Autobianchi Primula: Difference between revisions
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| designer = [[Dante Giacosa]] (Berlina) <br> [[Carrozzeria Touring|Touring]] (Coupe) |
| designer = [[Dante Giacosa]] (Berlina) <br> [[Carrozzeria Touring|Touring]] (Coupe) |
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The '''Autobianchi Primula''' is a [[Supermini car|supermini]] [[economy car]] from the [[Italy|Italian]] automaker, [[Autobianchi]] (a subsidiary of the [[Fiat|Fiat Group]]), manufactured between 1964 and 1970. It was Fiat's first model with [[rack and pinion]] steering and is widely known for its innovative [[Dante Giacosa]]-designed [[front-wheel drive]], [[transverse engine]] layout — that would be later popularized by the [[Fiat 128]] and ultimately become an industry-standard front drive layout.<ref name="carsfrom">{{cite web|url=http://www.carsfromitaly.com/others/index.html |title=The Autobianchi information site |work=The Etceterini pages @ CarsFromItaly.com |accessdate=2006-08-03 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050209015255/www.carsfromitaly.com/others/index.html |archivedate=2005-02-09}} ''(accessed via the [[Internet Archive#Wayback_Machine|Wayback Machine]])''</ref> |
The '''Autobianchi Primula''' is a [[Supermini car|supermini]] [[economy car]] from the (now defunct) [[Italy|Italian]] automaker, [[Autobianchi]] (a subsidiary of the [[Fiat|Fiat Group]]), manufactured between 1964 and 1970. It was Fiat's first model with [[rack and pinion]] steering and is widely known for its innovative [[Dante Giacosa]]-designed [[front-wheel drive]], [[transverse engine]] layout — that would be later popularized by the [[Fiat 128]] and ultimately become an industry-standard front drive layout.<ref name="carsfrom">{{cite web|url=http://www.carsfromitaly.com/others/index.html |title=The Autobianchi information site |work=The Etceterini pages @ CarsFromItaly.com |accessdate=2006-08-03 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050209015255/www.carsfromitaly.com/others/index.html |archivedate=2005-02-09}} ''(accessed via the [[Internet Archive#Wayback_Machine|Wayback Machine]])''</ref> |
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The Primula was originally available with two or four doors, with or without a rear hatch, referred to in Italian as ''"[[berline|berlina]] or commonly ''[[hatchback]])''. Beginning in 1965, Autobianchi offered a [[coupé]] model, a more stylish and spacious 2-door fastback designed by [[Carrozzeria Touring]].<ref name="carsfrom" /><ref name="4Car">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/feature.jsp?id=1729&page=7 |title=Autobianchi Primula |work=Classic hatchbacks - 4Car Feature - from Channel 4|accessdate=2006-08-03}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> |
The Primula was originally available with two or four doors, with or without a rear hatch, referred to in Italian as ''"[[berline|berlina]] or commonly ''[[hatchback]])''. Beginning in 1965, Autobianchi offered a [[coupé]] model, a more stylish and spacious 2-door fastback designed by [[Carrozzeria Touring]].<ref name="carsfrom" /><ref name="4Car">{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/feature.jsp?id=1729&page=7 |title=Autobianchi Primula |work=Classic hatchbacks - 4Car Feature - from Channel 4|accessdate=2006-08-03}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 14:49, 17 February 2013
| Autobianchi Primula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Autobianchi |
| Production | 1964–1970 |
| Designer | Dante Giacosa (Berlina) Touring (Coupe) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Supermini |
| Body style | 2-door fastback 3-door hatchback 4-door fastback 5-door hatchback 2-door coupé |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1221 cc I4 OHV 1197 cc I4 OHV (Berlina) 1438 cc I4 OHV (Coupé) |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,300 mm (91 in)[1] |
| Length | 3,785 mm (149.0 in) (Berlina) 3,715 mm (146.3 in) (Coupé)[1] |
| Width | 1,578 mm (62.1 in)[1] |
| Height | 1,400 mm (55 in) (Berlina) 1,350 mm (53 in) (Coupé)[1] |
The Autobianchi Primula is a supermini economy car from the (now defunct) Italian automaker, Autobianchi (a subsidiary of the Fiat Group), manufactured between 1964 and 1970. It was Fiat's first model with rack and pinion steering and is widely known for its innovative Dante Giacosa-designed front-wheel drive, transverse engine layout — that would be later popularized by the Fiat 128 and ultimately become an industry-standard front drive layout.[2]
The Primula was originally available with two or four doors, with or without a rear hatch, referred to in Italian as "berlina or commonly hatchback). Beginning in 1965, Autobianchi offered a coupé model, a more stylish and spacious 2-door fastback designed by Carrozzeria Touring.[2][3]
Primula models were manufactured in the Autobianchi factory in Desio[4] and were priced comparably to the Austin/Morris 1100 models built in Italy by Innocenti.[1]
Concept
Before the Primula, all Fiat Group passenger cars were rear-wheel drive; the larger models followed the classic FR layout (front engine powering the rear axle), and small cars were rear-engined. Meanwhile, a practical concept emerged, namely the front-wheel drive layout with the engine mounted transversely, which allowed for very efficient space utilization. First popularized by the Mini[citation needed], it also found its way to other, bigger models, starting with BMC's Austin/Morris 1100.
