Topic: wfm23a Solved - DOCC from Ethiopia - Fiat 131 Mirafiori licence-built - 2008

[Bill Murray]

up to Expert level

[targhediferro]

Fiat 131 mirafiori, 1976....and then, I guess there's something more to discover.

[Bill Murray]

Correct on the make/model and probably the year.

And, yes, this one is a bit of an oddball.  As you are more aware than I am, Fiat had quite a web of collaborating/licensed companies and this is one of those.  As a tip, it was an effort that involved three countries.

Bill

[WayneB]

This is still Autopuzzles isn't it?

I had that car as a 2008 Docc (Dutch Overseas Car Company) buit in Ethiopia.

They built those 131's in so many world locations, I picked the most obscure.......

[Bill Murray]

You are quite correct.
My source did not give the year.
Not too sure what you meant in your first sentence.

You get a point but it may take some time to move it as I am having issues with that.
Bill

[autospeurder]

The DOCC 1600cc (full name) was built by Holland Car Plc. They used Tofas (TR) CKD. The factory is in Modjo. The production of this model started 18 October 2006 en has been stopped. After that 4 other cars were produced and could be puzzles too.

[WayneB]

Not too sure what you meant in your first sentence.

I actually thought it had already been solved with the Fiat 131 reference.

[DeAutogids]

Pictured is not a DOCC.

[Bill Murray]

That is possible.  I took the photo from an article on the net that dealt with this car and there were a couple of photos.  This one had no "caption" so I got lazy and used it.
Here is an "official" photo from the Dutch company but other than the wheels, to me they look the same.

In any event, I think I gave good enough tips, as the puzzle was solved in a very short period of time.

Bill

[als15]

The first photo is a regular Italian Fiat 131 Mirafiori. It's a very well-known official picture, taken in 1974 and widely used by Fiat in several sales brochures.
Absolutely nothing to do with the DOCC. This one is in fact a re-edition of the Turkish Tofas Sahin, whose production toolings and assembly line were sold when it was discontinued (to start the production of the much more modern Fiat Linea).
It was a project originally based on the platform of the 131, but the body was totally different.

[Bill Murray]

My apologies, then.

One is always at risk when trusting sites on the web, especially when it is not in one's field of research.
I was looking for something a little off the beaten path and came across an article on the Ethiopian Fiats
which as I said, had a few photos and I just took one I didn't have to photoshop assuming the site administrators knew what they were posting.

My mistake, for sure, but then I wonder if WayneB did not stumble across the same site as he almost immediately identified the car as an Ethiopian Fiat 131.

Now, to try to finish this one off, als15 indicates the DOCC was based on the platform of the 131 but the body was entirely different.  As I posted earlier, the only difference I can see is the wheels, the body looks virtually identical.  What were the differences??

Bill

[als15]

As I posted earlier, the only difference I can see is the wheels, the body looks virtually identical.  What were the differences??

You have to look at the pictures in detail: consider that the platform and the project are common, so the overall proportion are similar. However, the external panels are not the same: you can see it in several details, like the corner between front wings and nose, the profile of the belt-line in the rear door, the C-pillar, the shape of the rear wings...
I post two bigger pictures of the latest generation of Italian Fiat 131 (which was closer on a time-scale) and a Sahin. It should be more evident.

[Bill Murray]

Thanks als15!!

Now it is quite clear with your closer detail photos.
Again, sorry I posted the wrong photo but in the end we all learned something about a pretty rare car so all was not lost I hope.
Bill

[WayneB]

They built those 131's in so many world locations, I picked the most obscure.......

I agree the original photo was not of the answer I gave, but to be honest the original 131 was better looking than that restyled version