Another mystery car

[skwdenyer]

Just to reinforce the point made by many about the difficulty of tracking-down one-offs (or near-one-offs), here's another found in a 1955 edition of Motor Sport:



Claimed to be the work of the proprietor of the BP garage in Albi, France, and based off of the mechanicals of a Citroen Light 15.

It was claimed in the article that a few "production" models might follow; who knows if they did?

[threespires]

skwdenyer said:

Just to reinforce the point made by many about the difficulty of tracking-down one-offs (or near-one-offs), here's another found in a 1955 edition of Motor Sport:



Claimed to be the work of the proprietor of the BP garage in Albi, France, and based off of the mechanicals of a Citroen Light 15.

It was claimed in the article that a few "production" models might follow; who knows if they did?

That's a good looker.

[Scrump]

skwdenyer said:

Just to reinforce the point made by many about the difficulty of tracking-down one-offs (or near-one-offs), here's another found in a 1955 edition of Motor Sport:



Claimed to be the work of the proprietor of the BP garage in Albi, France, and based off of the mechanicals of a Citroen Light 15.

It was claimed in the article that a few "production" models might follow; who knows if they did?

Looks like a match for this unknown car:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[nicanary]

That's an MEP.

[skwdenyer]

nicanary said:

That's an MEP.

MEP?

For reference, Motor Sport article here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...

[nicanary]

skwdenyer said:

nicanary said:

That's an MEP.

MEP?

For reference, Motor Sport article here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...

Built by Maurice Pezous of Albi. He built a string of cars based on the traction avant during the 1950s before turning to a one-make single-seat formula of his own device.

[uk66fastback]

skwdenyer said:

Just to reinforce the point made by many about the difficulty of tracking-down one-offs (or near-one-offs), here's another found in a 1955 edition of Motor Sport:



Claimed to be the work of the proprietor of the BP garage in Albi, France, and based off of the mechanicals of a Citroen Light 15.

It was claimed in the article that a few "production" models might follow; who knows if they did?

That article says six prototypes were made, I wonder how visually similar they were?

[skwdenyer]

nicanary said:

skwdenyer said:

nicanary said:

That's an MEP.

MEP?

For reference, Motor Sport article here: https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article...

Built by Maurice Pezous of Albi. He built a string of cars based on the traction avant during the 1950s before turning to a one-make single-seat formula of his own device.

Thanks. It was curious the Motor Sport magazine didn't mention him by name; I hadn't dug further.

[healeyneil]

It’s a Healey 3000 🤣

[threespires]

healeyneil said:

It’s a Healey 3000 ??

Got it in one!

[swisstoni]

threespires said:

healeyneil said:

It’s a Healey 3000 ??

Got it in one!

Could that be Simon Templar on his way to Selfridges as well.

[threespires]

swisstoni said:

threespires said:

healeyneil said:

It’s a Healey 3000 ??

Got it in one!

Could that be Simon Templar on his way to Selfridges as well.

Good spot!

[Penny Whistle]

threespires said:

healeyneil said:

It’s a Healey 3000 ??

Got it in one!

I would have thought it was the car in front of the Healey which would be the interesting one - Mercedes Ponton, possibly ?

[Hurricane52]

Has Simon Templar given the baddies from Goldfinger the slip?

[Missy Charm]

Penny Whistle said:

threespires said:

healeyneil said:

It’s a Healey 3000 ??

Got it in one!

I would have thought it was the car in front of the Healey which would be the interesting one - Mercedes Ponton, possibly ?

Almost definitely, you can even see the ivory steering wheel if you look closely. I'd argue that the Healey is more interesting, though; who wouldn't want a drophead in swinging London?

We've also got a Mini, a Volvo P1800, a Citroen DS (possibly), a Z car, a Consul (probably), a Victor and various other things I can't comment on. The only oddity is the car in front of the bus. I'm pretty sure it's a Farina something or other, but also looks like it could be another Vauxhall Victor...

Edited by Missy Charm on Thursday 9th March 08:25

[Turbobanana]

Missy Charm said:

Penny Whistle said:

threespires said:

healeyneil said:

It’s a Healey 3000 ??

Got it in one!

I would have thought it was the car in front of the Healey which would be the interesting one - Mercedes Ponton, possibly ?

Almost definitely, you can even see the ivory steering wheel if you look closely. I'd argue that the Healey is more interesting, though; who wouldn't want a drophead in swinging London?

We've also got a Mini, a Volvo P1800, a Citroen DS (possibly), a Z car, a Consul (probably), a Victor and various other things I can't comment on. The only oddity is the car in front of the bus. I'm pretty sure it's a Farina something or other, but also looks like it could be another Vauxhall Victor...

Edited by Missy Charm on Thursday 9th March 08:25

It's an Austin Cambridge, probably the least "oddity" of all the cars present.

[rolando]

Turbobanana said:

It's an Austin Cambridge, probably the least "oddity" of all the cars present.

You're right. It would be early in its short life before the bulkhead rotted away… (My next door neighbour had two go that way back in the sixties. They were in fact Morris Oxfords , the same thing apart from the badge).

[Penny Whistle]

Missy Charm said:

I'd argue that the Healey is more interesting, though; who wouldn't want a drophead in swinging London?

You're right - I should have said more challenging to identify, rather than interesting.

[RATATTAK]

There's a Cortina in there too, between the Merc and the van.

[galro]

skwdenyer said:

Designs - and designers - have hallmarks.




When posted on Insta, that image was titled "manufacturer Lady Daphne Arnott getting the Arnott 1100cc alloy prototype finished for the 1957 Le Mans. Body “possibly” by Williams & Pritchard."

Where is that? Williams & Pritchard? It doesn't look like Peel, judging by this photo supposedly at their works:

Very interesting picture that I haven't seen before. I've allways believed that someone else must have built the bodies for the aluminium Arnott cars just given how much more advanced they look than the "standard models". I haven't seen any good pictures of how Arnotts garage looking like, so the picture could have been taken there too afaik.

While that is said I agree that it don't look like the picture was taken at either Peels or Williams & Pritchard based on how I understand their places were. You also had Wakefield and Maurice Gomm (and probably others too) whom were very active with building aluminium bodies for racing specials and sport cars in the period. Unfortunately I don't have a complete overview of how their premises looked like and Gomm at least also moved around a bit, however I have at least a couple of pictures that shows parts of their workshop in the background.

Maurice Gomm in 1957:







Wakefield in 1958:



I'm not sure if either could fit with being part of the same premesis as the Arnott picture was taken on? They both looks quite old to my eyes, but I'm also not that familiar with British vernacular architecture.

Edited by galro on Tuesday 2nd May 15:42