29 Facts About Ilario Bandini

Ilario Bandini was an Italian businessman, racing driver, and racing car manufacturer.

Ilario Bandini modified the chassis and suspension while rebuilding the car.

In 1947, Ilario Bandini raced a Cisitalia D46 at the Asti circuit, and raced his 1100 Sport at the Predappio-Rocca delle Camminate race, coming second in his class.

Ilario Bandini's first victory was a class win in the Tour of Umbria.

At the start of the 1950s, Ilario Bandini became a dealer in Italy for Alfa Romeo and then for Lancia.

In 1953, the Ilario Bandini was adapted for new Italian racing regulations, which required fenders to be integrated into the body shell.

At the Mille Miglia, Massimo Bondi driving a Ilario Bandini 750 finished an excellent ninth in his class, out of a field of 69 entrants.

Notably, in 1955, two years before the final 'true' Mille Miglia, the Ilario Bandini 750 shared by Rusconi and Sintoni had to retire after a refuelling fire at Florence, but not before having reached Rome in just 7 hours 35 minutes 30 seconds, which was more than an hour quicker than two years earlier.

Ilario Bandini entered a two-seater at the same circuit in the sports category, but the car was forced to retire while lying third.

Ilario Bandini nevertheless won the Consuma 'climb, and placed third at the Compiano Vetto d'Enza.

At this stage Ilario bought together his racing activities, his vehicle development and production, together with his dealership and service centre business into the "Gruppo sportivo Bandini".

Garvini and Camisotti-Sintoni put in outstanding performances in the Mille Miglia, while Illario Ilario Bandini himself won the Bologna-S.

For 1959, Ilario Bandini achieved class victories at Compiano Vetto d'Enza, Trapani-Mount Erice, Predappio-Rocca delle Camminate, a second place at Trento-Bondone, a third at Vallelunga, and fourth in the St Ambreus Cup.

The Ilario Bandini was immediately in demand in the United States.

The 850 cc engine was particularly significant because it was the first engine completely built by Ilario Bandini: it was the basis for the subsequent Ilario Bandini 1000 cc engine.

In Cincinnati Ilario Bandini visited the site of the former Crosley plant and was invited to relocate his operation there.

Ilario Bandini stayed in the US long enough to witness Rudkin's victory at Lime Rock, but after that he preferred to return home to Forli.

Meanwhile, in the same year back in Italy Ilario Bandini were active in the 750,850 and 1000 classes using Banidini DOHC front and rear engined Formnula Junior, 1000P and Saponetta models.

Ilario Bandini himself had little luck in the Four Hours of Pescara, co-driving with Alberto Canali, but saw Cecchini and Cesare Sangiorgi classified sixth.

Ilario Bandini came fourth at Parma-Poggio of Berceto, sixth in the Shell Trophy at Vallelunga, and third at Trento Bondone.

In 1962, Scuderia Ilario Bandini joined with Team Arcangeli, and Ilario Bandini himself ran a 1000 cc, earning back-to-back class wins in Chieti, repeating at the Gallenga cup event and Vinci-S.

Ilario Bandini won in Predappio and Reggio Emilia while the fourth is at Bologna-Raticosa and Vallelunga and reaches the sixth Consuma.

Giorgio Cechini in his Ilario Bandini took revenge at Vallelunga, the third cup of Asiago, the second trophy settecolli and fifth at Bologna-Raticosa.

Ilario Bandini is fourth Trento-Bondone, again behind Benelli, and the Cup Beans at Osimo.

Many Italian manufacturers were in crisis, and Ilario Bandini made front dedicated exclusively to producing prototypes intended mainly as privateers for Italian "gentleman drivers" who mainly run hillclimbs.

In 1975, Ilario Bandini hosted the Group Ilario Bandini, an exhibition dedicated to the marque, for drivers who had worked successfully for him.

Ilario Bandini was decisive in the resumption of the Predappio-Rocca delle Camminate hillclimb at Forli in 1978, after being interrupted ten years earlier.

In 1981, Ilario Bandini received from New York University an honoris causa in mechanical engineering, while a Ilario Bandini is inducted at the Museum of Marconi in Los Angeles.

In 1985, Ilario Bandini took the wheel a last time, at the Predappio hillclimb in his 1300.