AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!
Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => The Brand-New 2025 Vehicle Identification Board => Topic started by: barrett on June 30, 2015, 05:24:42 AM
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Here's what I know: a fairly detailed mechanical specification, the approximate time and place the photograph was taken... and that's it. Feel free to ask questions, but I don't know the make or model so won't be able to answer any guesses.
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Mercedes? ;D
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South America late 60s?
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No, No No
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UK?
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The car originates from the UK (it is thought), yes
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1970s?
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No
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is this an early British hot rod?
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No, despite the wide wheels (which were just fitted to move the car around) it pre-dates the Hot Rod scene by at least a decade
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early 1950s?
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Much earlier
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a gullwing car fom the 1920s?
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late 1920s or early 1930s, yes
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is there any info available online?
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No!
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was this featured in a British classic car magazine?
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Yes, some time ago, but as of today it has been featured again!
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Was it in Thoroughbred & Classic Cars?
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Well if anyone can ID the car they are better than Mike Worthington Williams who reported on the discovery in October 1994
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I think this may be a 1930 Franklin being modified, the grill shroud and hood louvers are very similar, and is that a mid 50s Packard behind it?
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To add to the known information about this mystery special, it had a rear-mounted flat-four two-stroke engine, a tubular backbone chassis and transverse-leaf independent rear suspension, according to the November 1993 edition of Classic & Sportscar magazine, which included the same photograph, but in colour (below). It seems that many suggested some Tatra connection, but this was dismissed as it is believed to be a US-built 1950s special. Beyond that, nothing more specific was know in the Classic & Sportscar piece.
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Perhaps the engine was from an Trojan RE model. The radiator cowl has a passing resemblance to the Trojan, but otherwise the whole thing is clearly a lash-up. Someone wasted a lot of time on that machine. However, was is not the great phiosopher John Lennon who noted that "Time wasted on something you enjoy, is not time wasted."? ;)
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However, was is not the great phiosopher John Lennon who noted that "Time wasted on something you enjoy, is not time wasted."? ;)
I must tell my wife that, since I enjoy AutoPuzzles...!
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8)
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I would seriously doubt this is a 1950s American custom car - who would go to the trouble of fabricating a bespoke tubular backbone frame when everyone else was using T or A chassis?
The engine is not from a Trojan (RE or otherwise), although there is a passing similarity to the radiator there are no Trojan components on the vehicle.
The gullwing doors might be a later addition, and hence a red herring, but I'd say it was clear the rest of the car was constructed from scratch in the 1920s or very early '30s as no components are later than this and literally everything is bespoke.
It's a mystery, but it's not unsolvable. If we could find out where the car is now it would be a big help...