The Eden Roc that you reference was one of two Pinin Farina custom “beach cars” constructed for well known wealthy clients. They were based on the Fiat 600 Multipla mechanicals and floor pan with no relationship to the Autobianchi Eden Roc cars beyond Fiat base (2 cyl Fiat 500) and rear engine – and of course the name. A bit like Ferrari Monza (Classic ’50s sports racing car) and Chevy Monza (a..well..easily forgotten people carrier) – now that’s astronomical stretch!
Bonhams sale of Autobianchi Bianchina Eden Roc Cabrilot in 2010:
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/18297/lot/163/
Here’s the story on the Pinin Farina Eden Roc built for Fiat’s Gianni Agnelli and the second one commissioned by an American oil man which sold for $660k at Gooding and Company auction:
http://www.classiccarweekly.net/2015/08/13/fiat-eden-roc/