Author Topic: Q319 - solved - Heuliez Bentley (Read 2163 times)

Quiller · « **on:** February 27, 2009, 12:25:47 PM »

What's the identity of this car?

Quiller · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2009, 07:16:13 PM »

jotage21 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2009, 10:24:13 PM »

Bentley Retractable Hardtop by Heuliez

Quiller · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2009, 11:18:50 AM »

Quote from: jotage21 on March 22, 2009, 10:24:13 PM

Bentley Retractable Hardtop by Heuliez

Hmmm. I've seen this car on one website identified as such - but I'm not convinced it's from Heuliez. Do you have any more info / evidence to back this up?

Quiller · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2009, 07:46:20 AM »

Can any pros shed definitive light on this car? [I must admit, its identity is a bit unclear]

Paul Jaray · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2009, 08:00:10 AM »

You have another name for this?

Allemano · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2009, 09:08:39 AM »

Some say it's a Pininfarina (Coggiola) modified Bentley for the Brunei garage, but it doesn't wears a PF badge.

Quiller · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2009, 12:03:02 PM »

Most sources seem to agree that it's a Sultan of Brunei Bentley. In that case, Heuliez seems less likely. As well as the Pininfarina conjecture, one other source suggests Mulliner Park Ward. With so many conflicting theories, I wondered if any Autopuzzlers have any more clues as to its true identity? In truth, I can't give a definitive view...

Djetset · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2009, 02:41:49 PM »

Based on some information received today connected with sourcing a car for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it seems that this car did form part of the Brunei collection and is based on a Bentley Azure. The coachbuilder remains a mystery though.

basman007 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2009, 06:39:46 AM »

Why would you choose a car for a puzzle of wich you're not sure of the name? :p:p

Quote from: Quiller on April 04, 2009, 12:03:02 PM

Most sources seem to agree that it's a Sultan of Brunei Bentley. In that case, Heuliez seems less likely. As well as the Pininfarina conjecture, one other source suggests Mulliner Park Ward. With so many conflicting theories, I wondered if any Autopuzzlers have any more clues as to its true identity? In truth, I can't give a definitive view...

Why is Heuliez less likely? I'm the one who 'revealed' this car on SCN, Fchat, SCF and carpassion. And after that Jordan posted it on his bentleyspotting.com as well. And then it popped on other forums and sites by copy paste.
I only have a part of the story on this car, but what I've got so far I've gotten from good sources. I'm sorry, but besides this I can't tell you anything more. I've got emails with more info from a year/2 years ago, but I can't acces them anymore. There's a big chance I've saved it in a .txt somewhere, but I can't find that now... I will try to get back on this next week or so, iirc I've got an extra image as well

Quote from: Allemano on April 04, 2009, 09:08:39 AM

Some say it's a Pininfarina (Coggiola) modified Bentley for the Brunei garage, but it doesn't wears a PF badge.

Who says that? Besides some brainstorming from Michiel vd Brink I've never heard of PF in relation to this car...

Quote from: Djetset on May 19, 2009, 02:41:49 PM

Based on some information received today connected with sourcing a car for the Goodwood Festival of Speed, it seems that this car did form part of the Brunei collection and is based on a Bentley Azure. The coachbuilder remains a mystery though, although a good source seems 90% sure that it is Pininfarina.

Interesting. I'd really like to know more of this. I'd really appreciate it if you could pm me about this

Quiller · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2009, 11:09:35 AM »

Quote from: basman007 on July 31, 2009, 06:39:46 AM

Why would you choose a car for a puzzle of wich you're not sure of the name? :p:p

Often you have a name for a car but further research reveals the name may be incomplete or inaccurate. This is one of those cases. It's also a great strength of Autopuzzles that posting a car often results in extremely useful info being posted about it. I've learnt a whole lot here

Quote from: Quiller on April 04, 2009, 12:03:02 PM

Most sources seem to agree that it's a Sultan of Brunei Bentley. In that case, Heuliez seems less likely. As well as the Pininfarina conjecture, one other source suggests Mulliner Park Ward. With so many conflicting theories, I wondered if any Autopuzzlers have any more clues as to its true identity? In truth, I can't give a definitive view...

Why is Heuliez less likely?

Quote

It's just my opinion. The Sultan of Brunei cars were often built by MPW or Pininfarina, but I've not come across one done by Heuliez. Equally, I've not come across much definitive evidence to say exactly who built this car. Any concrete info gratefully received!

grobmotorix · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2010, 05:02:31 PM »

I just wanted to revive one of our oldest puzzles.

Many others try to find out what it might be...

I´m with the Heuliez idea, because it shows a highly sophisticated retractable/foldable hardtop only very few companies were able to produce in 1999...

