Bandini Automobili
Encyclopedia
Bandini Automobili was an Italian
automobile manufacturer operating between 1946 and 1992. It was named after its founder Ilario Bandini
.
Founded in 1946 in Bandini’s hometown Forlì
, the first Bandini used a modified Fiat 1100
engine, the body was made from hand hammered aluminum and the chassis from aviation-grade tubular steel. Many other post-war Italian sports car companies followed a similar design. But Bandini’s sharp mind, racing knowledge and his eye for detail ensured that Bandini cars were a force to be reckoned with in Europe and the US.
Interest in America surged when Bandini Siluros with their screaming 750-cc engines and wildly flared front fenders won SCCA class championships in 1955 and 1957. His slightly modified Crosley engines became famous thanks their DOHC Bandini heads. Bandini himself continued to race in Italy, including the Mille Miglia
, while newer models were being built and developed at the factory. One of these included the new 1957 Sport International "Saponetta". It was a two-seat sports car with a tubular steel frame and room for engines of up to 1.0 liter. The design of the car body was very striking. The smooth lines and petite dimensions gave the car the Italian nickname "Saponetta" (little soap). The Formula 3
car of 1954 had disc brakes on all four wheels, following closely on the 1951 C-type Jaguar
. The Zagato
bodied Bandini GT raced in Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring
. The coupè by Corna was a 1000 cc and the engine was mounted in front.
In the United States, Bandini cars won the SCCA HM class championship in 1955 thanks to driver Dolph Vilardi. In 1957 Melvin Sacks won the HM class again with 5 Bandini's in the first ten positions. The successes allowed Ilario to receive the Gold Key of Daytona and later in 1981 the Laurea H.C. award in mechanical engineering from PRODEO university of New York. In 1959 he produced one of the most successful and beautiful Formula Juniors. Bandinis won SCCA Class HMod races well in to the mid 1960’s, a Bandini siluro won the SCCA Southwest Regional Championship from 1961–1963 and the Saponetta took 3rd place in the National Hmod class in 1961. Bandini continued to make one off cars well into the 1980s and the great "Drake of Forli" died in 1992.
On Saturday the 16th of November 2002 the city of Forlì, Italy remembered Ilario Bandini who is considered one of the most important Italian constructors of performance sports and race cars. He was born in Ville Rovere close to Forli, on April 18, 1911, the city dedicated a plaza (town square) to honor his name and great little racing cars.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
automobile manufacturer operating between 1946 and 1992. It was named after its founder Ilario Bandini
Ilario Bandini
Ilario Bandini was an Italian businessman, racing driver, and racing car builder.-Early years:Bandini was born in Villa Rovere, today part of the administrative region of Forlì in Romagna. Upon leaving elementary school, he apprenticed as a mechanic and turner in nearby Forli...
.
Founded in 1946 in Bandini’s hometown Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
, the first Bandini used a modified Fiat 1100
Fiat 1100
The Fiat 1100 is a compact automobile produced from 1937 to 1969, by the Italian car maker Fiat.- Fiat 508C Nuova Balilla 1100 :The Fiat 1100 was first introduced in 1937 as an updated version of the 508 "Balilla" with a look similar to the 1936 Fiat 500 "Topolino" and the larger 1500, with the...
engine, the body was made from hand hammered aluminum and the chassis from aviation-grade tubular steel. Many other post-war Italian sports car companies followed a similar design. But Bandini’s sharp mind, racing knowledge and his eye for detail ensured that Bandini cars were a force to be reckoned with in Europe and the US.
Interest in America surged when Bandini Siluros with their screaming 750-cc engines and wildly flared front fenders won SCCA class championships in 1955 and 1957. His slightly modified Crosley engines became famous thanks their DOHC Bandini heads. Bandini himself continued to race in Italy, including the Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
, while newer models were being built and developed at the factory. One of these included the new 1957 Sport International "Saponetta". It was a two-seat sports car with a tubular steel frame and room for engines of up to 1.0 liter. The design of the car body was very striking. The smooth lines and petite dimensions gave the car the Italian nickname "Saponetta" (little soap). The Formula 3
Bandini formula 3
The Bandini formula three is a racing car model produced from 1954 until 1958 by Bandini Automobili of Forlì.This type, produced at the same two-seater sports was born in order to participate in the engine capacity race-only category...
car of 1954 had disc brakes on all four wheels, following closely on the 1951 C-type Jaguar
Jaguar C-Type
The Jaguar C-Type is a racing sports car built by Jaguar and sold from 1951 to 1953. The "C" designation stood for "competition"....
. The Zagato
Zagato
Zagato is a design consultancy and engineering services company situated just outside Milan, Italy.The company's premises occupy an area of , of which are covered....
bodied Bandini GT raced in Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
. The coupè by Corna was a 1000 cc and the engine was mounted in front.
Racing history
Ilario started as a race driver, he took part by his car more than 60 races, including hillclimbs and track racing also at the Mille Miglia from 1947 until 1965 (19 times first place finishes and 18 podiums in 750 and 1000 classes).In the United States, Bandini cars won the SCCA HM class championship in 1955 thanks to driver Dolph Vilardi. In 1957 Melvin Sacks won the HM class again with 5 Bandini's in the first ten positions. The successes allowed Ilario to receive the Gold Key of Daytona and later in 1981 the Laurea H.C. award in mechanical engineering from PRODEO university of New York. In 1959 he produced one of the most successful and beautiful Formula Juniors. Bandinis won SCCA Class HMod races well in to the mid 1960’s, a Bandini siluro won the SCCA Southwest Regional Championship from 1961–1963 and the Saponetta took 3rd place in the National Hmod class in 1961. Bandini continued to make one off cars well into the 1980s and the great "Drake of Forli" died in 1992.
