OP Puzzle #1554 - Ford Special Concept - 1964

[Otto Puzzell]

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and share your knowledge of what this is, and who built it.
As always, detailed answers are greatly appreciated by all. 
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Thanks!

[Otto Puzzell]

Experts?

[Carnut]

Believe this is a Ford Capri proposal from about 1964 by Ford Cologne called the Ford Special, designed by Phil Clarke?

[Otto Puzzell]

You're in the ballpark. I'll give you 24 hours to hone your reply.

[white12]

I think it is a Ford Taunus GT concept car 1964 for Ford Cologne by Phil Clark

[Carnut]

You're in the ballpark. I'll give you 24 hours to hone your reply.

Thanks.
I was going from memory but have checked and it is Ford Cologne's proposal for a Ford Capri from 1964 called the Ford Special.
But it wasn't designed by Phil Clark, who was based in the UK, but by Hans A. Muth.  It was ditched in favour of a 'more American design'.  Pity - this is a very good looking and modern-looking car for 1964..

[Otto Puzzell]

I think it is a Ford Taunus GT concept car 1964 for Ford Cologne by Phil Clark

white12: this one was locked for Carnut. It is a Ford Taunus GT Concept.

No point awarded, but moving to solved.

[white12]

Sorry carnut I have not seen your previous message, I thought the puzzle was recently promoted from rookies.

[Carnut]

So the site where I got my info is wrong?!
It's pretty adamant that it was a Capri proposal, although perhaps based on the Taunus, by Hans A. Muth, not Phil Clark.
Muth of course went on to design the Mazda MX5 (Miata).
There is another picture there described as the Taunus GT, but this picture is definitely captioned as the Ford Special concept car 1964!

I can't find any other site which carries this picture!

[Otto Puzzell]

Upon further review, this car appears to be:

One of the  competing car from Ford Cologne - the Ford Special concept car (1964), finally killed in favour of an "american idea"

Point to Carnut

[Otto Puzzell]

Upon further review, this car appears to be:

One of the  competing car (sic) from Ford Cologne - the Ford Special concept car (1964), finally killed in favour of an "american idea"

Point to Carnut

[Allemano]

Some additional info. The caption says: the mid-engined (!) Ford "Special" from 1964 was a very elegant Coupé, but unfortunately space was lost for the rear passengers. Two trunks were the benefit of this concept.
I think (though I couldn't make it visible) there are vents in front of the back wheels.

[Carnut]

Do you think they've put the right caption on the picture?
It doesn't look remotely mid-engined to me!
And in 1964?!
With all that space up-front what on earth was the point, if it was?!

[Allemano]

No, I'm not sure. But it could be possible as Matra Djet and ATS were on the market, yet.
My source is a special edition of a German classic car mag which covers prototypes of major companies.
It dates from the late eighties and it seems not the most reliabe.
I've already found some mistakes on the first read...

[Carnut]

Yes, there were certainly mid-engined road cars around by 1964 all right, but only out-and-out sports cars.
This is very much a coupe (although must say very advanced-looking for 1964) and was even mentioned as a Capri proposal (although would have thought it's a bit early for that).  Do you think Uncle Henry would really have even considered a mid-engined coupe like that in 1964?  Sports can perhaps although doubtful, but a coupe?!

[Allemano]

It's made in Germany by Ford Cologne's designer Hans Muth. Studies are often a little over the top...

[Carnut]

It's made in Germany by Ford Cologne's designer Hans Muth. Studies are often a little over the top...

Right on both points!
So did they have complete autonomy from Detroit to come up with whatever they pleased?

[Allemano]

It's not unusual and just required that different design departments doing their own thing in 'in-house' competitions (and don't forget the foreign design studios like Bertone or Pininfarina). You have a wider range of different designs and different ideas. You get a lot more input. Even the first designs of Ford's US designers look weird and far off from what later became the Ford Capri. (presented in 1968!)
If you browse a well known page for British Leyland (and more) cars you get an impression how many completely different designs were made for one and the model.