Autominima at the Bonfanti Museum

L'Autominima
at the Museo dell'Automobile 'Luigi Bonfanti'

Another excellent exhibition at the Bonfanti Museum, this time featuring the smallest cars, nowadays known as 'citycars', from the beginning to today. Some 60 cars were on show, below are images of most of the Italian models featured.
Click on any of the pictures for a larger version

Temperino were a well known maker of small cars, and both a road (above left) and race car (above and left) were featured. Both were powered by air-cooled two-cylinder vee engines of around one litre capacity. They were among the oldest cars in the exhibition.
See our Temperino page for more information on that manufacturer.

Another well known early Italian manufacturer was FOD, a single 18HP model from 1926 was on display (above, above right and right).
A strange prototype from a Turin workshop called Fongri was also present (below), as were two small single seaters, from the Formula Monza (below right).
More information on FOD can be found on our FOD page.

Some mini 'off-road' vehicles were also present, including the 500 based Ferves Ranger (above left) and similarly based Pedrini Scoiattolo (above).
A new prototype from Aprilia, the Trukker (left) was also on display, to date only a concept.
The Ferves Ranger also features on this site.

An early electric car, the Zele from Zagato (above) was shown, as was the relatively successful Lawil Torpedo (above right). The less well know Mongho Coupe (right and below), based on the Fiat 500 and built by Fissore was one of the more unusual exhibits.
Both Zagato and Fissore have pages on this site.

The well know Autobianchi Bianchina (above) and Ghia Jolly (left and below) were obvious candidates for such a display.
See our Ghia and Autobianchi pages for more details.

No small car exhibition would be complete without the 500, starting with the Topolino (below), the standard car (above left) and the Sport (left). An unusual short version built by a workshop in Schio (above) was also displayed.
The strange Venturina (below left) seemed much older than its 1962 built date would suggest !.
The Fiat nuova 500 and Topolino have individual pages.

A number of cars from the immediate postwar era were shown, including the ALCA Volpe (above), the similar Volugrafo 46 Bimbo (above right and right) and the well known Isetta Iso (below).

Although built in France by ACMA, the Vespa 400 (above) was designed by Piaggio and built in quite large numbers.
Another Fiat 500 based car, the Siata 500 Sport (left) was built just before the war for competition.
The is also a page on Siata for more information on that company.

Click on any of the pictures for a larger version
The official Museo dell'Automobile Luigi Bonfanti website
This website has no connection with that museum.
For images of another excellent exhibition at the same museum,
see our Maserati Exhibition at the Museo dell'Automobile Luigi Bonfanti page
All the images in this gallery are copyright © 2000 to 2006 CarsfromItaly
For help in navigating this site, see our


	Temperino were a well known maker of small cars, and both a road (above left) and race car (above and left) were featured. Both were powered by air-cooled two-cylinder vee engines of around one litre capacity. They were among the oldest cars in the exhibition. See our Temperino page for more information on that manufacturer.

Another well known early Italian manufacturer was FOD, a single 18HP model from 1926 was on display (above, above right and right). A strange prototype from a Turin workshop called Fongri was also present (below), as were two small single seaters, from the Formula Monza (below right). More information on FOD can be found on our FOD page.


	Some mini 'off-road' vehicles were also present, including the 500 based Ferves Ranger (above left) and similarly based Pedrini Scoiattolo (above). A new prototype from Aprilia, the Trukker (left) was also on display, to date only a concept. The Ferves Ranger also features on this site.

An early electric car, the Zele from Zagato (above) was shown, as was the relatively successful Lawil Torpedo (above right). The less well know Mongho Coupe (right and below), based on the Fiat 500 and built by Fissore was one of the more unusual exhibits. Both Zagato and Fissore have pages on this site.

	The well know Autobianchi Bianchina (above) and Ghia Jolly (left and below) were obvious candidates for such a display. See our Ghia and Autobianchi pages for more details.


	No small car exhibition would be complete without the 500, starting with the Topolino (below), the standard car (above left) and the Sport (left). An unusual short version built by a workshop in Schio (above) was also displayed. The strange Venturina (below left) seemed much older than its 1962 built date would suggest !. The Fiat nuova 500 and Topolino have individual pages.


A number of cars from the immediate postwar era were shown, including the ALCA Volpe (above), the similar Volugrafo 46 Bimbo (above right and right) and the well known Isetta Iso (below).

	Although built in France by ACMA, the Vespa 400 (above) was designed by Piaggio and built in quite large numbers. Another Fiat 500 based car, the Siata 500 Sport (left) was built just before the war for competition. The is also a page on Siata for more information on that company.