Author Topic: Solved - NEH 2608: 1935 Alvis Firefly "Bonstard Special" AKA "Routledge Special" (Read 5977 times)

Carnut · « **on:** April 08, 2013, 07:55:37 AM »

What's this and from when does it date - for 1 point?:

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

Carnut · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2013, 05:45:35 AM »

Experts?

nicanary · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2013, 07:38:32 AM »

Gordano ?

Carnut · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2013, 07:47:20 AM »

Quote from: nicanary on April 15, 2013, 07:38:32 AM

Gordano ?

No!

targhediferro · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2013, 11:13:06 AM »

MG based?

Carnut · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2013, 11:15:50 AM »

Quote from: targhediferro on April 15, 2013, 11:13:06 AM

MG based?

Despite my best efforts to find out what this car is based on I haven't been able to.
I know only its name and from when it dates.
It's possible it is MG-based.

Carnut · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2013, 09:32:06 AM »

Professionals?

nicanary · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2013, 09:41:29 AM »

It's RHD, but is it British ?

Carnut · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2013, 10:10:37 AM »

Quote from: nicanary on April 30, 2013, 09:41:29 AM

It's RHD, but is it British ?

Yes it is.

Carnut · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2013, 07:36:14 AM »

Black Hole-bound...

nicanary · « **Reply #10 on:** November 09, 2013, 07:22:05 AM »

I have found this image at last on the internet - there is only one available, and it accompanies a newspaper article in the Northern Echo about the Beamish Run for classic cars and motorcycles. The photo is ,alas, not captioned, and I have had to revert to trawling the list of runners to find a likely candidate.

The only likely car is a 1951 Alvis Special driven by William Wiggins. Does this ring a bell?

(I have checked DVLA records - the registration shows a grey-coloured car from 1957 with a 2.5-litre engine. As they say on WW2 US Navy films - "That is all")

Carnut · « **Reply #11 on:** November 09, 2013, 08:30:21 AM »

Crikey, I'd forgotten this one; seems I forgot to move it to the Black Hole too!

You've done a terrific detective job to find the source. I did everything I could at the time I was posting this to find out more info, including contacting the newspaper in which it was featured and the organisers but needless to say no-one replied..

I did manage to find out the name of the car and from when it dated, but that was all; not who built it or what it was based on.

Sorry to say it's not that Alvis but I'll give you a clue: it's much older than 1951!

Locked for you to have a good hunt around!

nicanary · « **Reply #12 on:** November 09, 2013, 08:37:16 AM »

You've told me everything I need to know - after posting I re-checked the entry list and saw another possibility, although TBH the bodystyle seems very advanced for a "special" of that date.

1935 Bonstard Special ?

Carnut · « **Reply #13 on:** November 09, 2013, 08:40:45 AM »

Quote from: nicanary on November 09, 2013, 08:37:16 AM

You've told me everything I need to know - after posting I re-checked the entry list and saw another possibility, although TBH the bodystyle seems very advanced for a "special" of that date.

1935 Bonstard Special ?

Well done! That is indeed the car.

Strange that there's so little out there about it; I'd love to know more and maybe sooner or later more will appear on the 'Net.

I'll tell you what, I'll give you 2 points for this one as it's so old and was difficult; I had intended to move it to the BH where you would have earned 2 points anyway so we'll pretend I did!

nicanary · « **Reply #14 on:** November 09, 2013, 08:42:20 AM »

You are an officer and a gentleman. (I stumbled on it whilst looking for something else, as is so often the way)

Carnut · « **Reply #15 on:** November 12, 2013, 06:57:44 AM »

There's still nothing more about this car on the 'Net.
It was apparently driven by Jack Smithers and below is an unmodified photo of it.
I have no idea why the registration number is so much newer than 1935; the DVLA are reluctant to dish out new numbers just for modified cars, so the modifications must have been very substantial to warrant a new one.

SACO · « **Reply #16 on:** September 27, 2014, 02:29:16 AM »

What's this , for 1 point !

SACO · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2014, 09:38:50 AM »

Experts !

D-type · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2014, 05:30:16 PM »

Is this the E-Type ERA at the time it had been converted into a sports car?

SACO · « **Reply #19 on:** October 06, 2014, 04:52:25 AM »

Not the E-Type ERA !

SACO · « **Reply #20 on:** October 21, 2014, 06:51:35 AM »

Pros !

Wendax · « **Reply #21 on:** October 21, 2014, 06:53:34 AM »

Delahaye?

nicanary · « **Reply #22 on:** October 21, 2014, 07:16:01 AM »

That looks remarkably like the Bonstard Special, which we've had before. It's either that, or the Routledge Alvis Speed 20-based special.

SACO · « **Reply #23 on:** October 21, 2014, 09:03:54 AM »

Yes !I have Alvis Firefly Crested Eagle Special !
But 1 point for nicanary !

It's a repost ! Please merge with NEH 2608

nicanary · « **Reply #24 on:** October 21, 2014, 09:13:09 AM »

Thanks for the point - it has the same registration plate so it's certainly the same car. Your puzzle means we now know more about the car, in that it's a special based on an Alvis Firefly.

I have found another photo of the car on a specialst Alvis site, and the caption reads Alvis Firefly/Speed 20 Special - Routledge. This surname could be the builder of the car, although it was called the Bonstard Special elsewhere.

News:

Author Topic: Solved - NEH 2608: 1935 Alvis Firefly "Bonstard Special" AKA "Routledge Special" (Read 5977 times)