Topic: Solved: PN #144 -- Mercedes 770(?) bodied by Lajos Zupka and Sons

[pnegyesi]

Nope

[Joćo]

Lajos Zupka & Son?

[pnegyesi]

 

I just can't believe it!!!!! Joao, tell me, how on Earth did you know??? Congratulations! This is indeed a Mercedes-Benz bodied by Lajos Zupka and Sons.
Lajos Zupka was a blacksmith who turned to coachbuilding in 1880. He started bodying cars in the early 1900s, but his fame came in the 1920s. Together with his son, Lajos Zupka jr, they were responsible for some outstanding coachwork on Mercedes-Benz chassis which earned them awards at various Hungarian Concours d'Elegance events. They even bodied a Mercedes-Benz for Joseph, the Habsburg Prince.
The company also built various bus bodies and completed bodies for at least six railcars, with chassis supplied by the MĮVAG company.
As all other private companies, Lajos Zupka and sons were taken over by the state in 1949. By that time the daughter of Lajos Zupka sr, who married a Swedish guy, was living in Lugano. She moved his father to Lugano. Lajos Zupka jr. remained in Hungary until 1956. He emigrated at the end of 1956 and also lived in Lugano.

[Joćo]

It was a shot in the dark! It's the only Hungarian coachbuilder that I know...

[pnegyesi]

Due to the shock, I forgot to add it. Congratulations.
Well, we've got this great new site on the history of Hungarian motoring which will officially go live next week. We'll introduce some Hungarian coachbuilders there

[bentleybob]

Not a 770, ut a Nürnberg, I'd say. Frank Wo may be able to tell.

[Wendax]

Not a 770, ut a Nürnberg, I'd say. Frank Wo may be able to tell.

If so, it should be a Nürburg rather than a Nürnberg. 

[bentleybob]

Granted. Perhaps a 500N, even, I think they had flat fronted radiators too

[Wendax]

I found this picture of a Lajos Zupka bodied Mercedes-Benz. It seems to be a different car, but of similar body design.

[pnegyesi]

Yes, the picture which you just found shows Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria's Merc

[Wendax]

A front view of that one: