Help identify 20s sports car

[noumenon]

I was out yesterday and spotted the most beautiful classic sports car. I'd love to identify it, but I didn't get a chance to get a photo and the number plate doesn't seem to match the insurance database to a model of car.

It was a dark red 2 seater, about the size of an MX5 mk1. It had a fairly prominent logo down the left side of the radiator. Open wheeled with tall skinny tyres and prominent central 'wing nuts' holding on the tyres. Exhaust slung underneath. Smallish windscreen.

Any ideas?

[Turbobanana]

[droopsnoot]

If you got the number plate, perhaps you could post it up and someone might know more.

[noumenon]

The closest I can find would be something like an alvis 12/50 FWD, but without the boat tail.

Is the prominent red logo on the left of the radiator not distinctive? What about the centre lock wheels, we they common?

Many thanks.

[noumenon]

Maybe an austin 7 sports variant of some type?

Registration : JZ 1114

Which was a square plate, high up on the right side of the back.

[RicksAlfas]

A logo on the left of the grill may well be a club badge.
Most marque badges would be top centre of the grill.
The style you describe is very typical of the era with centre lock wheels.

[jeremyc]

Fiat Balilla 508S?

[noumenon]

Thanks. Not quite as distinctive as the Fiat. The radiator was less tall, no swooping guards and a more square rear.

[K50 DEL]

DVLA check shows no make recorded, but it was first registered here in 2002, built in 1935 and has a 995cc petrol engine

[Scrump]

A registration with the character Z would mean Northern Irish plate nowadays. Was this always the case?
If so the car was registered in NI, or it may be something like a kit car or one off special and it has had a NI plate fitted to hide the age.

[noumenon]

Yes, the car was seen in Northern Ireland, so the registration isn't likely to be to make it look older. Judging by the smell behind it, it's old!

The other way to describe what it looks like would be something like a bentley le mans tourer, without the large headlights and scaled down to a smaller size.

[cjb44]

Turbobanana said:

Probably a bit too subtle for a lot of people, and was my thought before I saw your post, but made me laugh.

[RicksAlfas]

You said it was red!

[smokey mow]

The engine number that comes up on searches for that reg number starts 108CS which suggests it would be a Fiat Balilla 508S as posted above.

Edited by smokey mow on Thursday 17th June 15:26

[noumenon]

My children have reviewed the image and confirmed that this is likely the car (Fiat Balilla 508S). (They are also accusing me of being old and forgetful.... in my 40s!)

Many thanks.