Another mystery car
Discussion
Scrump said:
With all the 3D modelling work that has been undertaken there must now be enough detail for it to be reproduced.
If someone recreated it today and didn’t publicise it online then they could have great fun driving it around London and then sitting back and waiting for the forums to erupt.
I'm already on the case with this, along with an as yet unnamed car TV personality. Unfortunately, the owner of the 3D modelling work that has been completed on it to date has no interest in sharing it with anyone. Fortunately, on the other hand, I work right next door to a 3D modelling company. If someone recreated it today and didn’t publicise it online then they could have great fun driving it around London and then sitting back and waiting for the forums to erupt.
mbwoy84 said:
Unfortunately, the owner of the 3D modelling work that has been completed on it to date has no interest in sharing it with anyone. Fortunately, on the other hand, I work right next door to a 3D modelling company.
Not entirely true! Here's one I made earlier.......(And I would be more than happy to combine forces if you want to go that way).
It isn't 100% finished so there are a few details that need polishing, but the data could be used (in a more sophisticated CAD package) to produce a fully surfaced model for downstream processes.
Scrump said:
Sunbeam Alpine running gear for the recreation or maybe something more modern like an MX5?
My personal train of thought is separate chassis (not bothered what it as long as the dimensions work, or even bespoke), aluminium body (as that's what it looks most like to me). Would rather make it more period than modern, although I'd maybe stretch it to 70s style tuned spec as it would be realistic to presume that it could have been upgraded after being built as humble running gear at the time probably wouldn't have given in the go to match the show as it were.....Not bothered what the engine and running gear was, but something 60s/70s works best for me in my mind.
My feeling is that it's probably an aluminium body.
Based purely upon the size of the wheel discs, the wheelbase is very close to the 78 inches (1981mm) of the Minor (plus or minus about half an inch). The track front and rear would then be 42 inches (1067mm).
Pretty small by modern standards, so finding the right (modern) running gear could be a challenge.
My main interest has always been the appearance, rather than the underpinnings. So something with a bespoke frame and later running gear would be one way to go. Better than cutting up a good pre-war Minor, unless there's a huge pile of spares available to work from.
Based purely upon the size of the wheel discs, the wheelbase is very close to the 78 inches (1981mm) of the Minor (plus or minus about half an inch). The track front and rear would then be 42 inches (1067mm).
Pretty small by modern standards, so finding the right (modern) running gear could be a challenge.
My main interest has always been the appearance, rather than the underpinnings. So something with a bespoke frame and later running gear would be one way to go. Better than cutting up a good pre-war Minor, unless there's a huge pile of spares available to work from.
borrani72 said:
My feeling is that it's probably an aluminium body.
<snip>
Wouldn't this have been right at the time fibreglass was becoming common to use?<snip>
The mystery car seems to have some quite intricate curves which I think would have taken some skill to produce in aluminium? (especially if it was a 'one off' or prototype).
TonyRPH said:
Wouldn't this have been right at the time fibreglass was becoming common to use?
The mystery car seems to have some quite intricate curves which I think would have taken some skill to produce in aluminium? (especially if it was a 'one off' or prototype).
I think you could make a good case either way. There were plenty of skilled sheet-metal workers about at the time, but as you say, GRP was getting popular at the time too.The mystery car seems to have some quite intricate curves which I think would have taken some skill to produce in aluminium? (especially if it was a 'one off' or prototype).
The flared arches are well done, so whoever did them knew what they were doing, whether they were aluminium or taken from a plaster/timber(?) master for GRP.
The roof/door arangement would have been easier to tweak with aluminium - you can't bend GRP.
838HNK said:
Something like this ? .... This is a TR4 lump that wouldn't fit the model without a bonnet bulge.
You'd need something smaller like a Reliant four pot or a Ford sidevalve....
Something along those lines would be worth measuring-up to see what fits best. An old Reliant Kitten might be a useful source.You'd need something smaller like a Reliant four pot or a Ford sidevalve....
I think a sidevalve engine is most likely. A like the idea of a Climax, but think it’s highly unlikely.
Fibreglass was very common at the time, but there are intricate features that look far too well-executed when compared to other GRP specials of the time. Also, whilst it may be more skilled in essence, it would have made far more sense to make a one-off that complex in aluminium than fibreglass. If it were a production run of x, then that would be different.
Fibreglass was very common at the time, but there are intricate features that look far too well-executed when compared to other GRP specials of the time. Also, whilst it may be more skilled in essence, it would have made far more sense to make a one-off that complex in aluminium than fibreglass. If it were a production run of x, then that would be different.
borrani72 said:
Bravo Sir… I’ve wanted to see this for ages! This is what I see in my head and it’s great to see it visualised beyond the original drawings. It matches the original image so closely in a way that the ‘other’ work never did. The Alpine theory is just nonsense, the proportions and pretty much every detail just don’t align at all.Swedishjames said:
borrani72 said:
Bravo Sir… I’ve wanted to see this for ages! This is what I see in my head and it’s great to see it visualised beyond the original drawings. It matches the original image so closely in a way that the ‘other’ work never did. The Alpine theory is just nonsense, the proportions and pretty much every detail just don’t align at all.mbwoy84 said:
I'm already on the case with this, along with an as yet unnamed car TV personality. Unfortunately, the owner of the 3D modelling work that has been completed on it to date has no interest in sharing it with anyone. Fortunately, on the other hand, I work right next door to a 3D modelling company.
This is exactly what is needed, a car TV personality to understand the frustration of not knowing what the vehicle is and then giving maximum exposure to this unknown car to hopefully find someone out there that’s knows of it and/or it’s history.
JPvanRossem said:
piper said:
mbwoy84 said:
I'm already on the case with this, along with an as yet unnamed car TV personality. Unfortunately, the owner of the 3D modelling work that has been completed on it to date has no interest in sharing it with anyone. Fortunately, on the other hand, I work right next door to a 3D modelling company.
This is exactly what is needed, a car TV personality to understand the frustration of not knowing what the vehicle is and then giving maximum exposure to this unknown car to hopefully find someone out there that’s knows of it and/or it’s history.Although, someone with no name could be just the person to do a piece on an unidentifiable car.
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