Author Topic: MJW #768 (Read 3063 times)

woodinsight · « **on:** December 21, 2011, 12:55:37 AM »

Just keeping the number of Rookie puzzles up over the holiday period......

First one is a small sports car that is a mystery to me - I don't even have a name for it.
A point will be awarded to anyone who can solve it (with proof)

woodinsight · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2011, 12:12:17 AM »

Does an Expert know the identity of this mystery?
I now have an idea what it might be but that's open to debate.

woodinsight · « **Reply #2 on:** January 06, 2012, 03:10:00 PM »

Professional help required on this one

Carnut · « **Reply #3 on:** January 06, 2012, 06:47:57 PM »

Hmmm.. Registration number is a Kent issue which commenced in February 1963 but don't know anything else...

Is it Healey Sprite based?

woodinsight · « **Reply #4 on:** January 06, 2012, 07:19:30 PM »

Quote from: Carnut on January 06, 2012, 06:47:57 PM

Hmmm.. Registration number is a Kent issue which commenced in February 1963 but don't know anything else...

Is it Healey Sprite based?

It looks as though it uses a Sprite/Midget windscreen but I can't identify the remainder.
The body I thought was similar to the obscure MVM but now I doubt if it's anything to do with that either.
It appeared as a 'mystery' puzzle car in a well-known magazine many years ago but the solution was never published.
I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it in due course.......

woodinsight · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2012, 12:36:54 PM »

Do any of our new puzzlers have an idea what this might be?

woodinsight · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2012, 09:21:36 AM »

Any more guesses before it goes to the Black Hole?

SACO · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2012, 09:23:26 AM »

Aston Martin DB3 ?

woodinsight · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2012, 02:44:23 PM »

As a bit of an expert on Astons I can categorically state that it's not that marque....

Arunas · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2012, 09:15:23 AM »

The bodywork somehow looks familiar. Probably it's just an impression. Could this be a separate bodywork by some known company built on some regular running gear?

barrett · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2012, 09:24:24 AM »

Quote from: Arunas on October 22, 2012, 09:15:23 AM

The bodywork somehow looks familiar. Probably it's just an impression. Could this be a separate bodywork by some known company built on some regular running gear?

The grille shape and position is very similar to some of the early Rochdale bodies but I'm pretty sure it's not one of those (that was my first thought too)

Arunas · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2012, 09:51:40 AM »

Silly, probably, but could this be some TVR?

woodinsight · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2012, 12:16:02 PM »

I agree with you both that the bodywork does look familiar but I'm pretty certain that it's not a TVR.
If I had to hazard a guess I would say the base car is an Austin-Healey Sprite fitted with a fibreglass body from one of the numerous firms existing in the 1950s/1960s. The question is which one?
Rochdale is one possibility but I'll have a search for others...

Austin · « **Reply #13 on:** October 25, 2012, 08:08:43 PM »

Front bodywork appears to be a Microplas Stiletto.

woodinsight · « **Reply #14 on:** October 25, 2012, 09:57:25 PM »

Quote from: Austin on October 25, 2012, 08:08:43 PM

Front bodywork appears to be a Microplas Stiletto.

Interesting!
I'll try to find a photo for comparison.

Arunas · « **Reply #15 on:** October 26, 2012, 02:04:24 AM »

Two pics:

woodinsight · « **Reply #16 on:** October 26, 2012, 03:02:45 AM »

Thanks for the photos Arunas!
I believe Austin is correct in thinking the body is a Microplas Stiletto.

I wonder if anyone can find out what the car has been registered as under its British registration - 603 WKJ or perhaps 803 WKJ?

I'll allot points when we finally solve this one.....

Allan L · « **Reply #17 on:** October 26, 2012, 03:32:43 AM »

Quote from: woodinsight on October 26, 2012, 03:02:45 AM

I wonder if anyone can find out what the car has been registered as under its British registration - 603 WKJ or perhaps 803 WKJ?

Neither reg. is known to DVLA at present.

Arunas · « **Reply #18 on:** October 26, 2012, 04:23:34 AM »

Allan, where is it possible to check the numberplate online?

woodinsight · « **Reply #19 on:** October 26, 2012, 07:21:50 AM »

Quote from: Allan L on October 26, 2012, 03:32:43 AM

Quote from: woodinsight on October 26, 2012, 03:02:45 AM
I wonder if anyone can find out what the car has been registered as under its British registration - 603 WKJ or perhaps 803 WKJ?
Neither reg. is known to DVLA at present.

Thanks for that Allan

D-type · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2012, 04:27:35 PM »

It looks as if the whole bonnet hinges forward. The door and tail look Mk1 Sprite. So could it be an aftermarket bonnet from someone like Ashley? Or even a cut about Microplas Stiletto?

I used to have a site with several British fibreglass cars/bodies bookmarked, but the bookmark went in an anti-virus clear up

Austin · « **Reply #21 on:** October 27, 2012, 06:03:36 PM »

If it helps here's a photo of a Turner 803 fitted with a Microplas Stiletto body from roughly the same angle, though I do agree that the car in question appears to be Sprite based.

woodinsight · « **Reply #22 on:** November 14, 2012, 04:54:21 AM »

Thanks for that Austin and I agree that the car is probably a Stiletto-bodied Austin-Healey Sprite.

D-type · « **Reply #23 on:** April 09, 2014, 05:51:19 PM »

Anybody else got any ideas?

woodinsight · « **Reply #24 on:** April 10, 2014, 05:25:29 AM »

Quote from: D-type on April 09, 2014, 05:51:19 PM

Anybody else got any ideas?

Thanks Duncan, if there's no more answers forthcoming in the next couple of weeks then I'll post it as solved and award any points as necessary.

News:

Author Topic: MJW #768 (Read 3063 times)