What did I see?

[JW911]

I have no idea so can't Google it. M4 westbound on Friday near Maidenhead.

It looked about 1930s vintage. Was a very streamlined, light blue open two seater with completely faired wheels and a pair of large headlights behind a sloping front grill. If anyone has a clue, I'd love to know as it looked stunning. If I was a betting man, I'd say it was Italian or French but I really haven't a clue.

Please post pics of possibilities and I may be able to identify it.

Thanks.

[marshalla]

Peugeot 402 ?

[JW911]

Nope. Nose wasn't dissimilar but the wheels were outboard of the body with streamlined fairings.

[Eggman]

Did it look anything like a Peugeot 402?



ETA: Beaten to it!

[XG332]

Peugeot 402?

[JW911]

I can conclusively say it isn't a Peugeot 402. The body was quite narrow. Will try to find a pic of something similar.....

Edited by JW911 on Monday 28th November 00:03

[marshalla]

??

[JW911]

Imagine all four wheels shrouded in a similar manner as the silver car (what is it by the way?), a narrow open two-seat body and the same grille as the 402.

[marshalla]

JW911 said:

Imagine all four wheels shrouded in a similar manner as the silver car (what is it by the way?), a narrow open two-seat body and the same grille as the 402.

Hispano-Suiza H6C, if you saw one of them on the open road it would be a miracle!

[JW911]

Ok. I've found a suitable picture. Imagine this car as a two-seater with the 402 grille and you won't be too far off the mark.....



Best I can do I'm afraid.

[pwrc]

Light blue could mean bugatti?also that peugeot's grille looks not unlike that of prewar bmws. Otherwise i'd guess at kit car. Did it have black/silver plates?

[marshalla]

Those front wheels aren't faired in !

I'm sorely tempted to say it was a BMW Frazer Nash and that you misplaced the headlamps

[Eggman]

Bugattis only tend to be blue because that's the colour that France used to race in (like British Racing Green). Could just as easily be a Delahaye or something. Faired in wheels suggests Figoni et Falaschi to me, but the chances of seeing one of their cars on the road are somewhat remote to put it mildly.

[lowdrag]

Figoni and Falashi came straight to mind from the description, but even at my advanced years I've never seen one on the road, so rare are they.

[JW911]

pwrc said:

Light blue could mean bugatti?also that peugeot's grille looks not unlike that of prewar bmws. Otherwise i'd guess at kit car. Did it have black/silver plates?

As far as I remember, old black and silver plates. It looked original rather than kit. To be fair, I didn't see it for very long - although the headlights were definitely behind the grille. The grille was kind of heart shaped. From a bit of googling, the rear could probably be described as "boat tail".

Edited by JW911 on Monday 28th November 08:15

[Steffan]

JW911 said:

pwrc said:

Light blue could mean bugatti?also that peugeot's grille looks not unlike that of prewar bmws. Otherwise i'd guess at kit car. Did it have black/silver plates?

As far as I remember, old black and silver plates. It looked original rather than kit. To be fair, I didn't see it for very long - although the headlights were definitely behind the grille. The grille was kind of heart shaped.

It is extremely easy to mistake cars identified only by glimpses over a few seconds.

I learnt at Uni many years ago that umpteen research projects confirm the difficulties of positive identification from glimpsed events.

Your description does sound like a Peugeot 402, your phrase heart shaped grill being very possibly a glimpsed view of that car. Equally the headlamps behind the grill clearly apply.

I hope you find your quest maybe a PH'er will know a possible candidate on the road in that area on the day in question. There cannot be many. Good luck.

[JW911]

Thanks Stefan. It wasn't a 402 as the rear wheels are wrong. This may take some time ......

[delays]

Healey Silverstone?

[JW911]

If that isn't it, it's very close. Could be!!

The car in your photo may be the actual car in fact:

http://www.classic-auctions.com/Auctions/26-02-201...

More recent than I thought.

Edited by JW911 on Monday 28th November 08:57

[Steffan]

Another possibility is the J2 Allard. Has a very similar look.

See:

http://www.supercars.net/Pics?viewCarPic=y&sou...




I had one in 1965. Magnificent engine rest of the car was very fragile.