A bit earlier than the typical time frame of the general things we post, but I feel like this still captures the feel.

From @Retromotive on Instagram

It’s 1955, Italy is trying to find its feet after the war, and Bianchi, the bicycle brand, decides it wants to make cars again. But they don’t just go at it alone— they team up with the likes of Fiat and Pirelli. The result? Autobianchi. The company that tried to blend engineering genius, design flair, and a bit of cheeky Italian spirit into a single, tiny vehicle.

Fast forward to 1969, and out pops the Autobianchi A112 Giovani-a car that was as light as a feather, funky as a beach party, and just one letter shy of being called Giovanni. Designed by Pininfarina and powered by an Abarth engine, this ‘youth’ car was a curious concoction of plastic bumpers, boat-like seats, and a style that screamed, “I’m here for a good time, not a long time!”

And then… it vanished! Poof! No production, no legacy-just one prototype gathering dust in a private collection. Why? Who knows! Maybe it was too radical for its own good, or maybe Italians just thought they’d outgrown their beach buggy days.