(first posted 10/29/2015) Where did the time go? It’s been two months since we got back from our European vacation, and I still haven’t written up all the cars I shot, especially Rosemma’s Autobianchi A112. I’ve long wanted to find and write up what is one of the most charming small cars that followed the original Mini; in fact, it really is very authentic successor to that iconic little car. And when I heard that Rosemma, the caretaker/relative of my sister in-law husband’s family house in the Piedmont, owns and drives one, I asked her to bring it around so that I could see it and share it with you all. She was most happy to oblige.
Rosemma lives in a house attached to the other side of the one we stayed in, in this typical family compound. She’s 82, but looks and has the energy of someone ten years younger. And every night at eight, she served us a multi-course dinner accompanied by local wine, and of course, lively conversation.
I didn’t get all of the details, but this is Rosemma’s third A112, bought used in 1996. And it’s probably here final one, as they’re not exactly easy to come by anymore.
The A112 debuted in 1969, using a shortened Fiat 128 platform. In turn, the A112’s platform then went on to underpin the Fiat 127. It has a wheelbase all of 80.2″ (2038 mm), coincidentially exactly the same as the Ur-Mini, and an overall length of 127.2″, or about six inches longer. But thanks to its more upright stance, it looks and feels more substantial than the Mini, and its interior room reflects that too.
The A112 used the OHV four as used in the Fiat 850 family, originally with 903 cc, and later with 965, 982 and 1050 cc versions. The A112 also got an analogue to the Mini’s Cooper S version, in the form of the A112 Abarth. It arrived in 1971, with a high-output version of the 982 cc engine, with twin carbs, headers and all the other requisite goodies to make 58 hp. Starting in 1975, engine size was increased to 1050 cc, and power was upped to 70 hp. Weighing only 1540 lbs (700kg), it was a veritable pocket rocket.
Rosemma’s baby is a sixth series version, which means it has the 965 cc four. The A112’s predecessor, the Primula, pioneered the transmission in-line with the engine FWD configuration that soon become ubiquitous, and is essentially universal today for transverse engine FWD cars.
The dash, along with other details, were modified of the A112’s long production run, which ran close to twenty years.
I didn’t get a chance to check out rear seat room, but I’m guessing it’s a bit on the cozy side.
Its shape and design was very advanced for 1969, which kept it from looking obsolete for a long time. It developed a loyal following, as Rosemma’s loyalty shows. It makes a perfect city car for the crowded narrow streets.
The big plastic bumpers don’t do much for the looks, but are perfect for parking, which is often done by the bump and feel method.
Nephew Aidan, who loves vintage cars and is a lover of anything from the 80s, was right at home in the A112. He’s like to take it back home with him.
I Thanked Rosemma for sharing her beloved bambino with us all, and watched her drive back around to her house, where it sits in a snug little garage. Ciao!
I really like these, but my first car was a Fiat 127 so that probably has something to do with it. I miss my little 127.
Having learned to drive in an early 127, I know *exactly* what you mean by missing it.
Rosemma is totally styling. These cars are so evocative for me; they were all over Rome when Dad took us on vacations in the 70s and early 80s. Just like the smell of diesel, you have taken me back to a time and a place, Paul.
I saw my first for many years in Montauban in France last year, and keep meaning to do a CC outtake. No need to now though.
Great car, great story, sounds like a great lady
Cute lil car 127s are familiar but not these, though I see the resemblance nice, What other exotic treats are in store for us I wonder.
This brings back memories of Israel in the 70s – 90s – these (and the competition offered by Innocenti) were very popular back then (far more than the Mini which did not like Israeli summers very much), they were practically everywhere.
What a fun little car. I hope the car and its owner have many more good years together.
I always hoped to get one of these when we rented cars in our travels in the 80s. Always ended up with a Fiat Uno instead. Don’t know if they even made it to the rental market, and probably weren’t in our price point. It’s so sad that European gasoline pricing policy (in favor of diesel) seems to have driven most interesting older gas cars (like these Autobianchis) off the roads!
As much as I hate to rain on the anti-diesel parade, in much of Europe it’s got nothing to do with the price of fuel (diesel and petrol are roughly on a par here in Scotland) and everything to do with annual roadworthiness tests (as a requirement to keeping the vehicle on the road).
My first car fell foul of just that in 2001 – some relatively minor welding work required to keep the rear suspension “in spec” was going to cost more than the (minute) resale value of a then 12yr old FIAT Panda, so we parted ways.
Also for the record lots of interesting 80s cars were available as diesels.
Cute as a bug .
Too bad you didn’t get to give it a little road test , that’d be nice .
-Nate
Wasn’t the Fiat 127 the basis for the Yugo? This car certainly shares some similar characteristics (particularly the interior).
Some Autobianchi Abarth A112s had headlight wipers mounted in the center of the headlights. This is the only car that I know of that has this kind of headlight wiper setup. I’ve always wanted to see the headlight wiper mechanism up close to see how it worked.
This system was also used on other Fiats sold in Scandinavia, where such wipers were necessary, maybe even obligatory.
Headlight wipers was introduced by Bosch in the late 60’s, and introduced on Saab and Volvo in the arly 70’s. From 1974 and until the 90’s somewhere, they were made mandatory on the Swedish market. Which meant the car makers had to get inventive in retrofitting them to their line-ups. Especially the Italians were keen on putting them right smack in the middle of the headlight, perhaps it was some sort of Italian invention? I mostly remember all the quad headlight Alfa Romeos equipped as such. Interesting little tidbit, totally forgotten from history today.
