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Car · Conservation, original hood kept
Bianchi S4
A 1920s Bianchi S4 tourer, put back together in a conservation restoration: the torn hood was repaired with pieces of an old hood, so that nothing of its originality was lost.
- Model
- Bianchi S4 tourer
- Era
- 1920s
- Engine
- 4 cylinders
- Body
- Black tourer, hood with side screens and windows
- Work
- Reassembly, engine, underside, hood repaired with original pieces
- Restoration
- Conservation
The story
As well as its famous bicycles, Bianchi of Milan built cars: the S4 is a 1920s car, seen here as an open tourer with a hood and side screens with windows. A touring car, with a luggage rack and cases at the back.
The restoration was a conservation job: the car was put back together, keeping everything that was original. The best example is the hood: it was torn, but instead of making a new one it was repaired with a piece of an old hood, joining the pieces together. A new hood would have stood out at once from the rest of the car; this way everything is the same age and has the same look.
The restoration step by step
Put back together, keeping the original
- Step 1 of 5
The torn hood
The original hood was ripped in several places, with the backing cloth showing through the tears. Underneath, the iron hoops were still in place.
the original hood, torn 
the back of the hood, with the cloth ripped 
the tears over the iron hoops - Step 2 of 5
The engine
The four-cylinder is opened up: head off, valves and springs checked, carburettor cleaned. Then everything goes back together with its original parts.
the four-cylinder with the head off 
the head with valves and springs 
the carburettor before cleaning 
the engine back in its bay - Step 3 of 5
Underneath
With the car on the lift, floor, propshaft and rear axle are checked: cleaned and preserved, without repainting what is sound.
the underside seen from the lift 
the rear axle and its casing 
the propshaft running to the rear axle - Step 4 of 5
The old hood, saved
The hood is laid out on the floor and studied piece by piece. Damaged parts are replaced with strips taken from an old hood, joined and stitched to the sound sections.
the hood off the car, laid out on the floor 
strips taken from an old hood 
the pieces joined, ready for stitching 
the stitching along the edge - Step 5 of 5
The hood back in place
The repaired hood goes back on its frame, with the side screens and windows. From outside you cannot see the joins: it is the same age and colour as the rest.
the repaired hood, with its side screens 
the hood frame with the rear panel 
fitting the panels with the windows 
the cabin seen from under the hood
As it is today
Do you have a 1920s car with a hood that needs attention?
Repair the original or make a new one: Mimmo looks at the hood and tells you what can be saved, including for clients in Switzerland. Tell him about your car.
More restorations
This is only a small selection: over the years Mimmo has restored many more cars and trucks, and we'll keep adding them from the workshop's photo books.
