Autobianchi Stellina Explained

Autobianchi Stellina
Manufacturer:Autobianchi
Production:1964 - 1965
Successor:Fiat 850 Spider
Class:Spider
Body Style:2-door cabrio
Layout:RR layout
Engine:767 cc I4 OHV[1]
Transmission:4-speed manual
Wheelbase:20001NaN1
Length:36701NaN1
Width:14301NaN1
Weight:6600NaN0
Related:Fiat 600D
Designer:Luigi Rapi

The Autobianchi Stellina is a small spider from the Italian automaker, Autobianchi (partly owned by the Fiat group at the time), built for only two years, 1964 and 1965. It was based on the mechanicals of the chassis Fiat 600D, but had a unique unibody structure, with the outside panels made of fibreglass reinforced plastics, based on a steel frame.[2] It was the first Italian car with a fibreglass body,[3] and one of the first in the world. Powered by Fiat 600D's rear-mounted, water-cooled 767 cc straight-4 engine, delivering 290NaN0, the Stellina had drum brakes on all four wheels.[3]

With sleek styling penned by Luigi Rapi, the Stellina was first presented as a prototype at the 1963 Turin Motor Show,[4] and went on sale a year later with a price tag of almost a million lira. Only 502 Stellinas were made until production ceased in 1965,[3] [5] when Fiat launched a, slightly larger, similar Fiat 850 Spider.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: T Technical data 1963 Autobianchi Stellina . The Global Car Locator . 2006-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050310231046/http://www.globalcar.com/datasheet/Autobianchi/1963AutobianchiStellina.htm . 2005-03-10 . dead .
  2. Web site: The 60's . History of Automobile Body and Chassis - Car Body Design . 2006-08-04.
  3. Web site: Storia . Registro Autobianchi . 2006-08-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20060824170200/http://www.autobianchi.org/ita2/storia.asp. 24 August 2006 . live. it.
  4. Web site: The Autobianchi information site . The Etceterini pages @ CarsFromItaly.com . 2006-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050209015255/http://www.carsfromitaly.com/others/index.html . 2005-02-09. (accessed via the Wayback Machine)
  5. Web site: quando le Fiat innovative erano AUTOBIANCHI . Omniauto.it . 2006-08-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20060820052808/http://www.omniauto.it/a688.html. 20 August 2006 . live. it.