Any American may simply be excused for not understanding what at present’s Good Worth or No Cube Autobianchi is, because the automobiles had been by no means formally supplied within the U.S. That oversight has been addressed by this Canadian import, and we’ll must see simply what additional welcome its worth engenders.
One of many first issues taught in Economics 101 is the idea of provide and demand and the valuation curve connecting the 2. Costs pattern increased when demand outstrips provide. Daimler-Benz’s disinterest in offering the U.S. market with its Geländewagen within the Nineties resulted in a provide/demand imbalance, a scenario relieved by different corporations like Europa Worldwide, which imported and federalized the 2000 Mercedes G500 we checked out yesterday. That proved successful then, however its $32,000 price ticket proved much less so at present. At that worth, you all voted the large field SUV down in a considerable 79 p.c No Cube loss.
Yesterday’s Mercedes is a kind of automotive that standing seekers gravitate to, whereas most people a minimum of acknowledges it as an icon of feat. At present’s 1983 Autobianchi A112 Junior, alternatively, will possible solely be appreciated by a smaller and extra choose group of fans.
First off, nevertheless, simply what the heck is it?
Autobianchi (which I prefer to pronounce “Ah-to-be-on-key”) was based in 1955 by a consortium of Fiat, Pirelli, and the world’s oldest bicycle maker, Bianchi. The model constructed small automobiles completely, at all times primarily based on Fiat mechanicals, however sometimes priced above its progenitor’s merchandise. Probably the most well-known of Autobianchi’s automobiles was the A112, constructed between 1969 and 1986, however the firm’s earlier Primula is not only its most necessary automotive, but additionally probably the most impactful in all of automotive historical past.
Launched in 1964, the Primula was a check mattress for the then-new drivetrain format of a transverse engine with an end-on gearbox and un-equal size halfshafts driving the entrance wheels. That is the usual for many producers at present, however that may not be the case had it not been for the Primula. The modest success of the Primula led Fiat to engineer the 128 compact across the identical drivetrain design, bringing it to the mass market. The Autobianchi A112 makes use of a truncated model of the 128’s platform and, naturally, the identical transverse engine placement. Its supermini chassis would additionally function the idea for Fiat’s 127.
The Autobianchi had a leg up over the 127, although, because it featured superbly proportioned styling from Marcello Gandini whereas he was at Bertone whereas the 127 had serviceable however much less iconic traces penned by Fiat designers.
Over the course of its life, Autobianchi churned out over 1.2 million A112s throughout a number of collection and fashions. Fiat finally changed it with the Y10, which was bought as each an Autobianchi and a Lancia. That will show to be the final Autobianchi, as Fiat phased out the marque in 1995.
This A112 Junior is a sixth-generation automotive, however it has had a number of additions and deletions, making it a little bit of a sizzling hatch mutt. The unique 965 cc OHV 4 has been changed by a bigger 1050 cc 70-horsepower unit, fed by a single down-draught two-barrel. That has been paired with the fascinating five-speed stick. Anti-sway bars and an engine bay strut bar have been added, as has a set of Minilite alloys with Abarth scorpion heart caps. Lacking is the entrance bumper, and whereas this will have the Abarth’s engine displacement, it’s nonetheless badged as a lowly Junior.
We don’t get to see the inside within the advert. Nevertheless, there’s a prolonged (16:12) YouTube assessment of this very automotive from about three years in the past that not solely reveals off the inside however provides the cash shot of the automotive driving, making up for the advert’s limitations.
Going again to the advert, although, the vendor claims to have imported the automotive from Canada in 2020 and closes their gross sales spiel, saying:
Be the hit at your newest automobiles and low or drive round city and have the time of your life. I guarentee you may be one of many solely folks with one in every of these domestically.
The asking worth is $6,500, and the automotive comes with a clear title and Massachusetts plates.
What’s your tackle this little sizzling hatch and that $6,500 worth. Does that really feel like a deal to be the one one, not simply in your block however possible in your entire metropolis, to have an Autobianchi? Or is it simply too small and modded to ask that a lot?
You resolve!
Fb Market out of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Jana Watson for the hookup!
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