Any American could easily be forgiven for not knowing that today Good price or nothing The Autobianchi is a car that has never been officially offered in the United States. That oversight has been addressed by this Canadian import, and we’ll have to wait and see what its price tag will bring to make it even more welcome.
One of the first things taught in Economics 101 is the concept of supply and demand and the pricing curve that connects the two. Prices tend to rise when demand exceeds supply. Daimler-Benz’s lack of interest in supplying the Geländewagen to the US market in the 1990s led to a supply/demand imbalance that was remedied by other companies such as Europa International, which imported and federalized the Geländewagen. Mercedes G500 2000 we reviewed yesterday. It was a hit at the time, but its $32,000 price tag proves to be less so today. At that price, you all voted for the big-box SUV at a significant 79 percent loss from No Dice.
Yesterday’s Mercedes was the car that status seekers gravitated towards, while the general public at least acknowledged it as a symbol of achievement. 1983 Autobianchi A112 JuniorOn the other hand, it is probably only appreciated by a small and more select group of enthusiasts.
But first, what the hell is it?
Autobianchi (which I like to pronounce “Ah-to-be-on-key”) was founded in 1955 by a consortium that included Fiat, Pirelli, and the world’s oldest bicycle manufacturer, Bianchi. The brand produced only small cars, always based on Fiat engineering, but often priced higher than its predecessors. Autobianchi’s most famous car was the A112, which was produced from 1969 to 1986, but the company’s earlier Primula was not only its most important, but also one of the most influential cars in all of automotive history.
Introduced in 1964, the Primula was a testbed for the then-new drivetrain format of a transverse engine with final gearing and unequal-length halfshafts driving the front wheels. This is the norm for most manufacturers today, but it might not have been the case without the Primula. The Primula’s modest success led Fiat to design the 128 compact car around the same drivetrain design, bringing it to the mass market. The Autobianchi A112 used a truncated version of the 128 platform, and of course the same transverse engine placement. Its micro-chassis would also form the basis for Fiat’s 127.
However, the Autobianchi has the edge over the 127 because it has beautifully proportioned styling designed by Marcello Gandini while he was at Bertone, while the 127 has useful but less iconic lines designed by Fiat designers.
Over its lifetime, Autobianchi produced over 1.2 million A112s across a variety of makes and models. Fiat eventually replaced it with the Y10, which was sold as both an Autobianchi and a Lancia. That would be the last Autobianchi, as Fiat discontinued the marque in 1995.
This A112 Junior is the sixth generation car, but it has had a lot of additions and deletions that make it a hot hatch hybrid. The original 965cc OHV four-cylinder engine has been replaced by a larger 70hp 1050cc unit, powered by a downdraft single twin-cylinder. This engine is mated to the desired five-speed manual. Anti-sway bars and engine bay braces have been added, as well as a set of Minilite alloys with Abarth scorpion centre caps. Missing is the front bumper, and although this engine may have the Abarth’s displacement, it is still branded as a run-of-the-mill Junior.
We don’t get to see the interior in the ad. However, there is a long scene (16:12) YouTube Review of this very car from about three years ago not only shows off the interior but also provides a valuable image of the car driving, making up for the ad’s limitations.
Back to the ad, the seller claims to have imported the car from Canada in 2020 and ends his sales pitch as follows:
Be the center of attention for the latest cars and coffee or drive around town and have the time of your life. I guarantee you will be one of the few people in your area who owns one of these.
The asking price is $6,500 and the car has valid title and Massachusetts plates.
What do you think of this little car and its $6,500 price tag? Do you feel like it’s a deal to be the only person, not just in your neighborhood but possibly in your entire city, who owns an Autobianchi? Or is it too small and too innovative to ask for that much?
You decide!
Facebook Market out of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, or go This if the ad disappears.
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