Ilario Bandini - Mid 1950s Racing in Italy

Mid 1950s Racing in Italy

In Italy Bandini was developing a car to take a Maserati power plant, as well as an O.S.C.A.-powered Formula Three model, reflecting the excellence of intra-business networking in Italy's industrial north. Meanwhile, a Bandini chassis with Zagato bodywork was prepared for Alex Raymond. A 1955 Zagato Berlinetta won the Concourse d'Elegance at Rimini in 1957. The Zagato was also the first to race in America. It ran at Sebring and Daytona Beach in 1960 (piloted by Paul Richardson for Racemaster).

At Predappio, Bandini won outright in 1955 and again in 1956, in which year the team came in third overall, achieving a class win at Bologna S. Luca, third place at Consuma, a win at Compiano Vetto d'Enza and another first place at the Emilia-Romagna Automobile Club championship held at the Modena aeroautodrome, a unique development (now derelict) constructed in 1949, and combining the functions of a small commercial airfield with those of a test track for the locally based manufacturers of sports cars.

1957 saw the debut of the updated 750 sports, the 750 International Sport, known colloquially as the Saponeta ("little bar of soap"). The overall design and construction were unchanged, but track and ride height were modified, and the car received an altered rear suspension geometry. The engine was further developed, the combustion chambers being reduced in size, increasing compression and improving performance. The bodywork retained the characteristically Bandini pretty lines that prompted the Saponeta sobriquet which caught on with Italian enthusiasts. Subsequently, the same car would accommodate Bandini’s first 850 cc engine, with a mixed distribution chain and gears and a different oil pump (whose design dated to 1955): this model would later serve as a testbed for the 1000 cc engine, itself based on the 850. Garvini and Camisotti-Sintoni put in outstanding performances in the Mille Miglia, while Illario Bandini himself won the Bologna-S.Luca and achieved a seventh place in the inaugural event at Vallelunga. Another 750 International Sport driven by Massimo Bondi raced at Trento-Bondone.

In 1958, the Saponeta won the Predappio-Rocca delle Camminate (with the Bandini of Achille Galassi placed second) also winning at Compiano Vetto d'Enza, maintaining the winning form demonstrated the previous year at the Modena aeroautodrome.

The little car also began to winning in North America with James Eichenlaub first at Cumberland and placed second to James Thompson at Toronto. Eichenlaub also managed a third place at Watkins Glen and at Virginia, while Gene Parsons won at Miami (Florida) and again at Washington in the Congressional Cup. The team finished 1957 ranked second in the overall US classifications, having held the top spot until September when they were unable to participate at Watkins Glen following a retirement at the Virginia circuit. Drivers such as Robert Samuelson and Jack Connolly also provided exciting displays and scored outstanding results, notably at Galveston, where Connolly made an astonishing comeback in the wet, recovering 22 positions in just six laps, only to be stopped by a fuel tank rupture.

During this period Bandini also experimented with a mixed ‘chain and gear’ driven distributor system incorporating desmodromic valves.

For 1959, Bandini achieved class victories at Compiano Vetto d'Enza (third overall), Trapani-Mount Erice, Predappio-Rocca delle Camminate, a second place at Trento-Bondone, a third at Vallelunga, and fourth in the St. Ambreus Cup (at the Monza high speed oval circuit). On top of all that, Cesenatico saw the first appearance of the Formula Junior with a new 850 cc engine (based on a project apparently originating in 1955) in a 1000P based prototype. In the same race, Edoardo Govoni took third in a 750, later achieving the same position in the Shell Cup at Vallelunga.