Solved: PN #372 -- 1947 Buick by Vic Morbidelli (not Figoni&Falaschi)

[fyreline]

The automobiles of Figoni & Falaschi (sometimes referred to as "Phony & Flashy"  ) were always flamboyant and distinctive, and this car is certainly both. However, I have to agree that it's F&F lineage is questionable. It just appears to be too crudely done in some respects . . . and while F&F's designs were often polarizing and frequently over the top, they were never crudely done - worksmanship was typically first-class. Of course, this car has obviously been much-modified over the years, so who knows - the original car may have been much more refined. The post above clarifies things quite a bit, but the question of where the "Figoni & Falaschi 074" nameplate fits in is still a puzzle. In any case, if the owner identified it as a Figoni & Falaschi-bodied 1947 Buick, that was the correct answer to the quiz.

[Otto Puzzell]

The post immediately before yours shows a pic of the car when new. It looks more like the work of a fire engine company that a fine coachbuilder. 

[pnegyesi]

okay, I modify the heading - Otto thanks for your assistance

[João]

Please, deduct my point and transfer to Otto  

[pnegyesi]

I gave a point to Otto, but you acted in good faith too

[Otto Puzzell]

Thank you as well. I wouldn't have found what I did without the F&F solution posted earlier. 

[RayTheRat]

I gotta admit that the electric blue paint ameliorates some of the "OmyGawd!" affect that it had with the faded red.  Nonetheless, it still has (in all likelihood) a 320" Dynaflash straight-8 (that's not the bad part) with a DynaFlush infinitely variable transmission with essentially one gear: "Horribly slow" that would give one the opportunity to light a cigarette as the traffic light turned green and have the cig smoked and put out in the ashtray before reaching the other side of the intersection.  They weren't really what ya might call "performance transmissions." 

There's another story about a guy using a 53 Buick (I had wonna them) as a taxi or limo of some sort and was so slow in the funeral cortege that a motorcycle cop pulled up alongside the driver and asked, "can't you move any faster?"  The driver didn't even blink.  He just responded with a straight face and said, "Yes sir, I could.  However, company regulations prevent me from leaving the vehicle while it's moving."

Why, oh why GM didn't see fit to put the GMC 4-speed Hydromatic into the pre-61 Buicks instead of that planetary single speed thing in 'em escapes me.  'Course maybe it was built on another planet.    But if they'd done a decent 3- or 4-speed Auto in it, things might be a lot different today.

RtR

[fyreline]

The post immediately before yours shows a pic of the car when new. It looks more like the work of a fire engine company that a fine coachbuilder

I didn't make that connection, but you're absolutely right!  All it needs is a bell and some ladders hanging off of the sides.

And Ray is also absolutely correct about the "DynaSlow" transmission in most of these cars . . . my grandfather always bought Buicks and had a '47 that continually sounded like it was in the wrong gear.  As you pressed on the accelerator (not too hard, the starter button is under there!) it made more noise, but didn't go any faster. By contrast, he later had a '56 Roadmaster (V-8 by then, not straight-8) that was a real rocket. Buicks of that era were definitely quality cars, but oh, no, that Dynaflow!

Vick's Rocket was a great puzzle - it's amazing how much history can still be uncovered on one-off cars like this.