The "Help me identify this car" thread | Page 40 | FerrariChat

The "Help me identify this car" thread

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by Samy, Feb 22, 2006.

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  1. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ Consultant Owner

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    UroTrash, Mar 10, 2016
    #976
  2. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Rifledriver, Mar 10, 2016
    #977
  3. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ Consultant Owner

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    That's what I thought but not quite right?
     
    UroTrash, Mar 10, 2016
    #978
  4. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    El Wayne, Mar 10, 2016
    #979
  5. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    GuyIncognito, Mar 19, 2016
    #980
  6. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    El Wayne, Mar 19, 2016
    #981
  7. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    GuyIncognito, Mar 19, 2016
    #982
  8. torquespeak

    torquespeak Formula Junior

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    torquespeak, Mar 20, 2016
    #983
  9. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Mine too. Finally had to just put it aside and walk away for a while. I figure someday I'll be bored, take it up again, and stumble across the answer as though it had been staring me in the face all along. Wouldn't be the first time.
     
    El Wayne, Mar 21, 2016
    #984
  10. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator Moderator

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    I'm resuming the hunt... by farming the question out to a British car club in Alabama. :D

    Many of these guys have British sports cars from that era, so fingers crossed someone recognises it. I'll let you know. :)

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
    NeuroBeaker, Mar 21, 2016
    #985
  11. torquespeak

    torquespeak Formula Junior

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    There are bits of it that remind me of cars penned by Raymond Loewy, but I'm sure that's yet another train of thought that will yield no answers.

    -Ed
     
    torquespeak, Mar 21, 2016
    #986
  12. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    This is a British kit car. Fibreglass. Gullwing doors. At first I thought it was an Israeli Sabra.
     
    JCR, Mar 21, 2016
    #987
  13. torquespeak

    torquespeak Formula Junior

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    From what I can see I'd say it's definitely fibreglass, but what makes you think it's British?

    I'm not suggesting that it's not - I'm just curious.

    -Ed
     
    torquespeak, Mar 21, 2016
    #988
  14. JCR

    JCR F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    That was a big cottage industry there in the late 50's into the 60's.
     
    JCR, Mar 21, 2016
    #989
  15. GT4 Joe

    GT4 Joe Formula Junior

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    Frogeye sprite rear bumpers on the front. Note the line at the back of the hood to the "scuttle", as the British call it. Looks like a Sprite kit, but on all the Sebring variant type kits they use the same door, this one has been stretched to the rear wheel opening. Then there are those odd wheel covers, they don't match anything.
     
    GT4 Joe, Mar 21, 2016
    #990
  16. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    I agree; it's not far from home. Either based on Spridget or a Ford 10hp/Sidevalve special, and either the work of a small British coachbuilder like Williams & Pritchard or kit producer like Ashley Laminates.

    Resemble ACE "Mercury" wheel covers, commonly used on Midgets and other small British cars of the period:
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    El Wayne, Mar 21, 2016
    #991
  17. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator Moderator

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    Location (London), time (1960s, fewer imports as it was very expensive then), and overall design has a very British feel to it.

    It may well be that it's someone's one-off rebody, but we'll see if anyone in the British car club can identify it as something from a manufacturer. It's a slim chance, but we'll see.

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
    NeuroBeaker, Mar 21, 2016
    #992
  18. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Notice the wheel covers (Sportiva by Ashley):
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    El Wayne, Mar 21, 2016
    #993
  19. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator Moderator

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    One of my Mom's friends might have found the windscreen. Picture attached is a 1961 Facel Vega HK500.

    Also, they suggest that the lines across the top behind the windscreen are more likely to be a removable hardtop roof rather than evidence of gullwing doors. The British are extremely fond of convertible sports cars, even if the weather seems at odds with such a preference.

    Rear fender is very reminiscent of the Sunbeam Alpine even if the rest of the car isn't right for that. What's the likelihood that the whole car is pieced together from many others? Should we be tracking down elements rather than looking for a matching finished product?

    All the best,
    Andrew.
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    NeuroBeaker, Mar 22, 2016
    #994
  20. Simon

    Simon Moderator Moderator Owner

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    The Facel HK500 windscreen is roughly the size of the entire car in question (not literally;)). Big difference in scale.
     
    Simon, Mar 22, 2016
    #995
  21. jm2

    jm2 F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Andrew, I think you're on the right track, but the scale of the Facel Vega seems off for the car you're trying to identify. The Facel windshield looks too large compared to the car on the London street, but the 'basket handle' windshield is a good place to start. The car on the street looks to be a very small vehicle compared to the Facel vega. Without seeing more of course it's difficult, but they appear to be totally different sizes.
     
    jm2, Mar 22, 2016
    #996
  22. NeuroBeaker

    NeuroBeaker Advising Moderator Moderator

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    OK. As the Facel Vega HK500 is French, are there any smaller French cars with forward-leaning A-pillars?

    All the best,
    Andrew.
     
    NeuroBeaker, Mar 22, 2016
    #997
  23. jm2

    jm2 F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    my sentiments as well
     
    jm2, Mar 22, 2016
    #998
  24. zygomatic

    zygomatic F1 Veteran Silver Subscribed

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    zygomatic, Mar 22, 2016
    #999
  25. El Wayne

    El Wayne F1 World Champ Staff Member Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Lol! I think your mom's friend has misjudged the scale of this thing by just a bit. :)

    I suspect the windshield is from the rear of a Hillman Minx, by the way. It's also very similar to the one used on the Tornado Typhoon 2+2 and this gullwing special (most likely by Ashley): Does anyone recognise this 1960s spaceframe-chassis sportscar?
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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    El Wayne, Mar 22, 2016
    #1000
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