Topic: Solved - MJW #204 - Watling c.1959-61

[woodinsight]

Another poor image but it's the only one I have.
Marque and what was it normally based on for a point.

[woodinsight]

A better image would be ideal but can an Expert solve this one?

[barrett]

Crikey, is this a Watling?

[woodinsight]

YES it IS!
What was it normally based on for a point?
Locked for you

[barrett]

I'm speechless! I've been searching for a photograph of a Watling for years with no success, so seeing this has really made my day - thank you!
anyway, to complete the answer and fill in some details, Watlings were made in Parkstreet Villiage, St.Albans between 1959-61 by the Watling Cars company, who were a subsidiary of a larger firm who produced glassfibre caravans, speedboats and baths amongst other glassfibre products.
The cars were available in four basic body styles, a long-nosed version (the puzzle car is one of these) and a short-nosed version, either as open convertible or closed coupe. They were mounted on thier own unique ladderframe chassis and used Morris Minor front suspension and the engines were usually Ford (Anglia, 100E or Ten) or BMC A-series. Approx. 200 were built, but as far as I know there are no roadworthy survivors.

[woodinsight]

I'm glad I made your day!
The point is yours of course.
Thanks for the full reply - it filled in some gaps lacking in my knowledge about this make.
This is the only image I have seen but I'll keep my eyes open for any others that may come along in the future.

[barrett]

Hopefully someone else here has another image they can share, but just seeing this is enough for me!
Perhaps you can PM me your source?

[barrett]

I have since managed to trace a couple of surviving Watling shells and what I hope will prove to be a decent selection of archive material on the cars and company. I just need to find the time to go and check it all out!
In the meantime, here is a period ad