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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2008 => Topic started by: Otto Puzzell on September 23, 2006, 05:54:53 AM

Title: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: Otto Puzzell on September 23, 2006, 05:54:53 AM
(http://www.autopuzzles.com/NTVC09232006.jpg)
Photo credit: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nymonroe

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know what make and model you think you see here.


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Thanks!
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on September 26, 2006, 04:31:26 AM
Such a beautiful car, and not one guess. Here's a clue:

Though the whitewall tires would lead one to believe this is an American car, it was not a Detroit product.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: SeaLion on September 26, 2006, 12:09:00 PM
Is it a belgian Minerva?
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on September 26, 2006, 03:08:17 PM
No sir.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 04, 2006, 10:41:19 AM
Please re-read the clue carefully...
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Tifosi on October 04, 2006, 08:25:37 PM
A Rolls-Royce built in Springfield, MA ?



Dan
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 05, 2006, 02:56:50 AM
No, but you are getting closer.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: D-type on October 13, 2006, 07:10:14 PM
A little voice keeps saying 'Duesenberg'
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 14, 2006, 02:58:30 AM
Not a Duesenberg
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: porridgehead on October 21, 2006, 11:29:53 PM
Gotta be a Nash 7 seater. (woohoo, goin' for a threefer tonight!  :o)
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on October 22, 2006, 03:02:20 AM
Not a Nash.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: porridgehead on October 22, 2006, 10:38:53 AM
Not a Nash? Dang it all to heck. I was so sure it was an Advanced that I ruptured a rotator cuff patting myself on the back.

Woe is I.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 02, 2006, 08:11:04 AM
<bump>
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: smonty on November 13, 2006, 12:42:58 AM
A De Soto?
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 13, 2006, 03:25:49 AM
Nope - not from a Motown brand.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Tifosi on November 13, 2006, 05:06:01 AM
A Roamer?


Dan
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 13, 2006, 05:09:33 AM
Not a Roamer.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Arthur Dent on November 13, 2006, 01:18:17 PM
early to mid 20s Moon?
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 13, 2006, 05:10:08 PM
Not a Moon.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Arthur Dent on November 13, 2006, 05:24:44 PM
Really? Looks very similar to this Moon Phaeton Y-640 even down to the wheels. Fenders, grill and headlights are a little different. Maybe same coach builder?

(http://i3.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/77/4f/448b_1.JPG)
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 14, 2006, 04:12:33 AM
Indeed, a lot of cars of that era look similar - a malady that afflicts current automobiles, though now they are uniform and bland, versus uniform and jaunty (IMO).

Like may cars from the pre-WWII period in the US, this vehicle was built by a company that flourished as a horse-carriage builder, and then made the switch to automobiles. A critical difference between the Moon you pictured and this car, is the absence of running boards. One other early innovation from this brand remains virtually universal today.

To the best of my knowledge, this company designed it's own coachwork, though early cars featured many outsourced mechanical bits. By the early 1930's this maker had ceased to build automobiles; it stayed in business by manufacturing car bodies for mainstream brands for a few more years, but I don't think Moon was one of them.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: porridgehead on November 14, 2006, 08:18:48 AM
Pre-WWII? Did you say Pre-WWII? Well no wonder I couldn't figure it out! Dang! Now I'm going to have to start all over again!  >:( >:( >:(

;D
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Ultra on November 14, 2006, 11:44:35 AM
Quote from: porridgehead on November 14, 2006, 08:18:48 AM
Pre-WWII? Did you say Pre-WWII? Well no wonder I couldn't figure it out! Dang! Now I'm going to have to start all over again!  >:( >:( >:(

;D

:P

:D
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Arthur Dent on November 14, 2006, 12:40:29 PM
Yeah they are amazingly similar - I'll be interested to see the final answer - I'm stumped!
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Stephen M on November 14, 2006, 03:47:04 PM
The apparent turn signal on the front fender is a bit out of the ordinary, as is the cylindrical thing mounted halfway up the driver's side A-pillar. Either might be clues to a better googler than I.  ???
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 18, 2006, 02:28:05 AM
Though the casual observer may think otherwise, this car's model designation has nothing to do with the engine type.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: cheater on December 11, 2006, 08:37:58 PM
I'm guessing Cunningham.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 12, 2006, 02:43:36 AM
Please be specific.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: cheater on December 12, 2006, 07:25:26 PM
I'm going to say Cunningham V-6, about 1926 or so. Possibly a V-7, but they made so few of these cars . . .

