Help identifying a strange little car

[Bebee]

Mr2Mike said:

Bebee said:

Yes why?

I think it's an AR, this is close but might be too late for the pic but what the date of the pic?

The front is probably the closest yet IMO, but the rest doesn't match up very well. The pillars and roof line are quite different.

I knew that because it's a 1961 but I thought it might prompt a search from others to look in this direction, I think it's an Alfa now.

[NomduJour]

What it definitely isn't is an Alfa 2600.

From the picture I'd go for some sort of Panhard Dyna special.

[L100NYY]

It definitely is not an Alfa.

[blaupfeil]

Could it be this?

A Borgward Hansa coupe from the early 50s.

[L100NYY]

Nope, afraid not.

[nicanary]

Just to let you all know - I've just transferred the photo to the guys on Autopuzzles. I will await their findings with interest.

[vixen1700]

nicanary said:

Just to let you all know - I've just transferred the photo to the guys on Autopuzzles. I will await their findings with interest.

So there is some hope this one will be solved then...?

[nicanary]

vixen1700 said:

nicanary said:

Just to let you all know - I've just transferred the photo to the guys on Autopuzzles. I will await their findings with interest.

So there is some hope this one will be solved then...?

Ha! It's now 2 days and not a peep. I'll bump it up for their renewed attention, but I have a feeling that this car could be homebuilt, in which case we may never know.

[MarshPhantom]

nicanary said:

vixen1700 said:

nicanary said:

Just to let you all know - I've just transferred the photo to the guys on Autopuzzles. I will await their findings with interest.

So there is some hope this one will be solved then...?

Ha! It's now 2 days and not a peep. I'll bump it up for their renewed attention, but I have a feeling that this car could be homebuilt, in which case we may never know.

If home built I'd assume it was fibreglass and the dent at the rear would suggest it's a metal body.

[Mostro]

Intriguing, but Christ there are some blind people in this thread!

Front end is very Alfa 2600 and there were many coachbuilt specials based on it.
Have we ruled out Sunbeams?

[nicanary]

MarshPhantom said:

nicanary said:

vixen1700 said:

nicanary said:

Just to let you all know - I've just transferred the photo to the guys on Autopuzzles. I will await their findings with interest.

So there is some hope this one will be solved then...?

Ha! It's now 2 days and not a peep. I'll bump it up for their renewed attention, but I have a feeling that this car could be homebuilt, in which case we may never know.

If home built I'd assume it was fibreglass and the dent at the rear would suggest it's a metal body.

There was lots of spare aluminium around in the 50s - I reckon that's what it's made of. It dents easily.

[crostonian]

100% not an Alfa. It looks rear engined to me which would suggest some sort of coachbuilt Renault 750 or Floride. Bodywork has hints of Touring and yes the stance is vaguely Porsche 356 but it looks very French to me. Too early to be a Matra, the first Alpine is similar but not the same and Panhards all seem to be more angular.

If it's not French could possibly be a rebodied Fiat 1100 or Lancia Aprilia.

The bulge above the windscreen, straight cut rear arch and front quarterlights are quite distinctive. Is it my eyes or is the rear side window recessed allowing for an air intake to a rear mounted engine?

[iva cosworth]

There looks like a small air intake/scoop on the bonnet which would suggest a front engine.

[Gompo]

I'm glad somebody put it on Auto Puzzles.

One thing that sticks out to me is the front screen, and the amount of bodywork (metal/fibreglass) above it. Also quite thick A-pillars which were not common back then. Very few cars have a screen that finishes 6 inches or so from where the roof begins. It doesn't look like the work of a volume manufacturer at all, more like they've just sourced a random screen and stuck it in a hole.

The arches have been mentioned before, but the front being rounded and the rears being more squared off seems strange. Is part of the rear wheel covered by the arch/rear quarter? The front 1/3 reminds me of a Glas 1300 GT, the small bonnet scoop etc. If we're going with there being a luggage rack on the black car, then does 'our' car have a bit of a sharknose? Again partly present on the Glas.

That windscreen though.. Just looks like an afterthought.

[talksthetorque]

No Idea what it is, as I'm far too young to remember most of the cars discussed, but my thoughts about the front end are that the dark bit is actually the spare tyre on the back of the car in front and the bright bits are a chrome rack?
Anyone?

[MarshPhantom]

SV8Predator said:

Is this it? Prototype of a 1953 Marathon

Cackhanded windscreen - check.

Arches look to lower at the back than the front - check.

[FourWheelDrift]

MarshPhantom said:

Is this it? Prototype of a 1953 Marathon

Cackhanded windscreen - check.

Arches look to lower at the back than the front - check.

Suicide doors on the Marathon, normal doors on the mystery car (no handle in sight) and very different in profile - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0...

[vixen1700]

Just been looking at Marathon Corsaires and the profile is different.

Good call though.

[MarshPhantom]

Doh. I really hope someone gets this.

[Bebee]

Well I'm still looking, it will drive me mad for life now.



I know this isn't it but close I thought. Should we be looking at Lancia?

Lancia Beta Montecarlo