Topic: Whaddyacallit #504 - Mr McAldowe £20 homemade car, 1950

[Ray B.]

Ever seen this ?
Another of these puzzles whose answer is totally unknown to the poster.

So, if you did, please respond below, let us know the "make and model" of the car posted here, and it will be greatly appreciated.
As usual, remember that detailed answers speak for your good name amongst senior autopuzzlers.

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Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Thanks!

[Ray B.]

Experts time!

[Oguerrerob]

I've found this picture and they called it Putt Putt car. Homemade car.

[Ray B.]

Home made is probably right. Putt Putt seems a nickname not exactly given by its maker.
An Englishman could find more precise facts from the license late.

[Paul Jaray]

 

[Tom_I]

An Englishman could find more precise facts from the license plate.

It doesn't give a lot of information - it's a pre-1963 registration number issued by Gloucestershire County Council. There is at least one old publication that lets you find the approximate date when a number was issued, but I'm not that much of an anorak. 

But it appears that the man in the photo is a Mr McAldowe from Cheltenham, one of the main towns in Gloucestershire. He apparently built this car himself for a cost of £20. It had a 147-cc motorcycle engine, and did 120 miles on a gallon of fuel. The picture is dated 26 March 1952.

[Carnut]

An Englishman could find more precise facts from the license plate.

It doesn't give a lot of information - it's a pre-1963 registration number issued by Gloucestershire County Council. There is at least one old publication that lets you find the approximate date when a number was issued, but I'm not that much of an anorak. 

I'm afraid I am!
That plate was a 1950 issue; when I get home I'll be able to tell you what month in 1950 as well!

[Oguerrerob]

Mr McAldowe Car (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images). Same as Tom_I found

[Ray B.]

An Englishman could find more precise facts from the license plate.

It doesn't give a lot of information - it's a pre-1963 registration number issued by Gloucestershire County Council. There is at least one old publication that lets you find the approximate date when a number was issued, but I'm not that much of an anorak. 

But it appears that the man in the photo is a Mr McAldowe from Cheltenham, one of the main towns in Gloucestershire. He apparently built this car himself for a cost of £20. It had a 147-cc motorcycle engine, and did 120 miles on a gallon of fuel. The picture is dated 26 March 1952.

I don't know where Tom got his informations, but you're both amazing anyway, neighbours.

Can you explain he meaning of I'm not that much of an anorak. by the way. My knowledge of the inuit language seems not sufficient.

[Tom_I]

Anorak is used colloquially in English to mean a (usually socially inept) person who has an obsessive interest in a subject, often one that is regarded as dull and unsociable. Named after the waterproof outer garment typically worn by train-spotters on windswept railway station platforms.

[Carnut]

Anorak is used colloquially in English to mean a (usually socially inept) person who has an obsessive interest in a subject, often one that is regarded as dull and unsociable. Named after the waterproof outer garment typically worn by train-spotters on windswept railway station platforms.

Very well put!
Anorak-in-Chief

[Ray B.]

Thanks a lot! I'll remember this (and its origins) and will try to place it wisely now and then in my conversation, except maybe in Nunavut.

[Carnut]

For the record KDD 914 dates from September, 1950 - probably about 20th/25th!

[Tom_I]

Is there more to be searched for on this one, Ray?

I can't find anything to add to what I posted in reply #5, plus Carnut's dating of the registration number. There appears to be just the one source of this picture (Getty Images). I've found it on one other site, but still with the Getty watermark.

[Ray B.]

Is there more to be searched for on this one, Ray?

I can't find anything to add to what I posted in reply #5, plus Carnut's dating of the registration number. There appears to be just the one source of this picture (Getty Images). I've found it on one other site, but still with the Getty watermark.

You've found it all, Tom, and you have the point. Sorry, I forgot it with this anorak business.  I should give another to the In-Chief for the licensz plate job, but let's not make this an habit.