Description

The Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile was a stylish and charming microcar produced between 1957 and 1960. Based on the Fiat 500 platform, it featured a unique semi-convertible body style with fixed roof rails and a folding fabric top, giving it a cheerful, open-air feel while maintaining a bit of structural rigidity.

Powered by a rear-mounted, air-cooled two-cylinder engine—initially 479 cc, producing just 15 horsepower—the Bianchina Transformabile wasn’t built for speed, but its lightweight construction and compact size made it nimble and ideal for crowded European city streets. Later versions saw engine upgrades and slight styling changes, but the core formula remained the same: fun, affordable, and incredibly stylish.

The Transformabile stood out from the more utilitarian Fiat 500 thanks to its upscale details like two-tone paint, chrome accents, and a more refined interior. It was marketed as a fashionable city car, appealing especially to style-conscious buyers who wanted something a little more elegant than a basic economy vehicle.

Today, the Bianchina Transformabile is a beloved classic in the microcar world, celebrated for its retro charm and quirky good looks. It’s often remembered from appearances in Italian films and cartoons, notably as the car driven by Mr. Bean’s comically persistent rival.