And do not forget the 1997 Heuliez Intruder. When you have a closer look at its hardtop constructions and its rear end there are many parallels, too. (pic at the bottom):

basman007 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 28, 2010, 09:53:11 AM »

That's pretty much exactly the same info as I've gathered. Sadly those listings do not reveal whether this car was ever made or only exists on paper...

edit: nice flickr! added

Oguerrerob · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2010, 03:00:48 PM »

According to some Heuliez related page claims that this car is "1999 Bentley Rectable Hardtop en profile AR"

Quiller · « **Reply #14 on:** December 08, 2010, 10:57:09 AM »

I think we're still awaiting the killer bit of into that will prove this came from Heuliez. As the French document above says, "information concerning these projects is sorely lacking"

Djetset · « **Reply #15 on:** December 15, 2011, 05:39:12 PM »

As this mystery is now one of the oldest unsolved puzzles on AP and hasn't been touched for over one year, I will attempt to revive it by adding a model name, which I don't think has ever been mentioned.

It's called the Bentley Buccaneer, built by Heuliez (possibly to a Zagato design). Getting closer, or back to sleep for another year?

Quiller · « **Reply #16 on:** December 24, 2011, 02:42:09 PM »

The Bentley Buccaneer definitely exists - it's the red car the pic above. And such a car was indeed built by Heuliez, as it appears on the French firm's website.
However as far as I can tell, the red car looks like a fixed-head coupe, not a convertible, and it's definitely different in many details to the puzzle car.
The question still remains: did Heuliez have anything to do with it? Given that one of its specialities is folding hardtops, it seems likely. Likely but still not proven... (as indeed whether this is a Buccaneer or not)

PS Thanks for reviving a long-forgotten puzzle!

Carnut · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2012, 07:50:12 AM »

Quote from: Djetset on December 15, 2011, 05:39:12 PM

It's called the Bentley Buccaneer, built by Heuliez (possibly to a Zagato design).

Ah - that would mean my puzzle being a repost!:

www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=11450.0

The puzzle car looks a bit like a poor copy of the PF design:

Quiller · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2012, 06:48:38 PM »

Quote from: Carnut on January 03, 2012, 07:50:12 AM

The puzzle car looks a bit like a poor copy of the PF design:

Pininfarina's design was many years after of course...

Carnut · « **Reply #19 on:** January 05, 2012, 10:36:43 AM »

Quote from: Quiller on January 03, 2012, 06:48:38 PM

Quote from: Carnut on January 03, 2012, 07:50:12 AM

The puzzle car looks a bit like a poor copy of the PF design:

Pininfarina's design was many years after of course...

Of course..
In that case it's an excellent improvement of (Heuliez's?) design!

Djetset · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2012, 07:21:22 PM »

I think we can now close this long-term mystery, although I don't claim the point as I think someone else got there first.

An excellent new French book has just been published about Heuliez, and this car is in there (front 3/4 view attached) as a model built by them for the Sultan of Brunei. I meet the book's author, and he also showed some other photos of this car to me from the Heuliez archive. I will add another photo as proof in a moment.

So, anyway, it is a Heuliez Bentley, built in 1999.

Djetset · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2012, 07:55:22 PM »

Here is a (poor-quality, cheap 'phone) photo taken from the new Heuliez book, with a caption (in French) confirming what the car is.

Quiller · « **Reply #22 on:** March 20, 2012, 03:21:06 PM »

Thankyou Sir Djetset! Once again the talents of the Autopuzzles people put a long-standing mystery to rest. Fancy: Heuliez did make a Bentley!

Point awarded to jotage21.

thewarlord · « **Reply #23 on:** March 22, 2012, 06:43:25 AM »

Do other projects from Heuliez Torino -Marc Deschamps' leading- appear in the book, appart from the silver Bentley and the Intruder off-roader?

Any previously unreleased material about Lamborghini Pregunta and other possible Lamborghini collaborations?

Any more images of this scale model attached? Not asking for you to show, only just please let me know.

Thanks a lot for your reply!

Djetset · « **Reply #24 on:** March 22, 2012, 08:52:56 AM »

There are a few mentions and photos of other Torino projects in the new Heuliez book, including other images of the Alfa Romeo 155 ITC V6 GT1 and GT2 'Mambo' models that you have illustrated, plus a couple of Pregunta pictures I hadn't seen before, though no other Lamborghini surprises from memory.

It's a very interesting book, even if you don't speak French, with a few other vehicles I'd never seen before included. It has just been released by E.T.A.I. and costs 46 Euros. Here's the book cover.

News:

Author Topic: Q319 - solved - Heuliez Bentley (Read 2163 times)