I can’t tell you how much they ruin the look of my DS. I just wanna tear them off. And yeah, my car is a 1975, one of the last of the 700 or so made that year. (The pic isn’t my car, but you get the picture.)
I never knew that Alfa Romeo also used this type of headlight wiper setup. After searching further on the Internet about these headlights, it looks like the wiper motor is mounted inside the headlight assembly, as there is a white electrical wire going into the headlight reflector housing. It must be mesmerizing to see all four headlight wipers rotating simultaneously on the Alfa.
My mark 2 cavalier CDXwith headlight wipers. Bring them back I say
I had headlight wipers on my Fiat Tipo 1.4 dgt and mark 2 Cavalier cdx. I thought they was a great extra to the vehicle specially on them snowy winter days. Like you said they was very popular in the 70s 80s and 90s and now nearly nonexistent. my car off today is a Peugeot 308 GT it doesn’t have headwipers but it does have headlight washers which my opinion are quite useless and don’t even really keep the headlight clean. I say bring back the headlight wipers lol
Got to say – the pressure jet washers on my SEAT Leon are no match for the proper wiper blades on my much missed SAAB 900. Why can’t we have wipers and not just washers?
Hi I have also searched the internet to see these wipers in Action cannot find anything did you manage to find a video or any other a112 Abarth with with headlight wipers on I used to have Fiat Tipo TDS SX many years ago that had headlight wipers on they really fascinated me at the time lol I also had Fiat tempra station wagon tds sx with high-powered washer jets on the headlines then I moved on to Vauxhall where I bought a Vauxhall Cavalier td CD which also had headlight wipers my car that I own as of to day is a Peugeot 308 hdi allure but has high power washer jets on wall lights sending you a little picture of my Tipo with the wipers
Regards liam
The French toymaker Majorette made an excellent 1/55 scale die cast version of this Autobianchi with an opening rear hatch. This is how I got to know about the A112.
When I was stationed in Sicily in the early 70s a group of us took a trip by bus to see the Targa Floria. Until we got near the track, most of the cars we saw were small Fiats. 500s and 600s were still plentiful then, while 127s and 128s were owned/driven (apparently? ) by folks with very steady employment. Then, near the track we say quite a few of these 112s, the majority “done up” like the red car in the write up.
I had no idea these had such a long production run. Every now and then you see one on E-bay for what seems like a pile of money.
Never got to drive an A112, but did rent a 127 a few times.
I got to drive an A112 in Israel for several days in 1979. What a fun revvy ride! I drove it down into the Sinai along the gulf of Eilat/Aqaba. Great scenery, little traffic and a most enjoyable auto.
Friends of mine in Milan had an A112 in the 1980s. I borrowed it one day – they told me that it wasn’t comfortable between about 100-120 km/h (60-75 mph), but it smoothed right out over 130 km/h (80 mph). They were right 🙂
Great little cars, had two of the somewhere in the 80’s, fun to drive, and much better then people think. Only the rust……killed both of them.
My daily right now is a Fiat Cinquecento Sporting, guess I still like older Italian mini cars…..
I had one.
For years as a kid, which shows how good they were.
Once on accelerating from a traffic light a friend was driving next to me in his non-political correct Chevrolet Camaro staight six, a 76′.
I pressed the Bianchi’s accelarator and much to my and his surprise we were head to head, me in a tiny box he in his American.
A right/left hander followed by creeping unto a small underpass, I let him go – fortunately- he needed all his skills and the width of the road to keep the Camaro on the road !
I loved my Autobianchi, which I Abarthised with scrapyard parts, thing is the 903 cc engine was from the FIAT 850 Coupé engine but not with the twin-stage big carburettor so I got one of those and some other stuff from an 850 Spyder and it came close to the 70HP Abarth.
By the way, this, this in Abarth version was actually the REAL first hot-hatch ever !
In Clarkson’s car years episode ‘the new romantics’ he unrightfully mentions it was the Vauxhall and the Lotus Sunbeam, NOPE
‘t was this little cute car that was later branded as the Lancia A112
Nifty little cars. I was hoping to see one when I traveled to Italy in ’01 but no such luck–the only oldies I saw were original Fiat 500’s. The only reason I knew of their existence was a British series of car books I acquired a few volumes of as a kid called “The World of Automobiles”. Published in the 70’s and somehow appeared in the bargain bin a bookshop in Greensboro, NC in the mid 80’s. Sadly I only have four of the 20+ volumes. Some of the writeups were vignettes of cars in current production at the time, and the A112 was the subject of one.
I always liked the slight extension in the tail formed by that angled panel above the lamps/plate. Gives it a different profile than most two-box hatches.
Very neat looking car and thanks for the write up. Why does the rear license plate say VC398345, but the front reads 398345VC? Also, were those oval stickers with country designations not a requirement if you did not drive that car out of the country?
Italian old style plates had the province letters on the left on the rear plate and opposite in the front. VC stands for Vercelli (in Piemonte, north-west Italy).
Back then the oval international sticker was kind-of required to cross european borders, at least before Schengen treaty.
Ahhh, thank you.
I extensively drove a friend’s Abarth, back in my golden years, soon after getting my licence. I guarantee you its 74-some bhps, the light weight and the short wheelbase made it pretty wild.
As well kept as the outside of this car is, I wouldn’t be surprised if the seats are still in great condition under the covers.
Those little cars are still pretty common in Europe, especially in Italy of course. And they all seem daily drivers.