Autobianchi Stella

Class	Sports car
Body style	Spider 2-door cabrio
Layout	RR layout
Engine	767 cc ,791cc I4 OHV
Transmission	4-speed manual
Wheelbase	78.74 in, 2,000 mm
Length	144.49 in, 3,670 mm
Width	56.30 in, 1,430 mm
Height	48.82 in, 1,240 mm
Dry weight	1,323 1b, 600 kg

The Autobianchi Stellina is a rear-wheel-drive spider type sports car produced by Autobianchi from 1963 to 1965.

History 

The Stellina was the first production Italian car built in fiberglass from the Italian automaker, Autobianchi (a subsidiary of the Fiat group). Its most obvious advantages were its resistance to rust and its light weight and ease of construction. Built for only two years, 1964 and 1965. It was based on the mechanicals of the chassis Fiat 600D, but had a unique unibody structure.

With sleek styling penned by Luigi Rapi, the Stellina was first presented as a prototype at the 1963 Turin Motor Show, and went on sale a year later with a price tag of almost a million lira.

The chassis frame was of boxed type in steel, with the fiberglass applied to the various guides. The first defect was, paradoxically, the difficulty in repairing the car, given the presence of a not very organized repair network. Many advised against the purchase of a car that had a great value, from a stylistic and also mechanical point of view, given that it explored a new philosophy in the automotive field. However, production was soon standardized as in all spiders of the time: canvas roof (the Hardtop was not present; although some prototypes were actually put on the market) with plastic rear window, glossy colours contrasting with the interior, interiors treated in imitation leather, brown or black (only available on red; other colours were not available even on request). Among the few options a radio, white wall tires, luggage rack in chrome Abarth muffler, Borrani spoked wheels. 

The first series was produced with only 343 built with the 767-cc engine.

After two years, given the drop in sales, it was thought that the lack of success was due to the low power for a sports type car, Autobianchi tried to adapt the Stellina, presenting what would unofficially be the second series, as it would not have supplanted the production of the 750, and around 200 examples were produced as the Stellina 800. As the name suggests, the modification consisted in the elaboration of the engine, with a slight increase in the displacement to 792 cm³. However, the 800 cm³ increased the car's power to just 31.5 hp.

PERFORMANCE: Stellina 767cc

• max power (SAE): 32 hp at 4,800 rpm
• max torque (SAE): 40 1b ft, 5.5 kg m at 2,800 rpm
• max number of engine rpm: 4,800
• Specific power: 41.7 hp/l
• Engine capacity: 46.80 cu in, 767 cu cm
• Fuel consumption: 46.3 m/imp gal, 38.6 m/US gal, 6.1 1 x 100 km
• Max speed: 71.4 mph, 115 km/h
• Power-weight ratio: 41.2 lb/hp, 18.7 kg/hp
• Acceleration (max load): 0—50 mph (0 —80 km/h) 22 sec

Despite the later engine changes, the Stellina and Stellina 800 were identical. The engine mainly gained power at low-medium revs, increasing the maximum speed, given the lightness of the bodywork, by 10 km/h (125). However, in the same period the Stellina 800 was introduced, with the frame branded 100DB/1 to avoid confusion.

PERFORMANCE: Stellina 800 791cc

• Engine capacity: 48.31 cu in, 791.76 cu cm
• Fuel consumption: 42.8 m/imp gal, 35.6 m/US gal, 6.6 1 x 100 km
• Max speed: 77.6 mph, 125 km/h
• Max power (SAE): 34 hp at 5,000 rpm
• Max torque (SAE): 40 1b ft, 5.5 kg m at 2,800 rpm
• Max number of engine rpm: 5,000
• Specific power: 42.9 hp/l
• Power-weight ratio: 42.8 lb/hp, 19.4 kg/hp
• Acceleration (max load): 0—50 mph (0 —80 km/h) 19 sec

Production 

Only 502 examples of the "Stellina" were produced in the two versions, of which 350 were registered in Italy and the rest were exported until production ceased in 1965, when Fiat launched a, slightly larger, similar Fiat 850 Spider.