Puzzle JWK006 - Solved! Spohn built car from 1953

K5ING · January 28, 2009, 03:15:37 PM

I love these big "sports cars". Can you tell me:

Who designed it?
Who built it?
Approximate year (+/- 1 year)?

Good Luck!

JWK

K5ING · February 02, 2009, 01:11:06 PM

bump, bump, bump, bump

K5ING · February 05, 2009, 07:39:58 PM

Go for it experts! You know you want to.

shiftfocus · February 05, 2009, 08:31:23 PM

ZIL knockoff of a Buick, with optional cowcatcher...

K5ING · February 05, 2009, 09:48:05 PM

That's actually peasant-pusher, but no, not a Zil. Keep digging.

K5ING · February 15, 2009, 04:28:13 PM

I feel honored for my puzzle to be the "featured puzzle". Worth a bump.

K5ING · February 25, 2009, 04:35:38 PM

Moved to the professional ranks.

Otto Puzzell · February 26, 2009, 03:40:06 AM

I've never seen a pic, but is that a Verirtas / BMW by Spohn, ca.1949?

K5ING · February 26, 2009, 11:07:32 AM

You got 1 of the 3 questions correct. HINT: It wasn't the year.

Otto Puzzell · February 27, 2009, 04:07:00 AM

Hmmm... $:-\$

Found this picture - I would guess that due to the similar coves on the side, and the same fins, this car is at least by the same coachbuilder, Spohn.

Otto Puzzell · February 27, 2009, 04:10:25 AM

Or is it this Cadillac (NOT a 59, regardless of the photo title)?

Otto Puzzell · February 27, 2009, 04:23:05 AM

Then again, the bulky cowl and the shape of the vent windows puts me in mind of a Maybach. Unless I stumble across it soon, I'll resign myself to PJ bringing this one home.

Paul Jaray · February 27, 2009, 07:53:48 AM

...since you ask me, I'll say Oldsmobile. I know also of a Pontiac, a Volkswagen and a Mercedes-Benz on such lines, but do not have pictures...

K5ING · February 27, 2009, 11:33:35 AM

That Cadillac picture looks VERY much like mine, however there are minor differences. The windshields appear to be different along with some other minor things. That said, it could be the same car with the picture taken in '59 after some modifications. There is no mention of Cadillac (or any of the names Paul mentioned) in my information, however.

You are correct about Spohn being the builder. We still have the year and the designer to go.

Ray B. · February 27, 2009, 11:46:49 AM

Where Paul is right is that the air filter and carb look Oldsmobile, not Cadillac at all. That would be the Rochester carb and filter of an early Rocket engine.

K5ING · February 27, 2009, 01:34:14 PM

According to my information, the engine is not made by GM.

Also, the designer I have is not an automotive guy at all, but rather in the US military.

Otto Puzzell · February 27, 2009, 04:07:57 PM

As I understand it, may of Spohn's post-war customers were military personnel stationed in Germany. While I'm sure a GI or flyboy commissioned the car, I strongly doubt he designed it.

K5ING · February 27, 2009, 04:49:26 PM

Quote from: Otto Puzzell on February 27, 2009, 04:07:57 PM
As I understand it, may of Spohn's post-war customers were military personnel stationed in Germany. While I'm sure a GI or flyboy commissioned the car, I strongly doubt he designed it.

The article I got this from says he did, but I'm only going by what it says. I don't doubt that he didn't draw up blueprints himself, but probably told Spohn "yea, I want tail lights like this, and a front end like that, etc".

Here's the entire article with the answers blacked out. It gives more hints also.

Paul Jaray · February 28, 2009, 02:36:53 AM

M\Sgt Louis W. Struna, who design this car himself,......,and the engine came from a '49 Lincoln.....
A very popular magazine from 1953.

Otto Puzzell · February 28, 2009, 02:55:04 AM

Nice article, but I think either the owner is embellishing, or the writer is. For instance, he 'dictated' the same tail end as had been used on any number of Spohn cars.

K5ING · February 28, 2009, 12:03:58 PM

Paul got it.

I had a feeling that posting the entire article would give it (and a good source) away.

It's true that the tail was common on some of the post war Spohn cars. Does anyone know how many they made similar to this?

