1918 Bianchi Tipo 12 Roadster

1918 Bianchi Tipo 12 Roadster

Originally a bicycle manufacturer and arguably best known as a maker of fine racing motorcycles, Edoardo Bianchi built his first automobile around 1900. Like many of his contemporaries, Bianchi used the ubiquitous De Dion-Bouton engine for his early efforts. By 1907 sales had grown sufficiently to justify the building of a factory dedicated to car production, and by 1910 Bianchi lay second in the Italian motor industry's manufacturing league table, albeit some distance behind FIAT. Antonio Santoni became Bianchi's chief designer in 1909, replacing Antonio Merosi who had been responsible for its early cars. Shaft drive gradually became the norm, commencing with the smaller models. Bianchi began to sell its products abroad, including in the UK, but the home market remained its most important and throughout the 1920s the firm was usually Italy's third-largest producer behind FIAT and Lancia. A wide variety of models was manufactured over the next 20 years, though by 1940 Bianchi was concentrating on motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Car manufacture resumed in 1957 when Bianchi joined partners FIAT and Pirelli to form Autobianchi.

The car offered here is an example of Bianchi's Tipo 12, the model that the company concentrated on when civilian production recommenced at the end of WWI. Its 1.7-litre four-cylinder fixed-head sidevalve engine produced around 25bhp, which was good enough to propel the relatively light Tipo 12 to a top speed of circa 75km/h (approximately 47mph). Right-hand drive, like many Italian cars of the period, the Bianchi boasts racing style open two-seater coachwork and is finished in blue with black leather upholstery. This rare and attractive car has formed part of an exclusive Italian private collection for the last 10 years and is described by the vendor as in good working order, having benefited from a recent service by the collection's in-house mechanics. It is offered with a dating certificate/data sheet issued by the 'Registro FIAT Italiano'. It should be noted that the latter describes the car as a Tipo 18; however, other authorities maintain that the Tipo 18, which had an engine with a detachable cylinder head, was not introduced until 1923.

Descriptions & pictures by bonhams & coys & historics.co.uk