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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2013 => Topic started by: Carnut on June 07, 2013, 07:46:25 AM

Title: Solved - NEH 2665: René Bonnet Le Mans - 1964
Post by: Carnut on June 07, 2013, 07:46:25 AM
Identify this car and from when it dates correctly, for 1 point:

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Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Otto Puzzell on June 07, 2013, 11:39:16 AM
 :o
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2013, 05:14:49 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: kwgibbs on June 14, 2013, 01:12:45 PM
Am I seeing two steering wheels,or my sight is going?
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2013, 02:28:16 PM
Am I seeing two steering wheels,or my sight is going?

I think it's a bit unlikely!
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: kwgibbs on June 14, 2013, 02:48:05 PM
Is this car American?
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Hiawatha on June 14, 2013, 02:52:59 PM
Bristol?
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Otto Puzzell on June 14, 2013, 02:55:18 PM
Am I seeing two steering wheels,or my sight is going?

I think it's a bit unlikely!

It must be huge - look how small the people inside appear!
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Carnut on June 14, 2013, 06:26:10 PM
It's neither American nor a Bristol and it's not huge either!
Studying the steering wheel question again it's actually the wiper arm on the left hand side as we look at it (i.e. the right hand side of the car), that looks a bit like another wheel!  So the car is LHD.
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: qwaszx on June 14, 2013, 07:11:46 PM
Rene Bonnet Le Mans Luxe? 1963?
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: kwgibbs on June 14, 2013, 07:13:10 PM
this car looks like a one-off creation?
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Carnut on June 15, 2013, 08:08:06 AM
Rene Bonnet Le Mans Luxe? 1963?

Very, very close!
Locked for you to check the date!
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: qwaszx on June 15, 2013, 12:32:08 PM
René Bonnet Le Mans Grand-Luxe, introduced in 1961 with its Facellia-type MArchal Megalux headlights.... Personally I think the more affordable and rustic Missile looks better. Bulged bonnet is a pity since the Renault-technology is more bulky than the former Panhard air cooled boxers....
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Carnut on June 15, 2013, 02:05:28 PM
René Bonnet Le Mans Grand-Luxe, introduced in 1961 with its Facellia-type MArchal Megalux headlights.... Personally I think the more affordable and rustic Missile looks better. Bulged bonnet is a pity since the Renault-technology is more bulky than the former Panhard air cooled boxers....

That model did look very similar but this is from a bit later and is quite a bit different.
Locked for you to have another look and another try!
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: qwaszx on June 16, 2013, 04:02:32 AM
no idea, to be honest. the grand-luxe was the most expensive Rene Bonnet Le Mans but didn't have any racing pedigree. by that time all hopes were for the Djet actually the first practical series-mide engined sports car. in 1964 rene bonnets adventure was saved by Matra that killed the former DB Le Mans types in favor of the Djets.
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Carnut on June 16, 2013, 09:38:07 AM
It seems a pity to give up now when you are so very nearly there.
There aren't many years when DB were in business between 1961 and when they packed up and they didn't make many more different models..
Have another go!  The information is out there and very easy to come by.
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: qwaszx on June 16, 2013, 12:35:04 PM
it is evidently a René Bonnet, the Renault bric-à-brac version of the former Panhard-engined DB le Mans. the René Bonnet is all different but shares some parts of Le MAns bodywork. especially the bulge is problematic to house the higgly positioned 1100 cc engine. last DB le Mans Panhard was 1961. 1962-1964 the Renault based versions were produced...
Title: Re: NEH 2665
Post by: Carnut on June 16, 2013, 03:46:48 PM
OK. I've given you the point as you've got there really: it is the last of the Renault-DB Le Mans, from 1964

Here are a few more pictures of it:

Title: Re: Solved - NEH 2665: René Bonnet Le Mans - 1964
Post by: Djetset on June 16, 2013, 03:54:57 PM
As you've hit on a bit of a specialist area of mine, it is also worth mentioning that a few Le Mans models (plus the more affordable Missilles) were briefly offered and sold at Matras (Matra-Bonnet to be exact, like by Djet) as well  ;)
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 2665: René Bonnet Le Mans - 1964
Post by: qwaszx on June 17, 2013, 02:05:31 AM
probabely to sell the stock? or did Lagardère need the time before his evolution of the Djet was fit?
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 2665: René Bonnet Le Mans - 1964
Post by: Djetset on June 17, 2013, 05:19:33 AM
I suspect it was mainly to sell the remining stock of cars, with some simple rebadging (rather like all the Simcas that overnight magially became Talbots in late 1979!).