Solved - MJW #809 - Vauxhall Special 1936/52 by Lionel Nicolls

[woodinsight]

Last one for today and probably the most difficult.
Identify the base car, the name of the person who was responsible for it's transformation and the dates involved - base car and year of re-bodying.
I don't know who actually built the body so I'd welcome any further information.....

[woodinsight]

Up

[woodinsight]

Time for a Pro opinion

[Djetset]

Let's get this one rolling.  It is based on a Peugeot 203?

[woodinsight]

Not Peugeot based.
It may be a difficult one so let me provide a clue - the base car is British.

[woodinsight]

The base car is a popular British make - not Ford!

[Carnut]

The base car is a popular British make - not Ford!

Triumph base?

[woodinsight]

The base car is a popular British make - not Ford!

Triumph base?

Not Triumph but a make known more for its saloons rather than any sporting types....(except in recent years!)

[Carnut]

The base car is a popular British make - not Ford!

Triumph base?

Not Triumph but a make known more for its saloons rather than any sporting types....(except in recent years!)

That should narrow it down as there aren't many British names left..
Ford?

[woodinsight]

The base car is a popular British make - not Ford!

Triumph base?

Not Triumph but a make known more for its saloons rather than any sporting types....(except in recent years!)

That should narrow it down as there aren't many British names left..
Ford?

Not Ford......see reply 5!
The wheels may provide a clue

[Wendax]

Vauxhall?

[Carnut]

The base car is a popular British make - not Ford!

Triumph base?

Not Triumph but a make known more for its saloons rather than any sporting types....(except in recent years!)

That should narrow it down as there aren't many British names left..
Ford?

Not Ford......see reply 5!
The wheels may provide a clue

Oh yes..
Actually I wrote Vauxhall first but then decided that even in modern times they're hardly renowned for sporting cars, which is why I changed it to Ford...
Just off-hand I can't think of any more large British manufacturers that a) still exist and b) were not involved in sporting cars in the 1950s!

[woodinsight]

Yes, it's Vauxhall-based......

[ImpishGrin]

OK, let's try to find the base car. Is it maybe an L-type Vauxhall (Wyvern/Velox)?

[woodinsight]

OK, let's try to find the base car. Is it maybe an L-type Vauxhall (Wyvern/Velox)?

I don't know the model it was based on but the chassis is pre-1940 and the car was built post WW II......

[woodinsight]

As this one is proving difficult to solve, I'm altering it to a two-point puzzle.

We've established that the base car is a pre-war Vauxhall and the conversion/bodywork is post-war.

A point is offered to the first person to come up with both correct dates.

The second point will be awarded to someone who can identify the owner/builder.

[ImpishGrin]

OK, let's start with 1932/1952.

[woodinsight]

OK, let's start with 1932/1952.

You're 50% correct!
193x/1952 - locked for you until your next reply to fill in the 'x'

[woodinsight]

OK, let's start with 1932/1952.

You're 50% correct!
193x/1952 - locked for you until your next reply to fill in the 'x'

Any thoughts ImpishGrin before I open it again?

[woodinsight]

Open to all again

[Paul Jaray]

1936/1952?

[woodinsight]

1936/1952?

Yes, well done!
Another point for you.

So, this car is a 1936 Vauxhall-based sports car that was re-bodied in 1952.
The car was converted/rebuilt by L----- "N---" N------ at Enfield, Middlesex, UK
Still one point if you can find the name of this person. (the dashes do represent the number of missing letters)

[Paul Jaray]

Lionel?

[woodinsight]

Lionel?

Yes!

Lionel "N---" N------

The second word is his "nickname" - a shortened version of his surname......

[Wendax]

Lionel "Nick" Nichols?  (...Nickname   )