1957 Bandini 750 Sport Saponetta

Among enthusiasts, this Bandini 750 Sport Internazionale acquired an early nickname: "Saponetta," meaning little soap, a reference to the streamlined, smooth forms of the aluminium bodywork which had little in common with the angular racing cars of those years. The model represented the ultimate racing version of the 750 Sport; following the earlier Siluro versions, Ilario Bandini designed an even more streamlined, enveloping body, entirely in the tradition of the Italian roadsters designed for the long straights of the Mille Miglia, and the Bandinis had absolutely no reason to be ashamed compared to competitors such as Osca, Siata, Stanguellini, and sometimes even Maserati. The cars were built by hand in Bandini's workshops by craftsmen from the Caproni aircraft factories.

This specific Bandini 750 Sport Internazionale is one of a total of nine Saponettas built and bore start number 156 at the 1957 Mille Miglia, driven by Carlo Camisotti and Giovanni Sintoni; a second, identical Saponetta with start number 137 was driven by Bruno Garavini that same year. Later in 1957, this car also appeared at the start of the 6 Ore di Vallelunga, where Ilario Bandini himself was behind the wheel and finished seventh in his class, and of the Trento-Bondone mountain stage with Massimo Bondi. In the years that followed, the car remained active on the Italian racing calendar, achieving class and overall victories at, among others, the Predappio-Rocca delle Camirate, the Autodromo di Modena, Bologna-San Luca, and Compiano-Vetto d'Enza, while the engine was gradually enlarged to 850cc and later 1000cc. Ilario Bandini drove the car until the mid-1960s, after which he sold it in the late 1960s or early 1970s; all trace of the car subsequently disappeared until Dino Bandini bought it back in America in 1998. The car was in poor condition at the time, but the original 747cc engine turned out to still be present in the car, making this Saponetta the only one of the two 1957 Mille Miglia participants to have retained its original engine.

The "Bandini-Crosley" bi-barre engine delivers 68 hp at 8500 rpm, built around the characteristic Bandini oval-tube chassis made of special, lightweight, and very strong steel, with a bare chassis dry weight of only 18 kilos and a roadworthy weight of 350 kilos. Following a thorough restoration, Dino Bandini himself participated in the Mille Miglia Storica twice in 2002 and 2003 with this car. Today, the Bandini is in good condition regarding both the aluminium bodywork and the interior, and presents itself in the red livery with black aluminium leather upholstery in which it was originally delivered. The car features an ASI plaque and an FIA historic passport, and is also accompanied by the original Certificate of Origin signed by Ilario Bandini himself.

With confirmed participation in the 1957 Mille Miglia, recorded under start number 156, the Mille Miglia eligibility of this Bandini 750 Sport Internazionale requires no further explanation.

Contact Metropole Classics for more information or to schedule a viewing of this Bandini 750 Sport Internazionale.