Author Topic: Solved - NEH 1580: Bruce McLaren's first car, an Austin 7 Special  (Read 747 times)

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Offline Carnut

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What's this, who built it and what special significance does it have - for 1 point?

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Offline james@bristolengineering

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2012, 10:56:52 AM »
What's this, who built it and what special significance does it have - for 1 point?

Google Image Search continues to raise its ugly head on AutoPuzzles.
For the sake of our newer members who may not be aware of past discussions on it, Google Image Search as a means of solving puzzles is banned on this website.

AutoPuzzles is primarily a game of automotive knowledge, not of who can copy and paste the quickest.

We ask all members to remember and respect this, and retain the right to ask puzzle-solvers how they came to their answer.

Have fun!


Dixi, Austin 7 made under licence in Germany eventually taken over by BMW so the first car manufactured by BMW?
« Last Edit: February 15, 2012, 11:20:03 AM by Carnut »

Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2012, 11:20:28 AM »
Sorry, no!
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Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2012, 04:21:40 AM »
Experts?
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Offline max

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2012, 06:32:29 PM »
Colin Chapman's first car - Austin Seven special?

Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2012, 05:18:13 AM »
Colin Chapman's first car - Austin Seven special?

It's an Austin 7 Special (the easy bit!) but nothing to do with Colin Chapman.
You're thinking on the right lines though so I'll lock it for you for 24 hours to see if you can find the right answer; if not then it's open to all again.
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Offline max

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2012, 03:51:53 PM »
Please unlock!

Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2012, 05:29:35 AM »
Please unlock!

OK, 24 hours are up so it's open to any eligible puzzler again!
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Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2012, 05:31:26 AM »
Professionals?
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Offline woodinsight

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2012, 05:36:17 AM »
Could this be Eric Broadley's first car - an Austin Seven Special? (not the Ford 1172 based Broadley Special)

Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2012, 05:51:53 AM »
Could this be Eric Broadley's first car - an Austin Seven Special? (not the Ford 1172 based Broadley Special)

It is an Austin 7 Special - we've already established that!
Nothing to do with Eric Broadley though.
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Offline woodinsight

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2012, 06:09:36 AM »
Was this car built by a well-known racing car manufacturer?
I get the impression after Colin Chapman and Eric Broadley that that may be case.

Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #12 on: March 07, 2012, 08:07:55 AM »
Was this car built by a well-known racing car manufacturer?
I get the impression after Colin Chapman and Eric Broadley that that may be case.

That's the conncection, although at the time the manufacturer didn't exist of course..
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Offline woodinsight

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #13 on: March 07, 2012, 08:15:33 AM »
The only other one I can think of off the top of my head is Bruce McLaren who had an Austin Seven that his father Les had restored in 1952. He was still a teenager at the time.

Offline Carnut

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Re: NEH 1580
« Reply #14 on: March 07, 2012, 09:26:57 AM »
The only other one I can think of off the top of my head is Bruce McLaren who had an Austin Seven that his father Les had restored in 1952. He was still a teenager at the time.

Well, you don't need to think of any more because this was Bruce McLaren's first car, an Austin 7 that he modified to go a bit quicker!
And the rest, as they say, is history...
Well done.
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Offline woodinsight

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Re: Solved - NEH 1580: Bruce McLaren's first car, an Austin 7 Special
« Reply #15 on: March 07, 2012, 10:39:42 AM »
I came across this photo of the proud owner with his first car.
Little did he realise then what the McLaren name would become in the future...... :D