Topic: Solved - MJW #044 - Tai-phun, the car that never existed

[woodinsight]

HOLD IT EVERYONE!
I think I have a very large egg on my face!

Fyreline rightfully pointed out that the front end of this car was a blatant copy of an early Datsun which any manufacturer would never have got away with.

I then looked through the article again and found to my horror that the article (in a UK motoring magazine) was dated April 1991 and although appearing feasible at first look there were some strange reports from other magazines/newspapers who had apparently tried/tested the car.

What I believe I have found is an elaborate "April Fool's Joke" that certainly fooled me! (my embarrassment as a so-called Expert knows no bounds). Damn - I should have posted this on the 1st. April!

So - what to do?
Post the article in full or continue posing the puzzle by asking what was the name of this car featured in this article?

I'll leave it for you dear AutoPuzzlers to decide........(I'm still happy to award points to those who posted answers to this puzzle by way of recompense for your time and effort)

[pnegyesi]

Built in the 1930s?

[fyreline]

Just my opinion, and I'm relatively new around here so bear that in mind . . . but I would say just post the article so we can see what you saw, and we'll all learn from it. For my own part, no points requested or required.  No harm, no foul.

While it always seemed to me that the car was a liiiiiiiiitle too big for one of these very early Datsuns, one "big" giveaway was the size of the tires.  Those things would have been HUGE on this car!  I was a little frustrated in not being able to find where Datsuns were ever built in Hong Kong, so I figured maybe a dealer conversion to attract showroom traffic.  Well, it certainly attracted some traffic on this forum . . . and that's always half the fun!

So no worries, woodinsight - and keep challenging us!

[woodinsight]

No problem but it'll teach me to look VERY closely at some obscure cars that I come across sometimes.

One of the quite strange things to me initially was the founder's daughter standing next to the car.

She was stated to be dressed up to look like an adult to emphasise the car's size and yet she was said to be only six years old!

Whatever, I'll wait on others commenting before I post the full story on this "April Fool's Joke".

Watch this space........

[pnegyesi]

Yes, please post the original story. I did not notice your 'hold' message that's why I asked further questions

[Otto Puzzell]

No worries, woodinsight. Please share the story - it sounds quite interesting!

[woodinsight]

Thanks, I'll scan it and post it today.

Maybe we can start a new topic - great automobile frauds and fakes - I can think of quite a few!

I just wished that I had posted it on 1st. April!

[Otto Puzzell]

We had a good discussion of the "Dale" here, some time back. 

[woodinsight]

Here is some lighthearted reading for you all regarding this unsolvable puzzle!

I'll put in the Solved section for the moment until I find a better home for it. (BH perhaps) 

Talking of Black Holes, I hope those guys trapped in the mine in Chile make it out safely in the next few hours.
Fingers crossed for them and their families.

[Otto Puzzell]

I suppose the name should have given you your first inkling that mischief was afoot. 

[woodinsight]

I know Otto - I must confess I only briefly read the first two pages of the article - the 3rd was on the reverse of the 2nd.
Anyway, as Fyreline said it generated some traffic on the site and was a puzzle with a difference!
It'll teach me to read things more carefully before I commit to posting.

[woodinsight]

I've just come across the original photo that was used in this fake article.
As you see it is a Yue Loong (dating from the late 1950s) and I'm going to give a belated point to Yves for being the first to spot it's true identity. You'll be interested to compare the puzzle car with the one below to see how they doctored the original photo.
Thank you to everyone who spent time on a fruitless search for this non-existent car.