Autobianchi Beach

The Autobianchi Beach was a limited-production, open-bodied derivative of the Autobianchi A112 Abarth, constructed by Carrozzeria Pavesi of Milan. Built in only two known examples during the early 1980s, the model was commissioned by a private client based in the Arabian Peninsula. The project repurposed the chassis and drivetrain of the A112 Abarth while replacing the original hatchback bodywork with a fully open configuration suited to leisure and coastal use. The mechanical foundation derived from the A112 Abarth, a performance-enhanced version of the standard Autobianchi A112. The Abarth model featured a front-mounted, four-cylinder, overhead-valve engine with a displacement of 1,050 cubic centimetres. Output was rated at approximately 70 horsepower. The engine was paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, transmitting power to the front wheels. Suspension consisted of independent MacPherson struts at the front and a live rear axle with trailing arms and coil springs. Braking was provided by front discs and rear drums. Carrozzeria Pavesi, known primarily for specialty conversions including landaulet and open-top variants of production vehicles, executed the custom bodywork. The Beach featured a radically altered exterior, with cut-down side panels, a minimal windscreen, and the complete removal of roof and door structures. The design followed the visual and functional precedent of “spiaggina” or beach cars, evoking the tradition of limited-production open vehicles such as the Fiat Jolly or Renault Rodeo. Interior trim was modified to reflect the car’s recreational intent, with materials selected for durability in open-air use. Only two examples of the Autobianchi Beach by Pavesi are known to have been built. No chassis numbers or official records of the commissioning party have been published. There is no evidence of wider commercial offering or homologation for general sale. The cars were produced as bespoke vehicles, not as prototypes for a series. The Autobianchi Beach by Pavesi represents a rare application of Italian coachbuilding to a contemporary small performance car. It exemplifies a class of specialist commissions in which established mechanical platforms were adapted to non-standard configurations for private clients. The survival and current location of either example are not publicly documented.