Topic: Solved -PJ713- John W. Lorenz's Indy car street roadster

[Paul Jaray]

What is this?
1 point for you.

(Puzzlers with more than 400 points, consider the opportunity to leave this puzzle for a few days, if you want  )

[Carnut]

RHD...  but too sunny to be in GB and they seem to be American cars in the background.
Austin-Healey based?

[Paul Jaray]

I've not many info about, but I think it's not that obscure after all.
Not AH-based.

[Djetset]

Kurtis-related?

[Paul Jaray]

I believe it is.
Sorry but the text I found is too small...

[nicanary]

Please post when you think it's time for the 400+ Pros. I don't know what it is though..........well, not for sure........

[Carnut]

US V8-powered?

[Djetset]

Kurtis-related?

The Hallibrand wheels gave it away as Kurtis-based.  I think this was built by a Californian called John Lohreme, using a 1948 Lincoln engine.  Here's a rear view of the car.

[nicanary]

It's as well that I didn't jump in - my "possible" answer was way off........

[Paul Jaray]

Please post when you think it's time for the 400+ Pros. I don't know what it is though..........well, not for sure........

From now on, I'll limit my puzzles (on a voluntary base) for puzzler with more than 600 points.

Kurtis-related?

The Hallibrand wheels gave it away as Kurtis-based.  I think this was built by a Californian called John Lohreme, using a 1948 Lincoln engine.  Here's a rear view of the car.

You are nearly there.
Not John Lohreme...it's written small but it's not a totally obscure name.
Locked for you

[Djetset]

With my eyesight, the document I found is very small and difficult to read, so maybe his surname could be Boheme?

[Paul Jaray]

John Lohreme was pretty close.
I'd suggest you to look for the name you think it could be, togheter with the location (that should be easier to read ) and you'll be able to complete the puzzle.
....or you can consider that John used the car to promote his business (and you can read it in the pic you posted) and it will take few seconds.
This will be a lot more fun than blind guessing

[Djetset]

John Lohreme was pretty close.

John Lohrenz

[Paul Jaray]

Ok, that's the right name. I'll fill in the details, the ones you can find googling "John Lohrenz" and "schoc shell" combined with "Long Beach, California".
John W. Lorenz from Long Beach, California, used this Indy car racer, converted to road use, to promote his business: Shoc Shell Racing Helmets. 
"built from a Kurtis Indianapolis Speedway racer.
Jim Rathmann drove the car under the colors of Sandy Belond in the 1955 Memorial Day 500.
Lohrenz built the auto primarily as a show car to advertise his helmets."
The file I have is barely readable but it seems Bill Stroppe was involved and it had an Offenhauser engine.
1 point for you and one for myself! 

[nicanary]

Please post when you think it's time for the 400+ Pros. I don't know what it is though..........well, not for sure........

When I first saw the puzzle, I immediately though it was the Belond Special, modified for road use.  Then the names being mentioned didn't match, and I assumed I was wrong. The central seating position is the clue that this was originally an Indy roadster.

The Belond had bodywork which partially enclosed the car, and it can't have taken much to complete the road car conversion. George Salih was involved in the preparation of the Indy car.

[Paul Jaray]

Thank you!