Topic: Solved - MJW #776 - Acadiane Esprit Van

[woodinsight]

Oh yes I know this one will probably be the first reaction......
Don't be fooled - this is not what it seems.
One point if you can identify what this is called and what base car was used for this van.

[hevace]

I vote it is a Citroen Acadienne, based on the Dyane. 

[woodinsight]

I vote it is a Citroen Acadienne, based on the Dyane. 

Acadiane is correct and it does have a Citroen Dyane van body but the car isn't based on a Citroen.
Locked for you to reveal the make and model that lies underneath.

[richard cuyler]

Having just sold my Citroen 2CV and being a bit of a 2CV fan, this is easy for me. It's an Acadiane Van with Ferrari 355 running gear and can be seen strutting its stuff on You Tube, if anyone would lkie to see how well it goes.

[woodinsight]

Having just sold my Citroen 2CV and being a bit of a 2CV fan, this is easy for me. It's an Acadiane Van with Ferrari 355 running gear and can be seen strutting its stuff on You Tube, if anyone would lkie to see how well it goes.

Sorry to disappoint you but this one doesn't have Ferrari running gear.
The base car is surprising but not a Ferrari.....

[richard cuyler]

Ah! It's the Lotus Espirit one, then. Pretty old by now, if it's still running. So much for 'being an easy one. I should have looked more carefully, shouldn't I?

[woodinsight]

Ah! It's the Lotus Espirit one, then. Pretty old by now, if it's still running. So much for 'being an easy one. I should have looked more carefully, shouldn't I?

That's the one!
I'm pleased to give you your first point and hope that there are many more to come for you.

[Djetset]

To complete this puzzle, this vehicle was built in the early 1990s by John Lewis, a garage mechanic based in Radstock, near Bath, in the West of England.  

John Lewis also built some other 2CV-based specials, including a fantastic motorcycle/sidecar combo, with the bike using a 2CV engine, and the 'driver' controlling the machine from the passenger sidecar, as the bike rider was a plastic skeleton! This must have caused a confused looks as he sped down he road!  I'll see if I can find some photos at home.

[richard cuyler]

I have seen it in the metal (and plastic) at the Beaulieu Autojumble, I think it was. It's a thoroughly professionally-done little vehicle, but the skeleton is starting to look a bit ragged round the edges now!