AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

AutoPuzzles Today => Features, Stories and Photos => Rare Car of the Week => Topic started by: Carnut on November 08, 2011, 09:21:34 AM

Title: Solved - NEH 1361: Sabyan Special
Post by: Carnut on November 08, 2011, 09:21:34 AM
Identify what this car is correctly for 1 point:
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: Carnut on November 15, 2011, 05:10:52 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: mymokke on November 17, 2011, 09:57:00 PM
Obvious, Studebaker tail lights.
Is it a fibreglass creation?
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: Carnut on November 18, 2011, 04:08:17 AM
Obvious, Studebaker tail lights.
Is it a fibreglass creation?

Yes - a real Bitsa!
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: mymokke on November 19, 2011, 06:31:36 PM
There appears to a T-Bird sport roadster in the foreground, was/is this an American build?
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: Carnut on November 19, 2011, 07:04:04 PM
There appears to a T-Bird sport roadster in the foreground, was/is this an American build?

Yes, it's from the US (can't see a T-Bird there though..!)
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: mymokke on November 19, 2011, 09:06:37 PM
What I think is the T-Bird is at the bottom of the picture, showing only the top of the seat back and the roadster head rest tonneau cover.
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: Carnut on November 20, 2011, 08:10:27 AM
What I think is the T-Bird is at the bottom of the picture, showing only the top of the seat back and the roadster head rest tonneau cover.

You almost deserve a bonus point for recognising that!
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: mymokke on November 20, 2011, 06:57:19 PM
For a bonus point I can identify the year to within a 3 year period.
These tonneau roadsters were made from 1961-63 on the tbird.
For 1964-66 the tonneau covers had additional vinyl caps extending toward the rear of the car.
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: Carnut on November 21, 2011, 05:34:49 AM
For a bonus point I can identify the year to within a 3 year period.
These tonneau roadsters were made from 1961-63 on the tbird.
For 1964-66 the tonneau covers had additional vinyl caps extending toward the rear of the car.

Impressive!
Maybe I can borrow your anorak when you've finished with it?!
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: mymokke on November 23, 2011, 12:13:37 AM
Wow, we speak the same language and I had to "look up" Anorak, that being said I haven't taken my winter coats out of storage yet as it is still fairly warm here in New Jersey. So, riding with the top down requires only a scarf side windows up and the heat turned on. Still working this puzzle though, hopefully I'll get somewhere soon.
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: Carnut on November 23, 2011, 06:39:05 AM
Wow, we speak the same language and I had to "look up" Anorak, that being said I haven't taken my winter coats out of storage yet as it is still fairly warm here in New Jersey. So, riding with the top down requires only a scarf side windows up and the heat turned on. Still working this puzzle though, hopefully I'll get somewhere soon.

Sorry mymokke!  

As Sir Winston Churchill is reputed to have said, the US and UK are two countries separated by a common language..  

I believe 'anorak' is actually an Inuit word, but it has taken on rather a new meaning in recent years other than the jacket you pull on over your head originally meant.  So I wasn't talking about items of clothing: nowadays an 'anorak' (on this side of the pond) can also refer to someone who has an amazingly in-depth knowledge of his (often very obscure) subject!  I think it gets that name from the numbers of guys like train-spotters or twitchers* who hang around in large groups all wearing anoraks..  

I pride myself on being an automotive anorak but I think you've trumped me on this one!

*A 'twitcher' on this side of the Atlantic being a bird-watcher!
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: gilescooperuk on November 25, 2011, 02:38:14 PM
Sorry Carnet - a tweeter is a speaker I think you meant Twitcher or Birder.

Are we going slightly off topic here....?
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: Carnut on November 26, 2011, 12:58:09 PM
Sorry Carnet - a tweeter is a speaker I think you meant Twitcher or Birder.

Are we going slightly off topic here....?

Thanks - I thought it didn't sound right!  Corrected.
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: mymokke on November 28, 2011, 05:01:34 PM
Found it! web site dedicated to fiberglass cars of the past lists this as the "Sabyan Special" spotted in a garage on Long Island, NY in the 70's.
May or may not be fiberglass could be a metal custom, current location unknown.
Still trying to identify the film this vehicle is supposed to have been shown in.
Let me just say, this has been a real challenge and joy to research, as well as, interacting with Carnut.
Great fun.
Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: Carnut on November 29, 2011, 04:38:19 AM
That's it!  Well dug out - it's a terrific site isn't it?
Glad you enjoyed it; you even learned a bit of a foreign language!
Here are a couple more pics of this Studebaker-based Special:

Title: Re: NEH 1361
Post by: JnJ Tools on March 27, 2012, 01:10:20 PM
That's it!  Well dug out - it's a terrific site isn't it?
Glad you enjoyed it; you even learned a bit of a foreign language!
Here are a couple more pics of this Studebaker-based Special:

Dear Sirs:
     Stumbled upon your website and found the discussion concerning the "Sabyan Special" as it is called. I am glad to let you know that we are aware of the Sabyan story, the history of the car, production details, etc. I also currently have the car in storage. My father was the purchaser of the vehicle from a Stanley Terwilliger; a gentlemen from Middletown, New York that seemed to own the car for quite some years. My father past away in 2009 and we have tended to the safety of the vehicle, along with some other classic beauties, since that time. I have sent along a current picture and it shows the paint change and a few other minor changes that Stanley Terwilliger performed. My father didn't change a thing on the car after he obtained it. Couple of quick things for your post readers interest. The pictures you feature from Geoffrey Hacker's site Forgotten Fiberglass were taken in Port Jervis, New York, not on Long Island as stated in your comment(s). The car is 100% 16 Gauge molded steel, not fiberglass. William Sabyan the builder of the car, and his assistant were master metal workers apparently. Production years seem to be 1948-1951 with documentation available. Studebaker and Packard pieces are obvious. The workmanship overall is breathtaking, and the story has it the front grill was molded on site by Sabyan himself. We have other information but I have taken up enough space. The car currently runs well, and truly drives like an 18' dream. Thanks a lot. - Joe C.
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1361: Sabyan Special
Post by: Paul Jaray on March 27, 2012, 04:16:08 PM
Hi JnJ Tools,
wellcome to Autopuzzles.
It's good to read that the car is still alive.
Please take all the space you need to complete the story of this car and more pictures will be highly appreciated!
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1361: Sabyan Special
Post by: Carnut on March 28, 2012, 05:42:21 AM
Thanks JnJ Tools.
Fabulous car and great to see it lives and is loved!
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1361: Sabyan Special
Post by: Carnut on January 21, 2013, 11:10:10 AM
There was a post appeared here last week telling me this car is For Sale on ebay, but curiously it seems to have disappeared along with my reply..

Anyway, if anyone want something totally unique the current bid is $20,500.00 and there are 5 days left.

Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1361: Sabyan Special
Post by: Motoduc3 on January 26, 2013, 07:05:28 PM
This car was built by my father's uncle in Canada. My father drove the "Sabyan Special" to the US back in 1958 or 1959. My father met with the previous owner in Middletown, NY in early 2000. The original color was a light green, and my father's friends called it the Green Hornet.
Thanks,
Robert Sabyan