Topic: Solved: Wendax 2000 - Wendax WS 750 Aero

[Hiawatha]

Is this one the prototype based on the WS 750?

[luisps]

OK, them it could be the coupe variant of the WENDAX FRONT TYP WS 750, that was made in a single unit to be displayed in car shows.

[Wendax]

Is this one the prototype based on the WS 750?

It is based on the WS750...

OK, them it could be the coupe variant of the WENDAX FRONT TYP WS 750, that was made in a single unit to be displayed in car shows.

..and that is what I think it is. Hiawatha was close, but luisps gave the full answer and earns the point.

I came across this picture recently at a well known online auction site. At first sight I was puzzled what this could be, but then noticed the similarity to the late version of the Wendax Aero with doors (http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2011-39/solved-wendax-224-wendax-aero/msg388449/#msg388449). But I hadn't seen any Aero with this Gutbrod Superior-like roof before, and the rear engine vents behind the passenger compartment were missing. So, a closer look at the one-off Wendax WS750 Coupé disclosed that it might be just this car. I didn't notice before that it in fact combined the Aero body with the WS 750 chassis.

[pguillem]

Happy 2000th ! 

[Wendax]

Thank you very much! 

[pnegyesi]

Please identify this car for a point.

[pnegyesi]

Experts?

[kwgibbs]

Is it german?

[luisps]

WENDAX Front Typ WS 750 coupé

[pnegyesi]

Yes, it is a Wendax WS750, but this is AutoPuzzles. So it has a different name. Locked for luisps.

[luisps]

It has been very difficult to find another denomination different from "Coupé" for that one-off vehicle only presented in fairs, but finally I have found a cut of a magazine that says:
The "Erla" one in the Forum was Dr. Alpers' personal custom built coupe, with shorter wheelbase than the 4-door model, but otherwise similar.
Therefore hopefully ERLA is the word you ask for.

[pnegyesi]

Yes, this is a Wendax which was shown at the 12th Copenhagen International Automobile Show as the Erla. Local assembly has never materialised.

[Wendax]

It is exactly the same car as this one: https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2016-45/wendax-2000
It even appeared with a Hamburg license plate at the Copenhagen show.

[luisps]

Sorry but I don't think it's the same one that you mentioned because the gray car was a WS700 AERO with a hard top and doors that apparently was also a unique model. The Wendax ERLA has the entire front of the WS750 limousine, much taller and with trims only the back part is the same of the WS700 hard top. In the same puzzle you included the black WS750 that was proposed by ERLA.

[Wendax]

I still tink that it is the same car.

The Wendax Aero WS 400/700 was built mainly as a doorless roadster (https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2011-39/solved-wendax-224-wendax-aero/msg445547/#msg445547), but was also available as a two-door convertible (https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2011-39/solved-wendax-224-wendax-aero/msg388449/#msg388449). On the latter one, the doors included sliding windows which the roadster lacked. As you can see in the picture, the convertible had louvers behind the passenger compartment for engine cooling. The Aero 400/700 had circular wheel arches and no chrome trim on its sides.

The car which was presented as the Erla-Wendax was a WS 750 Coupé built in August 1950 for Adolf Alpers' personal use. Erla never built any Wendax cars, the car at the Copenhagen fair even had Hamburg license plates. It was basically an Aero WS 700 Cabriolet with a hardtop including a folding roof bolted on, set on the short wheelbase WS 750 chassis. The front of the car was lengthened to accomodate the WS 750 front engine. The front differs significantly from the WS 750, just notice that the front starts to protude beneath the bonnet, other than the standard WS 750 front (https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2012-41/puzzle-150-solved!-wendax-ws-750/msg71733/#msg71733).

Having a look at my puzzle picture (https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2016-45/wendax-2000/msg412293/#msg412293) you can't tell from that angle how the front looks. But apart from the changed colour I can't see any differences in the design between the car in my puzzle picture and the „Erla-Wendax“. It has the rather rectangular rear wheel arches of the WS 750, the WS 750 dashboard, no louvers for the mid-engine cooling, and most of all, the lady standing next to the car is most probably Mrs. Alpers herself (compare https://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2012-41/puzzle-150-solved!-wendax-ws-750/msg401779/#msg401779).

[pnegyesi]

Would you like to merge this with the the previous Alpers-Wendax puzzle?

[Wendax]

Done