Print Page - Solved: Name That Make #3

Title: Solved: Name That Make #3 - 1947 Wiles-Thomson
Post by: ftg3plus4 on April 27, 2009, 05:33:00 PM

I've been poking around the 'net looking for pics of obscure makes. How obscure? You tell me!

Sorry for the fuzzy quality... could not find a better version.

Title: Re: Name That Make #3
Post by: ftg3plus4 on May 02, 2009, 07:47:16 AM

OK, my cars are lonely. Time to move to Experts!

Title: Re: Name That Make #3
Post by: ftg3plus4 on May 08, 2009, 05:11:43 PM

I'm surprised the Experts didn't get this one. Did I actually manage to pick a hard one?

Pros, you tell me!

Title: Re: Name That Make #3
Post by: hugo90 on May 11, 2009, 12:26:25 AM

Is it a Datsun? I see some details, like the front corners and the folding top that remind me of a Datsun picture that I, of course, cannot locate.

Title: Re: Name That Make #3
Post by: ftg3plus4 on May 11, 2009, 08:14:02 AM

Nope, sorry. Wrong country, BTW. (And remember, this is not an obscure model of a famous make, but a fairly obscure make.)

Title: Re: Name That Make #3
Post by: Paul Jaray on May 14, 2009, 02:35:57 PM

I was looking for something completely different, when I found this picture on the Beaulieu:
can't believe it's the same car!
Is this the australian Thomson, built by Jack Thomson in 1947-1949?

Title: Re: Name That Make #3
Post by: ftg3plus4 on May 14, 2009, 03:17:42 PM

Actually, it's the Wiles-Thomson, as seen on the sign in your picture. Good job!

This was supposed to be an Australian "people's car," but apparently only two prototypes were built.

Title: Re: SOLVED: Name That Make #3 - 1947 Wiles-Thomson
Post by: Paul Jaray on May 14, 2009, 03:34:27 PM

You are right. Here's what is on the Beaulieu:

THOMSON (AUS) 1947-1949
Wiles Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Mile End, South Australia.

In 1938-39 Jack Thomson built a small 4-seater tourer not unlike an Austin 8 in appearance, powered by a 700cc 2-cylinder 2-stroke engine. He was aided by Harold Clisby, who had built a Villiers-powered runabout for his own use in 1927, and made a quad-cam V6 Formula One engine in the 60s. Only one of the prewar cars were made, but in 1947 Thomson designed a chassisless 2-seater tourer which was taken up by the Wilers brothers who had made a fortune with army field kitchens. Known as the Wiles-Thomson, it was powered by a completely rebuilt DKW 2-stroke engine which drove the rear wheels via a 3-speed gearbox. The body was considered to be ugly, and Wiles Engineering made two more cars with more attractive lines in 1948-1949. They then dropped the project, but Thomson started work on a further car, a sports tourer with cutaway doors and a Ford Ten engine. He was still at work on this when He died in 1952, and the car was completed by his son-in-law Doug Giles. This still exists.

Title: Re: Solved: Name That Make #3 - 1947 Wiles-Thomson
Post by: ftg3plus4 on May 14, 2009, 06:25:04 PM

Here's the full picture. Note the misspelling of "Thomson" in the caption. (No wonder I was having such a hard time finding anything about this car... ;) )

Title: Re: Solved: Name That Make #3 - 1947 Wiles-Thomson
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 05, 2015, 04:42:35 PM

Quote from: ftg3plus4 on May 14, 2009, 03:17:42 PM
Actually, it's the Wiles-Thomson, as seen on the sign in your picture. Good job!

This was supposed to be an Australian "people's car," but apparently only two prototypes were built.

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=29711.0
There is the other prototype ;)

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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2009 => Topic started by: ftg3plus4 on April 27, 2009, 05:33:00 PM