Dedication to Ilario Bandini
Historical Bandini Register
Starting in 1992, in Bandini's last workshop, Ilario's family has preserved all documents and collected the most representative cars. Ten Bandinis are in the museum and are shown by appointment. 46 Bandinis exist in the world today and are acknowledged by the Register. They are owned from the U.S. to Japan.Models
- "La prima" 1100/46Bandini 1100 (1946)The Bandini 1100, introduced in 1946 by Ilario Bandini, is the first car to wear the Bandini badge. A similar model with the same name was produced afterwards from 1947-1950.-The chassis :...
(1946) - 1100 sportBandini 1100The Bandini 1100 is a car model produced from 1947 until 1950 by the Italian company Bandini Cars. It was the successor to the early 1946 model...
(1947–50) - 1100 siluroBandini 1100 siluroThe Bandini 1100 siluro is a racing car model produced from 1947 to 1949 by Bandini Automobili in Forlì, Italy.This type is the first Bandini born expressly to race. The style and forms were created for pure speed, performance and lightness. The name Siluro was chosen to indicate the aerodynamic...
(1947–49) - 750 sport siluroBandini 750 sport siluroThe Bandini 750 sport siluro is a racing car model, produced from 1950 to 1956 by the Italian company Bandini Cars.Born in 1950, this new type marked the consecration of Bandini as an international challenger in the smaller classes...
(1950–56) - Bandini-Maserati 1500Bandini-Maserati 1500The Bandini-Maserati 1500 is a racing car, produced in 1953 by Bandini Automobili.Over the 1950s, non-exclusive trade agreements between Ilario Bandini and Italian-American Tony Pompeo, provided for the export of cars with no propeller to be installed in a second time in United States.More and more...
(1952) - formula 3Bandini formula 3The Bandini formula three is a racing car model produced from 1954 until 1958 by Bandini Automobili of Forlì.This type, produced at the same two-seater sports was born in order to participate in the engine capacity race-only category...
(1954–58) - berlinetta ZagatoBandini GTThe Bandini GT 750 is a road car produced in 1955 by Bandini Cars in Forlì.This is the first this type two-seater to wear the Bandini badge. Born as a road car, it shared the 750 sport siluro chassis and engine developed for racing....
(1955) - 750 sport internazionale "saponetta"Bandini 750 sport internazionaleThe Bandini 750 international sport also called simply "Saponetta", is a racing car built from 1957 until 1961 by Bandini Cars.This new type of car, prepared for categria 750 sports, replaced the production of "sport torpedo...
(1957–61) - formula juniorBandini formula juniorThe Bandini formula junior is a racing car model produced from 1959 until 1962 by Bandini Cars in Forlì.-Overview:The formula was a junior category promotional designed Europe and United States to start young drivers racing career, allowing a deserved better visibility beyond national...
(1959–62) - 1000/62 PBandini 1000 PThe Bandini 1000 P is a race car, built from 1959 until 1965 by Bandini Cars Forlì.This new type of car marks a radical change in the philosophy of approach to the competition of Bandini racing cars...
(1962–65) - 1000 GTBandini 1000 GTThe Bandini 1000 GT is a road car produced in 1963 by Bandini Cars of Forlì, Italy.This road model, the second Bandini Gran Turismo, used the new engine, introduced in the sports cars of the same period, the , detuned to increase reliability and limit interventions review. It was the first Bandini...
(1963) - 1000/66 sportBandini 1000The Bandini 1000 is a race car, built in 1966 by Bandini Cars Forlì.This new sports prototype, replaces the P 1000 which inherits the engine bialbero Bandini of 1000 cc engine displacement, constantly updated and improved , the scheme standstill four-wheel independent and structure of the chassis,...
(1966) - saloncinoBandini SaloncinoThe Bandini Saloncino is a racing car, built in 1968 by Bandini Automobili in Forlì, Italy.The new sports coupé was presented at the "Salone Internazionale dell'Automobile di Torino" in 1968, but its manufacturer Ilario Bandini with irony, given the small size of its Berlinetta and little sympathy...
(1968) - 1000/70 VBandini 1000 VThe Bandini 1000 V sports prototype is a race car built in 1970 by Bandini Cars Forlì.This two-seater sports together for many years previous 1000/66 , the Saloncino and the subsequent 1000/72 on the slopes and runs uphill from across Italy.The now-consolidated characteristics of previous Bandini,...
(1970) - mille s.p.Bandini s.p. 1000The Bandini 1000 sports prototype is a racing car built for the season 1972 by Bandini Cars Forlì.This car marked some significant changes in the landscape of production Bandini....
(1972) - 1300 16 V i.Bandini 1300The Bandini 1300 was a racing car built in 1980 by Bandini Cars in Forlì, Italy.It was presented in 1980 as new sports prototype in red and blue livery, divided by a thin gold colour line...
(1980) - berlinetta 1000 turboBandini 1000 turboThe Bandini 1000 turbo, also known as "Bandini Berlinetta" is a hand built road car, built in 1992 by Ilario Bandini.The engineer Ilario Bandini called this car as "my pride"...
(1992)