I'm hoping your know the coachbuilder, because I don't.

Title: Re: Puzzle #44
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 13, 2006, 03:59:18 AM
You will be a pro-puzzler in no time at all, I think.

This is a 1925 Cunningham Phaeton model V-6. It is powered by a 540 cu. in. V-8 made in the Cunningham factory. I believe the body was penned an built in-house, as well. In fact, Cunningham survived after production of their own vehicles seized by crafting bodies for other makers' cars.

Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeon Model V-6
Post by: porridgehead on December 13, 2006, 08:05:40 AM
Excellent job Cheater! This one had me scratching my head for quite some time.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: cheater on December 13, 2006, 10:36:59 PM
Well, I had help. The drum headlights strongly suggested the car was mid-twenties and the look definitely suggested the car was a CCCA classic. A quick perusal through "The Classic Era" by my acquaintance Beverly Rae Kimes showed me the answer.

BTW, that book was a gift to me from the first recipient of the CCCA's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1964 (IIRC). He was also my best man when the missus and I got hitched 29 years ago this past November. Anyone know who he is and what one of his sons does for a living?  ;D
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 14, 2006, 03:03:48 PM
Would that be Phil Hill? ??? (wild @ss guess).
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: cheater on December 14, 2006, 10:52:07 PM
Good guess, but no.

(And my apologies for being so presumptuous as to post my own quiz).

I'll add a couple of clues: Our best man has five sons and owns a very valuable pre-WWII Packard he named George.

Does that help?  ;D
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: Ultra on December 14, 2006, 11:08:10 PM
Quote from: cheater on December 14, 2006, 10:52:07 PM
(And my apologies for being so presumptuous as to post my own quiz).


We are hoping everyone here will do a lot of that, actually.

  8)
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: Arthur Dent on December 14, 2006, 11:23:25 PM
so model V-6 but powered by a V8 huh?  :P
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: Allan L on December 15, 2006, 03:06:29 AM
Quote from: Arthur Dent on December 14, 2006, 11:23:25 PM
so model V-6 but powered by a V8 huh?  :P

Often happened in the history of model designations:
1904 type V de Dion was a single cylinder 8 h.p. so could have been referred to as the V 8
1929 Type V4 Maserati was a 4-litre 16 cylinder
and anything in between. ;D
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: cheater on December 15, 2006, 06:47:57 PM
I guess more clues to the mystery man are needed.

The Packard called George is a 1930 Model 734 Speedster boattail, probably the most photographed Packard boattail of all time, and likely the Packard boattail that over the last couple of decades has been driven more than any other 734.

The mystery man has also been a judge at the Amelia Island Concours every year since its inception. And a few years ago, he was selected as a Hemmings Motor News "Hero of the Hobby".

Does that help?
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 16, 2006, 06:49:15 AM
No idea.
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: cheater on December 16, 2006, 07:28:15 AM
I'll take that as "uncle".

The gift-giving Packard owner is Donald R. Peterson, editor emeritus of "Car Collector" magazine, who indeed was our best man in 1977.

His son West Peterson is the editor of the AACA's "Antique Automobile (and is the former editor of "Cars & Parts). Good car people, those Petersons . . .
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 19, 2006, 03:39:42 AM
Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Puzzle #44 - Solved! Cunningham Phaeton Model V-6
Post by: Otto Puzzell on July 30, 2008, 04:01:06 PM
I wonder if cheater will ever return?