Puzzle #1913 - Standard Vanguard by Imperia

[Otto Puzzell]

Know the story? For 1 point, please respond below and identify the vehicle pictured, and the coachbuilder.  

Only complete answers will earn a point
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Thanks!

[Otto Puzzell]

I'm flummoxed. We have rookies who immediately know the most obscure vehicles, made of papier-mâchét and surplus refrigerator parts, constructed by one-legged rum smugglers who were the third cousin of the stable boy to Tsar Nicholas II.

Yet a rather well known car like this elicits nary one guess.  

[Wendax]

Standard Vanguard Phase I convertible "Nessonvaux" from 1951 with body by Imperia of Belgium

[Carnut]

Standard Vanguard Phase I convertible "Nessonvaux" from 1951 with body by Imperia of Belgium

.. I was just about to post that too...

We don't have long to wait and we'll get a look-in again too...

[Otto Puzzell]

Standard Vanguard Phase I convertible "Nessonvaux" from 1951 with body by Imperia of Belgium

Right again

[Tom_I]

I was waiting for this one too, but logged on too late as usual.

I first saw this car in 1998, at a classic car show near Reading in the UK. It looked newly restored, but what stuck in my mind was a hand-written notice on the front of it which made the extravagant claims that this was the only one of this model ever built, and that it had been made for the King of Belgium in 1950. I didn't say anything, though I did wonder why a European monarch would have wanted a right-hand-drive version, or indeed would have wanted a Standard Vanguard of any description.....

But when I read up about the political situation in Belgium in 1950, this claim seemed even less likely. The Wikipedia page on King Leopold III of Belgium gives a flavour. If he had been buying a car in 1950, then something bulletproof might have been more appropriate.

I'm not even sure about the date, as according to the DVLA database this car was registered in the UK in July 1952. But then that source is not 100% reliable, and I don't know any details of this car's early history. I'm slightly ashamed to admit that it has crossed my mind that this car could be a fake. I hope not.

Anyway, here are the photos I took in 1998 (on film! Remember that stuff?), with an enlargement of the notice, which is just about legible.

[Otto Puzzell]

Great pictures and context - thanks! 

[woodinsight]

Great pictures and context - thanks! 

Congratulations on your 400th point Otto  

If I may add some more information on the Standard Vanguard extracted from an article by respected motoring journalist Mark Hughes that appeared in "Classic & Sports Car" November 1993 -

"Early in the model's life, the Belgian coachbuilding company of Imperia made a deal with Standard to assemble ckd (completely-knocked-down) kits of Vanguard parts at its Nessonvaux factory. As a spin-off from this arrangement, Imperia decided to create a hand-made prototype Vanguard cabriolet that it displayed at the 1950 Geneva Show. The tentative price tag of around £2,400 was double the figure Jaguar were charging for an XK120, so it's not surprising that Imperia were unable to find customers for a limited production version.
The company tried again with conversions of the subsequent Phase IA and 'notchback' Phase II Vanguards, but both these cars met with similar indifference and ended up being destroyed. So the original Standard Vanguard Imperia Cabriolet, to quote its full name, remains a one-off."

The article goes on to state that Imperia had presented the single survivor to the King of Belgium. He had evidently not liked it much and it was later sold to a new owner.

[Carnut]

According to a letter in Classic & Sportscar Imperia made 47 of these.
One is known to survive in the UK in the hands of a Brian Simmonds of Reading; perhaps there are more.

[D-type]

According to a letter in Classic & Sportscar Imperia made 47 of these.
One is known to survive in the UK in the hands of a Brian Simmonds of Reading; perhaps there are more.

I assume that is 47 Standard Vanguards - not 47 convertibles!

[Carnut]

According to a letter in Classic & Sportscar Imperia made 47 of these.
One is known to survive in the UK in the hands of a Brian Simmonds of Reading; perhaps there are more.

I assume that is 47 Standard Vanguards - not 47 convertibles!

No.  The letter reads:

Quote
I recently visited the Imperia Auto Museum at Nessonvaux near Liege in Belgium and was fascinated to read about the early Fifties Phase 1, 1a and 2 Standard Vanguard 'Nessonvaux' cabriolets.  Apparently there was a demand for a convertible Vanguard, but Coventry wasn't interested and so Imperia Auto decided to build some.  It made 47 and tested them on the factory's rooftop track.
Unquote

So there you have it.  The information must be available at the Imperia Museum.

[Wendax]

The brochure for this rare car:

[grobmotorix]

In 1953 it´s been the "Vanguard Nessonvaux Coupé"

[Carnut]

That shows the slightly later model (1954 MY, although August 1953 onwards car) with a different grille..
Possibly only the later ones have that name?

[grobmotorix]

Possibly only the later ones have that name?

I think so, yes.

[Wendax]

I think I should know this one, but I don't. The picture was taken at a German gas station, probably in the 1950s.

If you can identify this car and prove your guess, I'll be happy to award you one point.

[Tom_I]

I think that's the convertible version of the Phase 1 Standard Vanguard designed and built by Imperia in Belgium.

[Wendax]

Thank you very much! A well-earned point for your convincing answer.

[Wendax]

I even earned a point once for guessing that car! 
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=15716.msg147377#msg147377

[Wendax]

Merged