Fiat's chief designer, Dante Giacosa, recognized the potential of the concept, but the company decided to experiment without risking damage to the image of its popular Fiat-branded cars. Thus the Autobianchi Primula emerged—a car marketed under a less crucial nameplate, for which it was an entry into a whole new class of vehicles.[2]
Driveline
Initially, the Primula was fitted with the 1221 cc engine from the Fiat 1100 D (for the coupé it was uprated to 65 hp (48 kW)), but in 1968 it was replaced with Fiat 124 engines—the berlinas received the 1197 cc 60 hp (45 kW) engine from the standard versions, while the coupé was fitted with the more powerful 1438 cc 70 hp (52 kW) unit.[1] All engines used in the Primula had overhead valves (OHV)—the later twin cam derivative of the 1438 cc unit was not used in any Autobianchi (Fiat did use it later in the Lancia Beta- the issue at the time in a transverse installation of a twin-cam head being the arrangement of the exhaust manifold of the necessarily cross-flow head). Unlike contemporaneous BMC and Peugeot models, which had the transmission in the oil sump, the Primula had its manual transmission placed end-on, above the differential.[3] The Primula also featured disc brakes on all four wheels, uncommon in small cars of the time.[1][3]
The Primula's particular configuration of front wheel drive and transverse engine, but with a gearbox on the end of the engine, ingenious Fiat-designed clutch release mechanism and unequal length drive shafts, rather than a gearbox in the sump like the Mini, has become universal among front-drivers, as did its use of conventional steel suspension in almost all other cars except Citroens: usually McPherson struts at the front and a "dead" rear axle. The Primula is thus a car design of far greater significance than is often realised, as its design influence spread, far beyond even the mainstream high volume Fiats such as the 127 and the 128 of the late 1960s which used its driveline layout; to every front wheel drive transverse engined car in production today.
Reaction
The Primula was favorably received in the marketplace, and came second in the 1965 European Car of the Year contest, after another front-wheel drive car, the Austin 1800.[5] This convinced Fiat to develop the drive concept further. In 1969 the first Fiat with a front-mounted transverse engine, the Fiat 128, was launched, along with two new front-wheel drive Autobianchis: the Autobianchi A112, smaller than the Primula, and the larger Autobianchi A111. The 128 secured Fiat the Car of the Year title in 1970, with A112 coming second.[6] Primula production ceased in 1970, by which time 74,858 had been built.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Auto-Modelle : Katalog - Motor-Presse-Jahres. Vereinigte Motor-Verlage Stuttgart. 1970/71. pp. 24–27. ISSN 0463-6589.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|year=(help)CS1 maint: year (link)
(technical data for 1970/71 models) - ^ a b c d "The Autobianchi information site". The Etceterini pages @ CarsFromItaly.com. Archived from the original on 2005-02-09. Retrieved 2006-08-03. (accessed via the Wayback Machine)
- ^ a b c "Autobianchi Primula". Classic hatchbacks - 4Car Feature - from Channel 4. Retrieved 2006-08-03. [dead link]
- ^ "Storia". Registro Autobianchi. Archived from the original on 24 August 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) Template:It icon - ^ "Previous Winners (1965)". caroftheyear.org. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
- ^ "Previous Winners (1970)". caroftheyear.org. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
External links
- Contemporary Italian Primula Brochures (Berlina and Coupé) at the Registro Autobianchi site Template:It icon
- 1965 Dutch Primula Brochure