Bandini 750 sport internazionale

The Bandini 750 international sport also called simply "Saponetta", is a racing car built from 1957 until 1961 by Bandini Cars.

This new type of car, prepared for the 750 sports category, replaced the production of the "Sport Torpedo". The adjective "International" pays tribute to the merits collected overseas by the 750 sports torpedo, while "Saponetta" (little bar of soap) was its nickname courtesy of Ilario Bandini for its form, similar to that of a simple bar of soap.

As the model which replaced the bar of soap, it was much in demand in the United States where it was used both as auto racing that as "out of range" to be submitted to the streets in the city. Its debut in racing dates back to Mille Miglia, 1957 led by Bruno Garavini, with a 750 cc Bandini-Crosley (second series) updated especially in the Head (identifiable by the distributor mounted between the two camshafts and the cam covers inclined at 45° with pronounced longitudinal ribs).

The "Saponetta", maintained the characteristics of simplicity and lightness while improving road holding and reducing drag, features which were exploited in motordromes such as the famous Daytona circuit and the high-speed Track of Monza.

Despite not lacking in success in the USA, uphill races, and Italian circuits, the " little bar of soap" quickly responded to rapid changes in regulation, giving rise to 850 cc and then 1000 cc versions. These updates proved fast and successful, able to sustain high RPMs even with higher displacements, collecting victories up until 1965 with Gene Parsons, James Eichenlaub (both ex aequo vicechampion U.S. SCCA in 1958), Dave Lang (third in the final classification 1961 with only four races: three first and second place), Skip Callanan, Paul Richards, Victor Lukens, Jack Connolly, Giorgio Cecchini, and Ilario Bandini. These later wins were most impressive, given that many car competitors had mid-rear engines, a choice destined to spread throughout motorsports. In this context, the most important results are third place to Trento-Bondone in 1964 (valid for the European championship mountain) and fourth place to Mugello circuit road, 1965 (Round of World Championship sport cars) both times driven by Antonio Benelli.

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Wikipedia