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 29 hp (22 kW), the Stellina had drum brakes on all four wheels.[3]
| Autobianchi Stellina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Autobianchi |
| Production | 1964–1965 |
| Designer | Luigi Rapi |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Spider |
| Body style | 2-door cabrio |
| Layout | RR layout |
| Related | Fiat 600D |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 767 cc I4 OHV[1] |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual[1] |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,000 mm (78.7 in) [1] |
| Length | 3,670 mm (144.5 in)[1] |
| Width | 1,430 mm (56.3 in) [1] |
| Curb weight | 660 kg (1,455 lb)[1] |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Fiat 850 Spider |
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.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "T Technical data 1963 Autobianchi Stellina". The Global Car Locator. Archived from the original on 2005-03-10. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
- ^ "The 60's". History of Automobile Body and Chassis - Car Body Design. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
- ^ a b c "Storia". Registro Autobianchi (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
- ^ "The Autobianchi information site". The Etceterini pages @ CarsFromItaly.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2006-08-04. (accessed via the Wayback Machine)
- ^ "quando le Fiat innovative erano AUTOBIANCHI". Omniauto.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-04.