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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2020 => Topic started by: gte4289 on December 27, 2019, 05:36:09 PM

Title: Solved: GTE 254 - 1952 Thomson (5th and final) prototype by Jack Thomson / Small Cars Ltd
Post by: gte4289 on December 27, 2019, 05:36:09 PM
Please identify this car for a point.
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: Enzo Rhode-Hagen on January 02, 2020, 07:56:44 AM
MG TF? I am not convinced, but want to try.
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 02, 2020, 08:01:34 AM
MG TF? I am not convinced, but want to try.
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: Enzo Rhode-Hagen on January 02, 2020, 09:14:30 AM
It is a one off or a brand sold car?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 02, 2020, 11:37:14 AM
It is a one off or a brand sold car?
One-off
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 04, 2020, 05:16:44 PM
Experts?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 05, 2020, 05:34:15 AM
Based on a Vauxhall?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 05, 2020, 07:40:16 AM
Based on a Vauxhall?
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 06, 2020, 07:36:26 AM
Let's go back a step.  Are the underpinnings British?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 06, 2020, 07:37:46 PM
Let's go back a step.  Are the underpinnings British?
Yes
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 07, 2020, 08:32:05 AM
The house behind doesn't look British, hence was it built in Britain?  :huh:
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 07, 2020, 11:25:28 AM
The house behind doesn't look British, hence was it built in Britain?  :huh:
It was built in Britain.
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 07, 2020, 04:00:24 PM
Based on a Rootes Group brand?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 07, 2020, 05:23:21 PM
Based on a Rootes Group brand?
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 08, 2020, 12:16:35 PM
It appears to pre-date the formation of BMC.  Is it a Nuffield Group brand?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: targhediferro on January 08, 2020, 01:17:00 PM
Based upon a Crosley?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 08, 2020, 02:13:12 PM
It appears to pre-date the formation of BMC.  Is it a Nuffield Group brand?
No

Based upon a Crosley?
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 08, 2020, 04:49:34 PM
Is it based on a Ford?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 08, 2020, 05:58:58 PM
Is it based on a Ford?
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 09, 2020, 05:05:12 PM
Who's left?  Austin?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 09, 2020, 05:18:45 PM
Austin?
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 09, 2020, 05:26:21 PM
A MAJOR CORRECTION:

The house behind doesn't look British, hence was it built in Britain?  :huh:
It was built in Britain.
My apologies! I mixed up different puzzle cars. This car was NOT built in Britain and (to my current knowledge) contains no British components other than those mentioned below:

Is it based on a Ford?
No
I've decided to add to this response as well. While not based on a Ford, the car likely contained some British Ford parts when new, and was then modified with additional British Ford component(s) at a later date.

Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 10, 2020, 06:56:19 PM
 >:( 
Is it from the southern hemisphere?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 10, 2020, 07:03:33 PM
>:( 
Is it from the southern hemisphere?
Oooh, 'angry' face. (sorry)

Yes it is.
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 11, 2020, 05:21:27 AM
 :scratch:  from New Zealand?  (On the basis that it rains there)
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 11, 2020, 05:23:22 AM
:scratch:  from New Zealand?  (On the basis that it rains there)
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: D-type on January 11, 2020, 05:45:38 AM
Across the water to Australia?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 11, 2020, 05:53:07 AM
Across the water to Australia?
Yes
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 14, 2020, 11:17:34 AM
Up to the Pros
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 14, 2020, 04:37:37 PM
Built in the fifties ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 14, 2020, 05:12:43 PM
Built in the fifties ?
Yes
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 02:33:52 AM
Built between 1950 and 1955 ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 03:35:34 AM
Built between 1950 and 1955 ?
Yes
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 03:36:31 AM
 1954 ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 03:38:47 AM
1954 ?
Began in '50, completed in '52
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 12:05:51 PM
Based on a Triumph ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 01:20:28 PM
Based on a Triumph ?
As far as I am aware, this car was built without the use of any major components of British origin. That said, some of the internal transmission parts may have been Ford-sourced. I also believe the original motor may have been swapped out for a Ford unit at some later point.
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 01:29:30 PM
Based on an Australian Ford ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 01:30:42 PM
Based on an Australian Ford ?
No Ford components other than noted above.

(Also see that I edited my response to your previous question.)
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 06:09:43 PM
Apart from the Ford components, is the puzzle car based on a European car ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 06:32:41 PM
Apart from the Ford components, is the puzzle car based on a European car ?
Let's make this simple: as I understand it, the puzzle car was not based on any existing vehicle.
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 06:36:45 PM
Do you now where the original engine was sourced from ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 06:47:30 PM
Do you now where the original engine was sourced from ?
It wasn't. None of the major components were sourced from existing vehicles (though some of their internal parts may have been).
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 06:56:52 PM
Is it a Bassin ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 07:05:19 PM
Is it a Bassin ?
No, but that would be a great puzzle car as well
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 07:10:53 PM
Repco ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 07:12:38 PM
Repco ?
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 15, 2020, 07:14:59 PM
Raymond ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 15, 2020, 07:16:16 PM
Raymond ?
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 16, 2020, 03:45:45 AM
Reville ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 16, 2020, 06:49:56 AM
Reville ?
No
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 16, 2020, 06:59:50 AM
Is the builder known for other cars ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 16, 2020, 07:11:34 AM
Is the builder known for other cars ?
Yes
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 16, 2020, 07:13:04 AM
Thomson ?
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 16, 2020, 07:16:47 AM
Thomson ?
Yes! Locked for you to more specifically identify this Thomson creation.
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: oko94 on January 16, 2020, 07:32:54 AM
1949-1954 Wiles Thomson
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 16, 2020, 11:38:07 AM
You have the correct car so the point is yours! I'll post more details later.
Title: Re: GTE 254
Post by: gte4289 on January 16, 2020, 12:38:15 PM
Working with machinist Harold Clisby, Jack Thomson constructed the first 'Thomson' prototype automobile in 1938. He designed and built his own engine, transmission, differential, braking system and uni-body chassis. Thomson used this prototype to secure investment from the Wiles brothers, with whom he then produced three Wiles Thomson prototypes under the company Wiles Manufacturing Company Ltd. The Wiles brothers pulled out of the venture in 1949. (Two of these earlier prototypes have been featured on AP.)

Thomson formed his own company, Small Cars Ltd, in 1950 and began work on what would be his fifth and final prototype automobile. Jack Thomson died in 1952, leaving the unfinished prototype to be completed by his son-in-law, Doug Giles. The puzzle car is that final prototype. It is not a 'Wiles Thomson', but the one and only 'Thomson' prototype automobile produced by Small Cars Ltd.

[Based on the image you've posted, it's possible Giles stuffed in the Ford 10 motor instead of the intended Thomson 2-cylinder and that he didn't complete the project until 1954. It's wrong to label the car a 'Wiles Thomson', however.]

The completed prototype and Thomson 2-cylinder motor: