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Posted

A car most of you have never heard of or seen. Bianchi started in the late 1800s building bicycles, but in the early 20th century they branched out into building cars, too. Bianchi automobiles are long since gone by the wayside, but Bianchi bicycles–their original product–are still being manufactured to this day... in fact Bianchi is the world's oldest continuously operating bicycle manufacturer.

This model represents what I think must have been a one-off custom bodied car, Internet info and photos are basically non-existent; all I could find after a really thorough search was one old black and white side view photo.

The car was probably ordered by some rich Italian count or nobleman to get him and the Mrs. to La Scala in style. Notice that while the two passengers rode in a fully-enclosed, double-sprung coach (rear axle springs and the four curved springs the coach was suspended from), the lowly driver had no protection from the elements at all... no roof, no doors, not even a windshield to keep the bugs out of his teeth!  :lol:

As usual, too much to mention here as far as what I changed, scratchbuilt, etc... but for those of you who want to see the WIP, you can go here.

bianchifinished3_zps8u60cfnl.jpg

bianchifinished4_zpske23hc1i.jpg

bianchifinished5_zpsnsl24dh6.jpg

Posted

I'm waiting for a scale trunk I ordered from ebay, but aside from that one missing item, the model is complete. BTW, since I found no references online, I built it curbside (no engine detail).

Comments, critiques, criticisms, even wisecracks cheerfully accepted! :D

Posted

Let me be the first to congratulate you on another amazing model of a classic. Incredible detail. My wife has ridden a Bianchi bicycle for years.

Posted

That's one pretty unique buggy Harry!

Can't help but equate the enclosed coach to the old "stagecoach" look.

But then again, 1906 wouldn't have been too long after the stagecoach.

I'm guessing there wouldn't have been too many bugs in the drivers teeth.

The bugs could probably fly faster than the car could go! :D

 

Steve

Posted

Beautiful as always Harry. Thanks for taking the time to show us how you put these masterpieces together.

Posted

Of all the models I've seen of this car, from this 1/16 kit to the 1/32, and including the diecasts, this is the only one that doesn't look like a toy to me. Quite an achievement.

Posted (edited)
  On 12/12/2015 at 8:01 AM, StevenGuthmiller said:

That's one pretty unique buggy Harry!

Can't help but equate the enclosed coach to the old "stagecoach" look.

But then again, 1906 wouldn't have been too long after the stagecoach.

I'm guessing there wouldn't have been too many bugs in the drivers teeth.

The bugs could probably fly faster than the car could go! :D

 

Steve

While the Bianchi doesn't come close to the decoration of the Italian coach for the nobility below, I'd say they share some DNA.

DSC00542-Low-res-1024x576_zpshyty6bsr.jp

Edited by sjordan2

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