To most, the name Bianchi evokes images of pistachio-painted bicycles or the motorbikes raced by such greats as Nuvolari, Varzi, Brambilla and Tonti. The diverse output of the Milanese company also included commercial vehicles and badge-engineered Fiats, but before the First World War founder Edoardo switched from pedal power to producing one of the finest early Italian cars.
Surviving examples of the exclusive 40hp model are almost extinct, but in England one family enthusiastically promotes the golden eagle badge with a mighty 4-litre Edwardian 'big four? Be it motoring across Europe over the city-to-city race routes, chasing other chain-drive titans around Goodwood or charging up a muddy Welsh track, father Peter and son Luke Roberts enjoy this super-rare Bianchi to the full. Edoardo would be proud of their exploits, which now include building a new engine to conserve the original.
Surprisingly for such a distinctive machine, the early history of this 1907 40hp is little known. The first record of chassis 389 dates from the early '60s when it was acquired by Lord Montagu for his newly opened museum on the Beaulieu estate. The young aristocrat kept the car until 1968, when it was purchased by renowned Irish collector Jim Boland. The deal included a SCAT for £550 and the Bianchi for £450, with then-curator Michael Ware signing off the sale. Typically, Boland decided to drive the Bianchi back to Dublin, but he found its performance disappointing as it struggled along at 30mph for the 250-mile trip from Hampshire through Wales to the ferry port.
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Denne historien er fra March 2022-utgaven av Classic & Sports Car.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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RAY HILLIER
Double-chevron oddity proves a break from the norm for this Crewe specialist
SHORT BACK & GLIDES
Eccentric enthusiast Captain RG McLeod's series of Manx-tailed Bentley Specials reached its zenith with this unique S2 Continental.
People's choice
The diminutive but multi-million-selling Fiat 850 packed a remarkable diversity of form and function into its compact footprint
PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM
Glassfibre revolutionised niche car-body production, but just occasionally strayed into the mainstream.
A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR
The cleverly conceived four-seater Elite secured Lotus a place at the big players' table, but has it been unfairly maligned since then?
"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"
From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career
Still going strong
Herbert Engineering staked its reputation on the five-year warranty that came with its cars. A century on, this Two Litre hasn't made a claim
One for the kids
General Motors was aiming squarely at the youth market with the launch of the Pontiac GTO 60 years ago, and its runaway success popularised the muscle-car movement
A NEW BREED OF HERO
Launched at the turn of the millennium, the GT3 badge has already earned a place alongside RS, CS and turbo in Porsche lore.
Brits with SIX appeal
The straight-six engine is synonymous with a decades-long legacy of great British sports cars. Six variations on the sextet theme convene for comparison
