Autobianchi A111 Classic Cars for Sale

Italian manufacturer and small car specialist Autobianchi released the Autobianchi A111 4-door saloon car in 1969. The Autobianchi A111 was the only entry of the brand into the small family car class. Autobianchi was founded in 1955 as a subsidiary of Fiat group and survived until 1989 when it was rebranded as Lancia.

Development of the Autobianchi A111

Managing director of Autobianchi, Enrico Ghiretti, wished for a new three-box saloon after completion of the Autobianchi Primula, originally available as a 2-box fastback and Fiat's first release of a transverse engine, front-wheel drive layout. When the Fiat management authorised the project in the late 1960's; the Fiat style centre was already overworked. This led to a decision to use a previous design for "project X1/1" which later became the dismissed Fiat 123. The principal features of the adopted design were rectangular headlamp lenses on the front-end and the 1.4-litre drivetrain of the Autobianchi Primula Coupé S of 1968. The design was approved for production by Ghiretti and dubbed the Autobianchi A111. This unibody front-wheel drive car seated up to five persons with individual sliding and reclining front seats. The upmarket family car also featured genuine wood fascia on the dashboard and the choice of cloth; cloth-and-leatherette or full leatherette upholstery. The Autobianchi A111 had the appearance of a Fiat 124 or 128, making it bigger than any other Autobianchi, while retaining the mechanical attributes of the Primula.

Launch of the Autobianchi A111

The Autobianchi A111 was released in 1969 with an advertised top speed of 96 mph (155 km/h). Deliveries began in May 1969. An update on the Autobianchi A111 was launched at the 52nd Turin Motor Show in October 1970. The most distinctive alterations to the original design were the double-stacked tail lamps and the addition of rubbing strips to the bumpers, which reduced the length of the vehicle to under 4 metres, as the over-riders were discarded. The Autobianchi A111 Series 2 also featured a partly redesigned interior, including a new centre console and shorter gear shifter, along with new model badging on the tail.

End of the Autobianchi A111

The Autobianchis became redundant due to the increasing amount of front-wheel drive cars produced by Fiat. A total of 56,984 Autobianchi A111 cars were sold. The A111 Series 2 was the last saloon car to carry the Autobianchi badge. The only cars produced after the A111 by Autobianchi were the supermini models A112 and its successor the Y10 - known as Lancia Y10 in most export markets.