Author Topic: Q642 - solved - Sports Car Engineering Spyder  (Read 2845 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Allan L

  • Feature Writer
  • *
  • Posts: 4822
  • Country: gb
  • Puzzle Points 414
  • Forum Host in Vintage!
  • YearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYears
Re: Q642 - solved - Sports Car Engineering Spyder
« Reply #25 on: January 07, 2011, 04:32:47 AM »
Since we have not been told what it's based on I had a Google and found a site which included the following:
TK-102 (Mistral Sports Car Body): This is an exact copy of the Mistral sports car body that was introduced by Bud Goodwin to America in 1956.  Bud later went on to create a company called “Sports Car Engineering” which sold the Mistral body under the “Spyder” name.  Bud then went on to create his most famous company – Fiberfab – which continues to operate on the West Coast as of today.

Good friend Erich Schultz from Altadena, California studied the TK-102 in the picture and commented the following: “Geoff…it appears to have been a Jowett Jupiter Special.  The pattern of holes on the wheels match the Jowett perfectly in configuration and number, and the extremely short hood with tall hoodscoop (which is entirely forward of the front wheels) matches the design of the horizonally opposed 4 cylinder engine of the Jowett.  This may help in identifying who built this car and perhaps the driver who is pictured too. I also believe that the picture is from a car raced a few years earlier than 1960 – perhaps 1956 or 1957.”  Thanks Erich!


Like all internet sources, it is not evidence, but whoever Schultz is/was he and I agree on the wheels and his further analysis looks sound.
Opinionated but sometimes wrong

Offline woodinsight

  • Professional
  • *
  • Posts: 13671
  • Country: fr
  • Puzzle Points 557
  • YearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYears
Re: Q642 - solved - Sports Car Engineering Spyder
« Reply #26 on: January 07, 2011, 04:51:53 AM »
Interesting find Allan - I wondered why the air-scoop was so far forward.
I'll try some digging over the weekend to see if I can find some more proof.

Offline Allan L

  • Feature Writer
  • *
  • Posts: 4822
  • Country: gb
  • Puzzle Points 414
  • Forum Host in Vintage!
  • YearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYears
Re: Q642 - solved - Sports Car Engineering Spyder
« Reply #27 on: January 07, 2011, 05:05:21 AM »
Interesting find Allan - I wondered why the air-scoop was so far forward.
I'll try some digging over the weekend to see if I can find some more proof.
Perhaps barrett knows something!
I've asked another Jowett Jupiter source.
Opinionated but sometimes wrong

Offline Otto Puzzell

  • Founder and
  • Editor
  • *
  • Posts: 31557
  • Country: us
  • Puzzle Points 444
  • Open field, with a window.
  • YearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYearsYears
    • AutoPuzzles
Re: Q642 - solved - Sports Car Engineering Spyder
« Reply #28 on: January 07, 2011, 05:07:23 AM »
Like so many other companies, Track Kraft sold various fiberglass body kits. Some appear to be somewhat original.
You wanna be the man, you gotta Name That Car!