dw1603

Yeh, don’t give it away, I know this one!

You should read the fascinating story behind this car, beyond the original idea and the money the French had surprisingly little to do with it. A very International collaboration.

I was feeling quite smug until I realised I hadn’t actually sent my answer to Michael this week, whoops! I’ve sent it now.

I worked in the service dept of a Honda dealer, I had a company car but would loan it to service customers (it reduced my tax liability) Occasionally it would stay out overnight, so I went to the Sales Manager and asked to borrow a car. He offered me something not very exciting, a Proton or something similar. “A Proton?” I riposted, “I’d rather walk!” ... “Fair enough” he replied, dropped the keys back in the box and locked it. I never did that again.

Kirkham Motorsports produced Cobra bodies and chassis in Mielec, Poland. I don’t know if they are still around, but it seems they were the best Cobra recreations available in the early 21st century. This contemporary video shows the quality of their workmanship, beautiful

I give up.

I think that the same aircraft factory where the Mikrus was built went on to produce alloy Cobra bodies in the early 2000’s. Does anybody know if they are still in production?

Peteski, they should have a ‘like’ button on here. Brilliant!

I read somewhere that the Brutsch Mopetta single seat 3 wheeler was built under licence in Nottingham, UK in about 1956. I went looking for the company’s building but didn’t find it. Lots of changes in Nottingham over the last 40 years.

Every day is a school day

At least it doesn’t hurt your eyes!

Just disqualified myself from Autoquiz 494. I was spending too much time looking for it.

I failed to get it the first time, but I’ll never forget it again (unfortunately)?

Run it till Friday

Got it!

Nope, still haven’t got it.

The only discernible differences I could find between the models was the colour of the turn signals (amber on the later models) and the size and font of the fender script. Took me three tries before Michael was happy?

I’d rather be lucky than smart.

Well I ought to have found this one, I looked at Willys, I looked at Brazil and now you have revealed it, I’m even aware of Itamaraty. Total failure on my part. Oh well, roll on 490!

I give up, I can’t spend any more time on this one.

I haven’t given up completely yet, but I’m getting nowhere with this one.

I recognised the wheels and the door handles but not the car. I found it the hard way, but once I got a head on view I knew it was a Sovam. If you think this is ugly you should search their commercial vehicles. Panel gaps you can walk through.

Me too!

Haha! That is brilliant. Alvis continued building military vehicles for some time after that, like the outstanding amphibious Stalwart, a six wheel drive floating truck with a straight eight Rolls Royce lump. Sounded fabulous.

The Equus was probably the last design concept by Vauxhall Motors. All subsequent Vauxhalls are Opel based, initially with some unique styling but lately only a change of badge. Only one Equus exists, it was designed by a team led by Wayne Cherry and built by Panther Westwinds on the chassis of a Panther Lima. The Lima was itself based on the Vauxhall Magnum and I believe it used a sizeable portion of the Magnum floor pan.