Bianco, an Italian in São Paulo

Posted by John Mellberg December 01, 2020

Bianco, an Italian in São Paulo

The 1976 Bianco S

Ottorino (Toni) Bianco was born in Italy on January 8, 1931 and emigrated to Brazil in 1952. There he had a rich career as a designer and sports car builder. After a short period in the interior of the state, he moved to São Paulo (SP) in 1954 and began working in the Monarch workshop, helping to build custom bodywork for their cars.

His mechanical capabilities were soon recognized and, in 1957, he was hired by the workshop of Nicola and Victor Losacco, which was in the business of building racecars. There Bianco designed various tubular chassis and, using imported engines, assembled cars for national competition.

In 1959 he was already in the Escuderia Tubularte, where he designed the first Brazilian Formula Junior racer, with its own bespoke chassis, a Porsche 1.5 liter engine, and VW front suspension.

In 1962, with Chico Landi, he created the Automobile Industry Brazil and started manufacturing his Formula Jr. racer, now with Brazilian made engines.

In 1965 he joined the factory racing department of Willys, which was brimming with activity. Among his many important works for the company are; the alteration of the cooling system of imported Renault Alpine, transferring the radiators to the front, the Gávea project (the first national Formula 3 racecar) and the construction of Mark I and victorious Bino Mark II.

An early Bianco Furia racecar

Bino Samdaco, a Ford dealer who prepared Steed cars, sold as Steed Bino, entered into a partnership with the São Paulo company of FNM, and founded the Fury Auto Esporte Ltda. in 1970. There Bianco would assemble the Sports Prototypes Furia and, at the request of the FNM, also designed and built the Furia GT, a beautiful 2+2 on jk 2150 chassis.

Bianco Furia GM

In 1974 Furia Auto Esporte closed and another company, Toni Bianco Competitions was created, in São Paulo, but with a workshop in Diadema (SP). Bianco continues to prepare race cars, but he also wanted to become a manufacturer. So, in 1976 he launches the Bianco S, at the 10th São Paulo Motor Show. The car was essentially a street version of the Fury prototype and the first car to carry its name. It was a two-seater coupe, with aerodynamic lines. The Bianco S had great success after its introduction with more than 180 units being sold.

The 1976 Bianco S

The car had a fiberglass reinforced plastic body, mounted on the Volkswagen Brasilia platform, with its 1600cc dual carbureted engine, 65 bhp, and front wheel disc brakes. The hood had fake air inlets while the rear (where the spare tire was housed, next to the engine) had six round taillights, coming from the Chevrolet Opal.

It had a well-equipped instrument panel, electric power windows, leather upholstery, and a laminated windshield with a built-in antenna (for the first time in Brazil). Unfortunately the car had poor door and window seals and ergonomic issues. Despite the car's excellent handling, the drivetrain used did not match the kind of performance one might expect with its sporty lines and luxury appointments.

The 1978 Bianco SS

In 1978 the Bianco SS (or series 2) was launched with minor external changes (elimination of slots on the hood, motor ventilation openings on the sides and rear skirt), a new instrument panel, new leather seats, three-point seat belts, and better overall seals.

The factory, as it turned out, was unable to meet the great demand and Bianco's best option was to sell the project; the brand and its logo, however, would be kept for another three years.
At the motor show that same year, the company already under new management, showed the revised version of the Bianco SS, the "Tarpan".

The 1980 Bianco Tarpan

Aiming at export, the company had to adopt collapsible bumpers, forcing it to radically change the design of the front, eliminating the rubber bumperettes, and using two headlights faired into the tops of the fenders, instead of the previous four under the leading edge of the nose of the car.

Although the front lines became more up-to-date, its style was at odds with the rest of the car, which was unchanged. With the Tarpan, the use of the VW water-cooled mechanics was announced in 1981. This occurred when the Tarpan TS model was launched, coinciding with the abandonment of the Bianco brand and the change of the company's registered name to Tarpan Industry and Fiberglass Trade.

The 1981 Tarpan TS Convertible

The TS was built on a double Y chassis, made of folded steel plates, which received the Passat TS's 1.6 liter engine, mounted ahead of the rear axle, with a McPherson strut suspension and disc brakes on all four wheels. The rear cover gained also a shoulder to allow space for the motor and to house a window for its ventilation. At the same time a convertible model was introduced, with an option of air or water cooling.

Only a few units of the Tarpan were produced. In 1983 the company closed its doors for good.

Sources:

Lexicar Brazil

Renato Belotte