Topic: Puzzle #776 - Solved! 1940 Ford V8 by Spohn - nicknamed "Spohn Palos"

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know the make and coachbuilder of the car posted here.

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[grobmotorix]

This is a 1940 Ford V8 with a post war special body by Spohn, Ravensburg,/Germany

[Otto Puzzell]

It sure is!

[Otto Puzzell]

Some pictures from a current owner, as his 1952 Ford-based Spohn looks today.

I think it could be the same car, though the color and the grill are changed. The car's owner indicates this was built on a 1940 Ford DeLuxe chassis, and is titled as a 1952 Spohn,

[Carnut]

What's this, from when - for 1 point?:

ANYONE FOUND GIVING ANSWERS GLEANED BY USING GOOGLE SEARCH BY IMAGE MAY BE BANNED FOR AN INDETERMINATE PERIOD!

[Carnut]

This is really a re-post, but the name I have for it never seems to have been mentioned anywhere at all on AP!
So all I want for the point is - what is this car's name.
Easy or what?!

[RayTheRat]

"Palos."

[Carnut]

"Palos."

That's it, yes!  Strange that this name only now seems to have come out of the woodwork..!  I'll merge the puzzle and include the name in the heading for future searches.

[Wendax]

After reading the full story I come to the conclusion that the Palos name was given to the car by its current owner (since 2011), because he saw the car for the first time in 1957 when he was a small boy living at Palos Park. There probably wasn't any name given to it by Spohn.

[Carnut]

After reading the full story I come to the conclusion that the Palos name was given to the car by its current owner (since 2011), because he saw the car first when he was a small boy living at Palos Park. There probably wasn't any name given to it by Spohn.

That would figure!
Won't do any harm to have it included in the title for future searches.

[StillOutThere]

Most conclusions are correct.  I am the owner of the 1952 Spohn-built Palos.  Wayne Graefen.  A handful of the Spohn Customs originally had names but most did not.  This car did not.  In 2011 when I found and purchased my "personal dream car", as stated in a web article, I christened this car with the name "Palos".

I am doing as much research as possible on post-war Spohn production concentrating on the "Spohn Custom" series of coachbuilt American-style custom cars on American chassis, some new, most used, that were contracted primarily by US Air Force pilots stationed in Germany early 1950s.

At this time it appears that at least three and possibly four 1940 Ford cars were the basis of Spohn Customs.   The car photo which started this thread is almost identical to my car but I beliieve it is one of the other '40 Ford chassis.  There is no evidence my "Palos" car ever had the central grille sheet metal divider and unlikely the fine bar grille was in my car.

The Spohn Palos is currently on exhibition at the Petersen Automotiive Museum in Los Angeles, Californiia through January of 2014 in unrestored condition. 

I welcome inquiriies, additiions, questions regarding Spohn Customs.