Topic: SOLVED: Djetset 711 - Chris Humberstone design proposal for the AC 428-based H.R Saluki

[Djetset]

I've been overseas for a couple of weeks, so sadly I missed the TV piece on the Sedanca.  I guessed it wouldn't be great, but I will make an effort to catch-up with it shortly on the I-player.

This car was planned for a known Chris Humberstone connection, but not Rapport or Glenfrome.

[Carnut]

Most of the known Humberstone connections I know of have already been  discounted (Owen, Triplex, 408, Rapport, Panther) so that doesn't leave many..

Harold Radford perhaps, or Scorpion?

[Djetset]

No, the first one on your list is right (H.R.Owen).  It's just that you hadn't mention them in the right context until now. 

I can feel points gathering here soon, as you got the designer, and who it was for, (plus you've touched on the make of its intended base, possibly by accident, but...) so the main outstanding question that's left now is its name?!

[Carnut]

No, the first one on your list is right (H.R.Owen).  It's just that you hadn't mention them in the right context until now. 

I can feel points gathering here soon, as you got the designer, and who it was for, (plus you've touched on the make of its intended base, possibly by accident, but...) so the main outstanding question that's left now is its name?!

Three-quarters of the way there then..
I very nearly posted instead of my above post: "It does look remarkably like the Sedanca so perhaps a smaller car for H.R. Owen?" but I changed my mind!

If only Chris and you were aware of this design and he is sadly no longer with us then that leaves only you; any stab at the name can only be a complete shot in the dark so any clues going?!  Maybe it's also a resurrected Gurney Nutting name like Owen Sedanca was?

[Djetset]

Not planned as an Owen Sedanca, but as a clue, the proposed model name was used by at least two other car companies.

[Carnut]

Not planned as an Owen Sedanca, but as a clue, the proposed model name was used by at least two other car companies.

Thanks!  There are any number of those though...
Two other British car companies?  Something like Rapier?  Or two other car companies worldwide?

[Djetset]

Not planned as an Owen Sedanca, but as a clue, the proposed model name was used by at least two other car companies.

Thanks!  There are any number of those though...
Two other British car companies?  Something like Rapier?  Or two other car companies worldwide?

One of the cars with the same model name is British, and was launched in the same year as this Humberstone proposal was drawn.

[Carnut]

OK.  I wonder when this proposal was drawn..  That would really narrow it down, but let's start with Avenger?
The Hillman Avenger was launched in 1969, and there was a Dodge Avenger too in the USA.

[Djetset]

OK.  I wonder when this proposal was drawn..  That would really narrow it down, but let's start with Avenger?
The Hillman Avenger was launched in 1969, and there was a Dodge Avenger too in the USA.

A tad later than 1969, and higher up the alphabet!

[Carnut]

Crusader?  The Clan Crusader appeared in 1971..

[Djetset]

Crusader?  The Clan Crusader appeared in 1971..

1971 is the year, but the name is higher up the alphabet.

[oko94]

Is this puzzle still locked for Carnut ?

[Djetset]

Is this puzzle still locked for Carnut ?

No, I guess everyone can have a try at naming this car now, although I will be awarding a point shortly to Carnitas for his fine detective work so far.

[oko94]

My guess is "Marina"

[Djetset]

My guess is "Marina"

Not Marina.

[oko94]

Firenza ?

[Carnut]

Thanks!
Is this British car launched in 1971 from a mainstream manufacturer or kit/obscure car maker?
If the latter then Nova maybe?

[Djetset]

Thanks!
Is this British car launched in 1971 from a mainstream manufacturer or kit/obscure car maker?
If the latter then Nova maybe?

No, from a smaller niche car maker, but not Nova (or Firenza).

[Carnut]

I'm really struggling here.
There were few enough cars launched in the UK in 1971 by any manufacturers, mainstream or otherwise.
So leaving aside the major makers there was the Imp-engined Voodoo, the TX Tripper, Trident Tycoon and Lotus Europa Twin-Cam (which really isn't a 1971 launch except with that twin-cam engine); I thought about the Marcos Mantis but that appeared in 1970, though it should have been strangled at birth...

So is that niche manufacturer a really obscure maker of kit cars?

[Djetset]

The niche company made specialist cars, as well as kits.

[Carnut]

What about Invader then?
That name has been used by various makers and Gilbern (who made both fully built niche cars and kit cars) launched their Invader MkII in 1971..

[Djetset]

What about Invader then?
That name has been used by various makers and Gilbern (who made both fully built niche cars and kit cars) launched their Invader MkII in 1971..

Sorry, but it's not Invader; more obscure.

[Carnut]

Can find very little indeed that fits all the criteria, i.e. the same name as a British car launched in 1971 by a manufacturer of both niche and kit cars and which was used by at least 2 other manufacturers.

How about Futura?  That fits!

Or since I'm going to be away quite a bit over the next two and a half weeks I'll take the liberty of having another guess or two: Moonraker? Ranger?

[Djetset]

Sorry, but none of the above. The model name is shared with a British car, plus at least ONE other model from an international car maker.

[Carnut]

Scorpion? Silhouette? Gazelle?
I've gone through all my books on obscure British cars and named every one of the ones in there that was launched in 1971 and had a name used by another company (one British and one not), without success.
So it's either not in the Filby/Rees books (which makes it more than obscure and I've certainly never heard of it) or it appeared in a slightly different year from 1971?  Is that possible?