Solved -PJ237- Freze M17/2 1916 (or not?)

[Paul Jaray]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and share your knowledge of the name and builder of this car.

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Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Thanks!

[Paul Jaray]

Experts?

[Paul Jaray]

Pros?

[Otto Puzzell]

Is this one of those cars built to evoke another era? I.e., not a replica of a particular car, but evocative of the early days of motoring?

[Paul Jaray]

It's not a replica or a nostalgic car.
(the story will be told soon...)

[jotage21]

Is this a kind of truck based roadster?

[Paul Jaray]

Not truck based, but there may be a connection....

[Otto Puzzell]

American LaFrance?

[Paul Jaray]

Not an ALF...

[spider murphy]

Freze M built by Pjotr Alexander Freze (Sovjet Union) in 1917.

[Paul Jaray]

That is the name I have!
In the meantime I received a PM by a member who has got more info about, and it seems that this car is indeed a fake.
One point for you, spider.

[faksta]

Yes, thanks for pointing my attention to this

I have seen this car at another website and out of curiosity contacted a specialist in Russian pre-Soviet cars. The story seems to be the following. In general Frese is known for building cars from 1899 until 1908, when it has become an affiliate of RBVZ and started to produce bodies for Russo-Baltique cars. Sometimes it is said that through 1916-1917 Frese has returned to producing own cars, but it has never been proved by any documents. What has been proved is that Frese was busy with repairing cars of many makes during those years, often applying their own badges or plates on them.
The car in a puzzle was found somewhere in an awful condition, with almost no identification marks, and the man who found it seemingly considered it to be one of those (mythical) late Frese cars. Most possible is that it was one of the cars repaired at the factory. You can also notice that the name of the make is written with a mistake on a badge (Фрэзэ instead of Фрезе).
Shortly, it seems to be a fake car, without malice maybe, but still fake.

[Arunas]

Yes, thanks for pointing my attention to this

I have seen this car at another website and out of curiosity contacted a specialist in Russian pre-Soviet cars. The story seems to be the following. In general Frese is known for building cars from 1899 until 1908, when it has become an affiliate of RBVZ and started to produce bodies for Russo-Baltique cars. Sometimes it is said that through 1916-1917 Frese has returned to producing own cars, but it has never been proved by any documents. What has been proved is that Frese was busy with repairing cars of many makes during those years, often applying their own badges or plates on them.
The car in a puzzle was found somewhere in an awful condition, with almost no identification marks, and the man who found it seemingly considered it to be one of those (mythical) late Frese cars. Most possible is that it was one of the cars repaired at the factory. You can also notice that the name of the make is written with a mistake on a badge (Фрэзэ instead of Фрезе).
Shortly, it seems to be a fake car, without malice maybe, but still fake.

Very interesting story. Well done, faksta!

[faksta]

Very interesting story. Well done, faksta!

Thanks! Although the research is not my courtesy 

[Paul Jaray]

Here are a couple of views of this car and what the owner of the car claims to be a period pic of it

[Paul Jaray]

One point both to Spider Murphy and Faksta.
If there are some news about, post them here.

[faksta]

Well, thanks, but technically I haven't solved anything 

[Paul Jaray]

We both know that you sent me a PM with the whole story when this one was posted in the Rookie section.
Spider Murphy found the car, you found the story behind.