Ilario Bandini (1911-1992) was born the son of a farmer in Forli, Italy.  He was apprenticed as a mechanic and set-up his own business in 1938.

He never styled himself as a garage owner, rather as motor manufacturer and inventor, with several patents to his name.  He was also awarded an honorary engineering degree by an American university.

Bandini certainly produced beautiful cars: probably 73 in all since 1947.  Most of these were small racing cars, which were extremely popular immediately after the war but he also later made some wonderful sporting coupes and grand tourers.