Founded as Bianchi in Abruzzi in 1885 by Edoardo Bianchi, the company manufactured bicycles and then luxury cars until World War Two. With the factory destroyed by war time bombing, and Edoardo dying in 1946, manufacture of cars ceased but continued for bicycles, motorcycles and goods vehicles. In 1955 Bianchi's general manager negotiated a return to car manufacture with partners Pirelli tyres and the Fiat group, and Autobianchi was formed. The new Autobianchi began by assembling Fiat components into upmarket microcars. The Bianchina was launched in 1957 with Fiat 479cc components wrapped into a new body to sell above the Fiat-branded 500s. The first Bianchina was a 2-seater Transformabile which had a roll-down top and rear window. In 1960 a Cabriolet model was added and the engine upgraded to 499cc. Then a Panoramica 3-door estate car and a 4-seater Berlina or Quattroposti completed the model line up. Production ended in 1969 after around 275,000 had been sold.