Topic: Information Requests || What is this car ? thread

[als15]

Period pictures. There were 2 versions.

[HEMI 426]

I found this picture long ago but I can not find out what the car is? Help, please?

[ropat53]

Looks like a 1932/33 Fiat 508 (Balilla)

[als15]

Not sure a 508: it has a radiator with almost perfectly vertical edges. I'd rather say a 1929 Fiat 514.

[galrot]

This is an Alfa Romeo prototype of some sort which I believe was pictured in the basement of the Alfa Romeo museum. What I wondering about is this: Does any more pictures exist of this car, was it given a name, and was it built by Alfa Romeo or a coachbuilder? 

[Carnut]

Very interesting.
Looks a bit like the Touring Alfa Praho?  Perhaps a development of it?
On the other hand those headlights could mean a Tom Tjaarda involvement?  Whilst at Pininfarina?

[galrot]

I think it is by Pininfarina if it was not built by Alfa Romeo. The reason is that Pininfarinas one-off 2600 is the only other car I've seen with that interpretation of the traditional Alfa Romeo badge and grille. ¨

But there are so many Alfa Romeo prototypes of various kinds that it is absolutely impossible to search for it.

[als15]

I think it is by Pininfarina if it was not built by Alfa Romeo. The reason is that Pininfarinas one-off 2600 is the only other car I've seen with that interpretation of the traditional Alfa Romeo badge and grille. ¨

But there are so many Alfa Romeo prototypes of various kinds that it is absolutely impossible to search for it.

I agree: also the styling of the grille looks like other period Pininfarina one-offs (Cadillac Jacqueline, Fiat 2100 Speciale).

[Bill Murray]

I cannot answer the question,but I stumbled across this site while looking for a solution.
Someone else may have also found it, but if not, the actual location and photo of the unknown car may give someone
with access to persons familiar with the Dealership to follow up for a possible answer.

Bill 

PS:  It is a multi page post, I only marked the one  with "our" photo.

 http://forum.alfaclub.nl/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=33957&start=75

[galrot]

Thanks for the link Bill. I guess that's where I found originally although I can't remember ever seeing those other pictures. Are you sure they were taken at a dealer though? Many of the cars seen there do belong and have always (as far as I know) belonged to the Alfa Romeo Museum collection. While that is said is it just me or do Alfa Romeo have abnormally many prototypes in their collections that they never show to the public? Or is it normal? Do Bmw for example still have cars like the 2002 Garmisch and that Bertone 520 coupe hidden somewhere?

And lastly: What is this?

[galrot]

The first car is apparently just a prototype for the 2600 Berlina. I've found no information about who built it.

The last car is a declined Bertone-proposal for a Giulia GT replacement. It was fitted with a Montreal v8 and was given the code name Tipo 186.

[Carnut]

Well done.
It would have made a great puzzle!

[galrot]

Indeed, but it is hard to make puzzle out of them when you do not know the answer yourself. Perhaps someone else can use them in the future?

Here is another car I'm not familiar with. It sort of looks like a AC Greyhound prototype, but what is it?

[nicanary]

The prototype AC Aceca was registered 3KPG, so I reckon you're not far from the truth. That looks like a one-piece bonnet lid, which is odd.

Could it be the 1955 flat-4 prototype? This is described as a stretched AC Aceca with a 3-box format.

[oko94]

The first car is apparently just a prototype for the 2600 Berlina. I've found no information about who built it.

It's featured in Gippo Salvetti's "alfavelate" book (its grille is even on the book cover). It was built in 1963. The author doesn't know who built it but he reckons Pininfarina was involved.

The car definitely belongs to the Alfa Romeo museum, as well as the 186 project from 1968.

[Carnut]

Here is another car I'm not familiar with. It sort of looks like a AC Greyhound prototype, but what is it?

I think you're probably spot-on there.
Aft of the A pillar it's almost completely AC Greyhound, whilst the front is AC Ace.
The registration number 3 FGP is a Surrey issue (AC were in Thames Ditton, Surrey) dating from April 1958; since the Greyhound came out in 1959 the timing would figure as well.

[nicanary]

Here is another car I'm not familiar with. It sort of looks like a AC Greyhound prototype, but what is it?

I think you're probably spot-on there.
Aft of the A pillar it's almost completely AC Greyhound, whilst the front is AC Ace.
The registration number 3 FGP is a Surrey issue (AC were in Thames Ditton, Surrey) dating from April 1958; since the Greyhound came out in 1959 the timing would figure as well.

There's something very disjointed and half-built about that A-pillar and windscreen arrangement. Definitely not ready for production. Why the steel wheels? Also it's not Bristol-powered because there's no intake for the tall engine.

If you read  a certain site about AC history it mentions the Flat-4 car I posted about and I still think this could be it, lashed together by the AC works using bits of an Ace, and bits of a Greyhound. Oddly enough, Georgano doesn't even mention the proposed flat-4 and flat-6 engines.

PS That flat windscreen doesn't seem to come from any AC model of the 1950s. I suppose you all know that's Goodwood.

[Djetset]

It certainly is Goodwood, and this AC's wheels are taken from a 2-Litre Bristol, so it could be running/testing a Bristol straight six engine installation...

[galrot]

Sounds likely that it is the flat-4 prototype then, but what does this badge behind the front wheel means? I initially thought it could be the badge of a local coachbuilder or something, but I guess that goes out of the window it was built by AC themselves.

[Wendax]

Should be this one: http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/2011-39/solved-mjw-505-ac-flat-four-prototype-1958/

[nicanary]

I think the "badge" is possibly an access point for a key to unlock the one-piece bonnet.

[Carnut]

I think the "badge" is possibly an access point for a key to unlock the one-piece bonnet.

That's exactly what I was going to say!

I note there is some confusion over the date of the car but woodinsight is pretty unequivocal that it dates from 1958, which would fit in with when the car was registered for the road. 

I wonder if they liked the look of it so much they went on to develop the bodywork into the Greyhound?

[galrot]

I think the "badge" is possibly an access point for a key to unlock the one-piece bonnet.

You're probably right. 

[galrot]

One last information request: Williams & Pritchard are said to have re-bodied Ferrari 166 chassis 010I as a coupé in either 1949 or 1950. I tried to find a pictures of this body but to no avail. I was therefore wondering if anyone here had a picture of it?

[Arunas]

Is it Lister Jaguar Coupe or something else?