Friend has one is Grassroots Condition. Pulled from salvage yard for $300. Needs much work, but wife really likes the way it looks (she drives a smart fortwo).
I would like to get it, hide it from her, and restore it over the next year to give to her for her birthday/anniversary/special occasion.
Good idea?
Needs windshield ($500), some rear quarter repair, as well as interior and surface rust issues. Uses Fiat 500 and 600 parts.
Note title should read Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile
Whoa, would have to see pix of the one you found..but if the thing's solid enough, aren't Fiat 500/600 the Italian VW Beetle? Should be tons of parts out there, even if you have to make UPS/FedEx your new friend.
Is there an "I'm an enabler" thing on the GRM Memes thread yet? 
vwcorvette wrote: Note title should read Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile
thank you for beating me to that.
They are cool little cars.. the mechanical parts are easy. But how much is shared between the original Fiat and the Autobianchi?
Transformabile, so what does it transform into???
I assume it's as tiny as it looks? You must buy it for her!
My old boss has one. They use the same underpinnings as the 500, so mechanically, it should be pretty easy to get parts for. Body wise however, is much harder to acquire.
Parts available here at Mr Fiat.
The transformabile part is the canvas roof.
2 cylinder air cooled Fiat motor.
Oh I like your plan too btw. 
She would finally have to learn stick!
That is super cool. I would love to have that.
Bodywork -- and especially chrome -- is tough to find. But as mentioned, mechanically they're 500s, so parts aren't terrible to find.
Would love to do the same thing -- I've been looking for a good/cheap 500 for years.
Good luck -- and pics/build thread!
Matt
Do it.
Fiat 126 motors are popular imports for the 500 crowd and the 40% horsepower increase plus synchro gearbox goes a long way to making them more usable. Still don't expect it to hit the freeway. 55 is pretty much the upper limit for these.
Mechanically they are as complicated as a stone. Incredibly simple and almost robust because of it. Semi trailing arm rear suspension and a transverse leaf up front. No surprises anywhere. The small nature of everything makes it fun to tear them apart. Removing the engine is done without even a jack under it. Just brace it against the tranny with your knee. Undo the bolts and tug it out with your hands.
Don't expect any "features" A low fuel light would be a luxury item.
Get it! So awesome. Just think of it as a four passenger moped, not a car.
In reply to ditchdigger:
4-Passenger is kind of being optimistic don't you think?
well.. european passengers are smaller than american.. probably because they are metric
That is possibly one of the best vehicle names ever. Love it.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to ditchdigger: 4-Passenger is kind of being optimistic don't you think?
Bah! Totally doable 
Everytime I think of these cars the one from the movie "Hudson Hawk" pops into my head.
friedgreencorrado wrote: Whoa, would have to see pix of the one you found..but if the thing's solid enough, aren't Fiat 500/600 the Italian VW Beetle? Should be tons of parts out there, even if you have to make UPS/FedEx your new friend. Is there an "I'm an enabler" thing on the GRM Memes thread yet?
there is now
Talked to the wife again and when she asked, "why would I need another car?" I said, "cause you would have a fun open top car for the summer!" She said, "really, you think so? I do like it. Can we do this?"
Going to look at it again with a better eye and the assistance of a body man.
Had a friend who's done a few restorations from a 59 Formula Junior to currently a 68 Camaro Convertible. He says let it go. Too much rust in structural areas. This is why you have friends with more skill and knowledge! Too bad it would have been perfect for her. 
Tube frame!
vwcorvette wrote: Had a friend who's done a few restorations from a 59 Formula Junior to currently a 68 Camaro Convertible. He says let it go. Too much rust in structural areas. This is why you have friends with more skill and knowledge! Too bad it would have been perfect for her.
TBH there is a good chance that "too much rust in structural areas" applies to all unrestored ones. How's your welding?
In reply to vwcorvette:
Any chance you'd pass along the info? I have a friend who's been checking out the Subaru microcar that was posted in the $2012 classifieds, but the seller is being a bit flakey. He might go nuts for this.
There are a few of those Autobianchis that are perpetually for sale around the dfw. Only one has the top and all of them are missing significant amounts of chrome.
There is a guy around here that has a Subaru 360 frame and tired drivetrain too.
Todd found one of those in the local junk yard a few years ago, I was a FOOL not to buy it back then, been after one ever since.
You HAVE to buy it, even if you just pick it up and hold it for me 'till I get there and grab it from you.
Seriously cool little cars ! ! ! ! ! !
T
You'll need to log in to post.
