Solved - NEH 5174: Electric Ford Astrion/Firefly by Alex Tremulis/Colin Neale - 1961

[Carnut]

What's this, by whom, from when - for 1 point?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[longtom]

Had to google that one.  What an amazing Design!!

[Carnut]

Experts?

[fyreline]

This is, I believe, an early study for the all-electric 1961 Ford Firefly. Other photos I have seen of the car must have featured a later version as they are slightly different, and that threw me off for a while. Apparently Alex Tremulis did one side of the car in your Quiz photo (which he called "Astrion"), and British-born Colin Neale did the other (which he called "Firefly"). Here's the later version, which makes it appear that Neale's Firefly won.

[Carnut]

Yes, good answer.
My picture showed Tremulis's side, but apart from the nose I can't see any other differences.
Since it is the Astrion side I'd better include that in the title!
Well done.

[fyreline]

Certainly an interesting little car - I can only guess that Ford didn't pursue it due to a combination of perceived lack of demand and the fact that battery technology for electric cars was still trying to decide which way to go. GM (Chevy) was also working on a somewhat similar (but conventionally powered) tiny car deigned by Pete Brock, resurrecting the old "Cadet" name that Chevy tried out for a compact prototype in the late 40s. They never produced either Cadet.

[fromwien]

Please be so kind and identify this car: Make? Type? Designer? Engine? Year?

[fromwien]

Experts?

[D-type]

An Alfa Romeo special project car?

[fromwien]

No

[hermanoto]

Ford Firefly electric concept car from 1961, designed by Colin Neale. The clay model dates from 1960.

[fromwien]

And this answer is worth your next point! Congratulation!

[Carnut]

Merged.

[fromwien]

Here is the unmolested picture of the puzzled 1960 version