A blue offering from Allan L: 1912 FIAT with a Bean body

[Allan L]

My yellow offering was obviously far too easy, so here is a rather older blue car. The problem is that it has been fitted with the body from another, slightly later car. What car is it, and what car did the body come from?

[Allan L]

Time for a clue: the car was built by a very well-known manufacturer, still in business.
The body, on the other hand . . . .

[Motorace]

Is it a Lancia?

[Otto Puzzell]

A Cadillac, perhaps? 1913 or 1914.

[Allan L]

Is it a Lancia?

No, but not that far wrong!

[Otto Puzzell]

FIAT!

[Allan L]

FIAT!

Yes.
Now the difficult bit: name the car the body is off.
It's Vintage rather than Edwardian (i.e. post 1919)

[Allan L]

For those that understand, I can say the body is from a car made in the Black Country in England.

[Allan L]

For those that understand, I can say the body is from a car made in the Black Country in England.

OK, Tipton in Staffordshire then.
Someone please finish this off!

[Ultra]

Todays Front Page Puzzle!

[Otto Puzzell]

[Allan L]

[Allan L]

Someone think of an answer!

[Allan L]

OK here's a clue: this shows the car that the body comes from.

[Stephen M]

Shot in the dark: Is the above pic from a Spencer Tracy / Katherine Hepburn movie?

I'm not sure if it would help me regardless, but knowing can't hurt.

[Allan L]

Shot in the dark: Is the above pic from a Spencer Tracy / Katherine Hepburn movie?

I'm not sure if it would help me regardless, but knowing can't hurt.

You'd have to ask Mr. Catt, whose car it is, whether you are right or if it is Mr & Mrs  Catt in fancy dress.

[grobmotorix]

So is it a Fiat 501 body mounted on an older chassis?

[Allan L]

So is it a Fiat 501 body mounted on an older chassis?

No tthe body is from a different make as gone through aboveand as pictures more recently (and it's not from a Fiat)

[Ultra]

Someone think of an answer!

It will sprout up with it eventually.  I sent this car to Hemmings for their blog this week.

[D-type]

Is the body from a Bean?

[Allan L]

Is the body from a Bean?

Yes it is!

Well done that man!

[D-type]

Now we've 'solved' it with the help of a huge hint from Allan does anybody have any idea why someone would use a body from a Bean of all things?     ,

[Allan L]

Now we've 'solved' it with the help of a huge hint from Allan does anybody have any idea why someone would use a body from a Bean of all things?     ,

I think that when the car was restored in the 1950s pragmatism ruled the day. The "as found" photo that I've seen showed there was little or no body remaining, so presumably as someone happened to have a restorable four-seater of about the right size, it was used. People didn't spend much money on their old cars in those days, and originality was not as important as getting them into usable condition. That also explains the wooden wheels at the front which are correct, and the Sankey metal wheels at the back (since replaced) which are not.