Back in the early 80's, I was getting the convertible top replaced on my '69 Olds Cutlass, and in the shop was a car very, very similar to this one. It was faded red in color and in pretty poor shape, but it had "Spohn" on the hubcaps, and the tail look just like this one. The front was different though. It was flatter, and had curved clear plastic covers over the headlights. Picture a half-cylinder with the axis running vertical. The doors also had some "cutdown" (not sure of the automotive term). Something like an MG's doors, only not as radical. I think the owner told me that it originally had a Buick engine, but was changed over to a Chrysler at some point in the past (or maybe the other way around). It was pretty impressive though. I've been trying to track down this particular car for years.

StillOutThere · October 27, 2011, 03:43:58 PM

Quote from: K5ING on February 28, 2009, 12:03:58 PM
SNIP

Back in the early 80's, I was getting the convertible top replaced on my '69 Olds Cutlass, and in the shop was a car very, very similar to this one. It was faded red in color and in pretty poor shape, but it had "Spohn" on the hubcaps, and the tail look just like this one. The front was different though. It was flatter, and had curved clear plastic covers over the headlights. Picture a half-cylinder with the axis running vertical. The doors also had some "cutdown" (not sure of the automotive term). Something like an MG's doors, only not as radical. I think the owner told me that it originally had a Buick engine, but was changed over to a Chrysler at some point in the past (or maybe the other way around). It was pretty impressive though. I've been trying to track down this particular car for years.

You probably saw the Cooper Spohn '41 Packard which lived in Lubbock, Texas for a time and was faded red in its later US days. The car is under restoration in South Australia currently.

K5ING · October 28, 2011, 11:23:04 AM

Quote from: StillOutThere on October 27, 2011, 03:43:58 PM
Quote from: K5ING on February 28, 2009, 12:03:58 PM
SNIP

Back in the early 80's, I was getting the convertible top replaced on my '69 Olds Cutlass, and in the shop was a car very, very similar to this one. It was faded red in color and in pretty poor shape, but it had "Spohn" on the hubcaps, and the tail look just like this one. The front was different though. It was flatter, and had curved clear plastic covers over the headlights. Picture a half-cylinder with the axis running vertical. The doors also had some "cutdown" (not sure of the automotive term). Something like an MG's doors, only not as radical. I think the owner told me that it originally had a Buick engine, but was changed over to a Chrysler at some point in the past (or maybe the other way around). It was pretty impressive though. I've been trying to track down this particular car for years.

You probably saw the Cooper Spohn '41 Packard which lived in Lubbock, Texas for a time and was faded red in its later US days. The car is under restoration in South Australia currently.

I think that's it!! The front end and the plastic headlight covers are there. I was thinking that the doors/beltline had some cutdown though, but I might wrong. It was in Carrollton/Farmers Branch, TX for quite a while. I got two tops at that place about 5 years apart, and it was there both times. I'd never seen anything like it before. I'm glad it's being looked after and restored.

Thanks!

Jeff

StillOutThere · June 19, 2013, 08:58:33 AM

May I add some understanding to the design process of the Spohn Custom group of cars? The scenario, as best I have been able to compile it, goes like this:

Josef Eiwanger, Jr, manager and designer at Spohn postwar, was desperately seeking contracts to keep his talented personnel employed in the greatly changed postwar market. He decided to try "customizing" in the style of the American car hobbyists that was appearing in new US magazine titles and that the market for these customs would be the US servicemen stationed in Germany. It was thought they would like elements of the new US concept cars being shown in Europe by at least Ford and General Motors. So Herr Eiwanger produced some sketches of various aspects of these cars offering a portfolio he referred to as his "Box of Toys". The base car owner was to choose toys from the box, they would be incorporated into an overall sketch and a job estimate created for approval and commencement of work. Toys included the '51 GM Harley Earl Le Sabre concept tail fins which were wildly popular with the US flyers of course. Number and placement of tail lamps per the owner. The '52 Ford X200 concept front design and '51 Buick XP-300 front were also often chosen. Smaller details such as the Veritas hood scoop Spohn was using and multiple styles of venting the engine compartment through the sides of the front fenders were on offer. Full interior leathers and Keiper-brand reclining front seats and Euro-instrumented dashes also optional. Surely Eiwanger offered opinions on the package of toys chosen but "the customer is always right" who is paying the biills and the karosserie needed the work.

I attach a photo of Lt. H.G. Luiscombe speaking with J. Eiwanger, Jr. with Box of Toys sketches as well as brochures spread out on the hood of his brand new 1952 Lincoln. The car was built into another radical Spohn Custom to Luiscombe's desires. The car has been re-customized twice to my knowledge over the years and exists today near Cleveland, Ohio.

News:

Puzzle JWK006 - Solved! Spohn built car from 1953