Help identifying a strange little car

[Fastdruid]

M11 MFP said:

TheLuke said:

What happens when the worlds biggest motoring forum cant identify a car.
17 Pages and counting.

"Its a one off coachbuilt car" - This doesnt seem right

I think it certainly could be.

Might be shooting myself in the foot, but what is this?

Photographed poorly like the OP's, less than an hour ago.



If my hunch is right no one will get it. If I'm wrong I need a dunce hat.

Looks like a a Fibrefab to me.

[M11 MFP]

Fastdruid said:

Looks like a a Fibrefab to me.

Fibrefab Avenger? Similar, but no. Do you have a picture of the model you think it is?

Door leading edge, window surround, wing top vents, tail, are all different.

Not a Bonito either, or a Puma gts.

Edited by M11 MFP on Saturday 14th November 16:10

[lowdrag]

Since I live but 30 mins away from the hotel, and am pretty well known there, hopefully someone might help me out. I've sent the picture to the old owner, Francis, but sadly his Dad who owned it before him, and at this time, died not long ago. It is a hope, that's all.

[marshalla]

I'm not saying that this is it, but Arista did produce some "challenging" designs with doors hinged in funny places.

Edited by marshalla on Thursday 26th November 23:03

[ajprice]

First off, I know this isn't this car, but to me the round headlights being angled back looks similar to the mystery car. It's a Fiat Vignale Samantha coupe, I don't know anything about them, I didn't know they existed until just now, but I'm guessing that those lights popped up to the straight ahead position, like a Porsche 928?


So, are there any other cars that had their headlights set like this (the way I see the mystery car, they are also round headlights at an angle, not straight ahead).

[Westy Pre-Lit]

ajprice said:

I'm guessing that those lights popped up to the straight ahead position, like a Porsche 928?

Miura

[galro]

Some Bandinis had a manual operated version of it too.

[Lagerlout]

Well I reckon it's a Zagato Fiat. I think someone posted an image earlier of a Fiat Zagato 1100 E Abarth.

Got the quarter lights, got the dipping rear, square rear arches, pictures of them with bumpers, hubcaps too. The angle of the roof in the original pic also looks like a split windscreen to me. First link shows one with a scoop.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/attachments/other-...
http://www.velocetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2014...
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/other-italian-cars...

[galro]

I seriously doubt any professional coachbuilder would havep made that. Or at least they were not judged as professional afterwards. I personally suspect it is just some special a local man made to go racing out of parts he had lying around.

[nicanary]

galro said:

I seriously doubt any professional coachbuilder would havep made that. Or at least they were not judged as professional afterwards. I personally suspect it is just some special a local man made to go racing out of parts he had lying around.

Totally agree. Ignore the dents - the car is very basic coachbuilding. IMHO almost certainly a one-off built by a local garagiste.

[rolando]

Lagerlout said:

Well I reckon it's a Zagato Fiat. I think someone posted an image earlier of a Fiat Zagato 1100 E Abarth.

Got the quarter lights, got the dipping rear, square rear arches, pictures of them with bumpers, hubcaps too. The angle of the roof in the original pic also looks like a split windscreen to me. First link shows one with a scoop.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/attachments/other-...
http://www.velocetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2014...
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/other-italian-cars...

A post is a mile out.

[Loose_Cannon]

M11 MFP said:

Might be shooting myself in the foot, but what is this?

Photographed poorly like the OP's, less than an hour ago.



If my hunch is right no one will get it. If I'm wrong I need a dunce hat.

Zita ZS one off beetle based car, tried but never went into production about 1971

[Krikkit]

nicanary said:

galro said:

I seriously doubt any professional coachbuilder would havep made that. Or at least they were not judged as professional afterwards. I personally suspect it is just some special a local man made to go racing out of parts he had lying around.

Totally agree. Ignore the dents - the car is very basic coachbuilding. IMHO almost certainly a one-off built by a local garagiste.

I'd agree with this - that join between the rear window and the rear wing is quite hideous, as is the bulbous rear compared to a very low front end.

Have to say that some "guesses" in this thread have been hilarious...

[BarbaricAvatar]

Loose_Cannon said:

M11 MFP said:

Might be shooting myself in the foot, but what is this?

Photographed poorly like the OP's, less than an hour ago.



If my hunch is right no one will get it. If I'm wrong I need a dunce hat.

Zita ZS one off beetle based car, tried but never went into production about 1971

Awesome knowledge! Well done!

I wish all Beetle's looked like that.

[Mr2Mike]

rolando said:

A post is a mile out.

Agreed, the Zagato Fiat has been suggested and discounted numerous times in the thread. Unless the accident damage is far worse than we think, and it's lost 18 inches or so between the wheels and A pillar

[M11 MFP]

Loose_Cannon said:

Zita ZS one off beetle based car, tried but never went into production about 1971

Absolutely mindblowing knowledge - well done indeed.

Interesting that the car is now renamed as a JP Milan and has had some minor brightwork alterations.

It exists, undamaged and is in need of restoration. Hopefully it doesn't end up scrapped.

[M1C]

Fascinating thread.

Anyone with a fresh pair of eyes want to give this a go?

Or are we decided that its very likely a one off?

I'm gonna put it out there that that IS the front is not obscured. I think that because if you look at the other side of the car, the headlight appears to be at the same angle.

It could be crash damage or it could be just a wierd style.

I reckon that the front wings are bulged. The lighter bit at the back of the front wing suggest to me that is the case. If the styling follows through then we can assume the rear wings are bulged as well.

Its a puzzler!!!!

[saaby93]

To me the lights look like theyre under a lip like the front of a triumph stag
yes I know its not a stag before some pedant

[poing]

Are we sure we can see the front lights? It could be a spare wheel carrier on the car on the left if you change the perspective slightly.

[jammy_basturd]

What we really need is access to the same software the CIA used in Enemy of the State!