Topic: Solved: Monty017 - Monaco Motors Peugeot Special AKA Aljon Special

[el_monty]

Fellow autopuzzlers, for a point please tell me what is this, from when and where, based on what.

Don't be naughty! Stay away from Google Search by Image, kids

[el_monty]

Up to the experts. I know there's at least one expert who knows perfecty well what this is, so he can take the point if he wants! 

[Carnut]

Thanks!
I thought about leaving it like with 'Mathilde' but since you're inviting me..

It's the Aljon Special, originally built in Australia as the Monaco Motors Peugeot Special with a Peugeot 403 engine but that was swapped for a Y-block Ford V8 in 1964 when the car was sold and it gained its new name Aljon.

[el_monty]

Of course, you are correct. I will keep it locked for you to find the year on which the Special was originally built. (Also, if you can, what the bodywork originally was before it was modified to fit the rear-engined layout of the car...). The info is online

[Carnut]

It was originally built in 1958 by Monaco Motors in Dandenong with a Peugeot 403 engine mid-mounted ahead of a VW gearbox.  The car was sold to John Skipper in 1963, and he fitted the 272 ci Ford Y-block in the rear, renaming it the Aljon Special.

[el_monty]

  OK the point is yours. The info I have is contradictory, in one place it says 1958 and in another 1960. Built by Derek Smith and Richie Hilyear for Bill Lord-Milnes' Monaco Motors, taking the body from a Jewitt Holden and reworking it to accomodate the new layout. Restored in 2016 by Angelo di Donato. Original pic is below.

[Carnut]

I'm pretty sure 1958 is the right date for when it was initially built and I believe Derek Smith and Richie Hilyear worked at Monaco Motors.
I think the car is now in England.

[Paul Jaray]

I believe the company was "Monaco Autos", a Peugeot dealership in Plunkett Rd, Dandenong.
Bill Lord-Milne was the owner.
Richie Hilyear and Derek Smith, worked there and later on set up their own Derrard Motors in Dandenong.
They built an open wheeler too, called Monault, or Monaco Renault, later with a Peugeot engine.
The last in line from them was the Monaco HS6 in 1965. It was for sale by Derek Smith in 2008.