Yes, I’ve still got Ramblers on the brain. That explains why as soon as I saw this madly cute Bianchina at the Cohort, posted by J.C., the original 1950 Rambler Trasformabile Convertible Landau came to mind. Not just because they both have the same basic body style, with a rigid roof side section and a full-length roll-down fabric roof center section. But because they clearly were aimed at the very same demographic: style-oriented women. Just look where this one is parked…
Not surprisingly, the only vintage shot of it I could find features a..stylish woman feeding a sheep. Aw, it’s so cute! And you know she hasn’t spent any time on a farm; she’s got a beautiful white leather glove on the hand that might come in contact with the sheep’s spitty mouth.
And you wonder why it reminds me of this? I didn’t have to see the Bianchina to make me think just how European these early Ramblers look. A Fiat 1400 Trasformabile?
Yes, like this one. It just needs the front wheels covered, and the fixed roof sides. Ciao! Bella macchina!
Here’s another one, showing the roof opened. Just in case you didn’t know, these were Fiat 500s under their fine Italian designer clothes.
Kind of Karman Ghia ish from the rear. I like it!
I just showed my 23 year old daughter this and her eyes lit up. Of course she drives a 2019 Fiat 500c 1957 edition that has the roll down convertible top so this is right in her wheelhouse.
The new 500 and car as fashion accessory was exactly the first thing that sprang to my mind. The Fiat had a remarkable selection of both interior and exterior colors to suit anyone’s individual tastes.
Unfortunately, fashions change so rapidly I can’t imagine a car manufacturer being able to keep up with current trends with new models.
It’s a shame, though, that Fiat wasn’t able to make a go of it in the states as the Bianchina Trasformable could have been a direction to be taken.
I just realized that this is what the Nissan Figaro is trying to be.
Bingo.
Actually the closest thing it resembles is the Gutbrod Superior. But there’s elements of this in it too.
Wild. I’ve never heard of the Gutbrod Superior, and wow if you aren’t correct in that assessment.
I believe It os “Trasformabile”.
I believe you’re right! Fixed now.
The blue car looks to be parked in Carmel?
I can just picture Sofia Loren driving one in one of those great black and white Italian comedies they made from the late`50s to the mid `60s.
Audrey Hepburn drove a full convertible Autobianchi Eden Roc in ‘How to Steal a Million’.
Found this pic of my dad. Not sure of the story behind it because as far as I know he never owned one and had been driving a DeSoto which was replaced by an MG TD or TF around this time.