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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2010 => Topic started by: Otto Puzzell on November 29, 2008, 07:46:49 AM

Title: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 29, 2008, 07:46:49 AM
Professional AutoPuzzlers, this puzzle is for you and you alone! No rookie or expert level puzzlers may guess on this one.

While what this car one was is relatively easy to determine, to win the 2 points for this puzzle, you must give the background story on why it was modified to look like this.

With the vast knowledge of our pros, I don't think this will last long. Happy puzzling!



Title: Re: For Pro's Only! First Puzzle
Post by: pieter on December 02, 2008, 04:18:58 AM
That's discrimination! (Not that I have the answer, but I can ID the car it was based on.)
Title: Re: For Pro's Only! First Puzzle
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 02, 2008, 04:29:10 AM
The puzzle doesn't ask for the car it's based on.  :)
Title: Re: For Pro's Only! First Puzzle
Post by: Ultra on December 02, 2008, 04:40:34 AM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on November 29, 2008, 07:46:49 AM
Professional AutoPuzzlers, this puzzle is for you and you alone! No rookie or expert level puzzlers may guess on this one.



I understand launching some puzzles for the Pros only right off the bat.  I am uncomfortable with them not being open to all AutoPuzzlers if they are in the Pro section.  Hence, I created a special sub-board for Pros and Feature Writers only, where Rookies and Experts cannot see it.  I put this thread in that sub-board and I encourage all of you Pros who are going to put up puzzles restricted to Pros only to put them in this section.

Thanks guys.

Ultra 
Title: Re: For Pro's Only! First Puzzle
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 02, 2008, 05:54:15 AM
10-4
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 06, 2008, 07:15:57 AM
Moved
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: pieter on December 08, 2008, 08:13:20 AM
Okay - it's obviously based on a Corvair, but a Google with just that did not deliver. Even when I added 'turbine' in the search (my guess for the need to have such a high engine cover), it did not give anything other than the hairs on my neck standing on end.
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: neilshouse on December 08, 2008, 11:53:27 AM
Could this be the Calvair Corsair experimental vehicle with a Stirling engine?

I can't find any pictures of it but I thought it was worth a guess.
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 08, 2008, 01:46:22 PM
Not a Stirling-cycle engine or turbine in there...
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: pieter on December 09, 2008, 04:28:32 AM
steam engine?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 09, 2008, 04:58:41 AM
No...
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Ultra on December 09, 2008, 05:43:29 AM
However this puzzle does the reveal the existence of a special "Pros Only" board that the experts cannot see.  Experts, become a Feature Writer or Pro right away to access new levels of AutoPuzzles.

O0

Pros, how about some really rare 2 point puzzles for the Pros Only section?

:applause:
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: pieter on December 10, 2008, 01:46:03 AM
Okay, last guess - a helicopter engine?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Allan L on December 10, 2008, 02:52:26 AM
Quote from: Ultra on December 09, 2008, 05:43:29 AM
However this puzzle does the reveal the existence of a special "Pros Only" board that the experts cannot see. 

Eh?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 10, 2008, 03:05:43 AM
Quote from: pieter on December 10, 2008, 01:46:03 AM
Okay, last guess - a helicopter engine?

Nope...
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: grobmotorix on December 10, 2008, 12:48:19 PM
I do not have any picture, but is it the 1967 Eshelman Golden Eagle Safety Car?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 10, 2008, 12:54:50 PM
No sir.
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: neilshouse on December 10, 2008, 01:36:15 PM
Does it have an unusual engine, or rather an engine more unusual than a flat 6?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 10, 2008, 02:27:35 PM
Less unusual, actually.
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Allemano on December 10, 2008, 02:44:41 PM
Kind of early hybrid?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 10, 2008, 03:31:49 PM
As in a mixed gasoline engine / electric motor drivetrain? No.
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: ImpishGrin on December 10, 2008, 03:39:10 PM
Maybe the flat-6 was simply replaced with a big block V8, thus the enlarged engine area and more cooling?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 10, 2008, 05:07:52 PM
Quote from: ImpishGrin on December 10, 2008, 03:39:10 PM
Maybe the flat-6 was simply replaced with a big block V8, thus the enlarged engine area and more cooling?

A-ha!
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on January 09, 2009, 06:08:37 AM
(http://www.autopuzzles.com/smi8.gif)
Title: Re: For Pro's Only! First Puzzle
Post by: D-type on January 09, 2009, 06:15:54 PM
Quote from: Ultra on December 02, 2008, 04:40:34 AM
Quote from: Otto Puzzell on November 29, 2008, 07:46:49 AM
Professional AutoPuzzlers, this puzzle is for you and you alone! No rookie or expert level puzzlers may guess on this one.



I understand launching some puzzles for the Pros only right off the bat.  I am uncomfortable with them not being open to all AutoPuzzlers if they are in the Pro section.  Hence, I created a special sub-board for Pros and Feature Writers only, where Rookies and Experts cannot see it.  I put this thread in that sub-board and I encourage all of you Pros who are going to put up puzzles restricted to Pros only to put them in this section.

Thanks guys.

Ultra 
Can I ask why you feel the need for such a sub-board?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on January 10, 2009, 02:24:47 AM
With the increasing membership, rookie and expert puzzles are being promoted to Pro status with less frequency, which has the unfortunate effect of making the site less enjoyable for those pros that built it up.

Having a Pros and Feature Writers section lets them participate in puzzles other than the mind benders the 100+ non-pros haven't solved.
Title: Re: For Pro's Only! First Puzzle
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 06, 2009, 05:09:47 AM
Quote from: D-type on January 09, 2009, 06:15:54 PM
Can I ask why you feel the need for such a sub-board?

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=6746.0
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Allemano on February 25, 2009, 10:54:49 AM
A Crown Manufacturing Co. Inc. conversion?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Allemano on February 27, 2009, 06:36:42 AM
lookielookie!
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 27, 2009, 12:32:33 PM
As far as I know, this was done in-house at GM.
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on April 17, 2009, 05:42:55 AM
 :lurk:
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on July 10, 2009, 06:50:47 AM
This picture was taken at the GM Heritage Collection. I don't know if it was sold during the recent sell-off by GM of many of these cars.
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on September 11, 2009, 05:10:09 AM
Off to the black hole with you, little Corvair!
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 08, 2010, 05:37:13 AM
Another look, should anyone have an interest.

(http://www.autopuzzles.com/FPO1a.jpg)
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: guido66 on February 08, 2010, 02:59:35 PM
I found this:
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Ultra on February 09, 2010, 01:52:25 PM
He may have found it!
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 09, 2010, 03:45:57 PM
Wow - I missed this reply. I believe the second car mentioned is our mystery car. I've never seen the descriptive text with a picture, or vice versa., but that's as close as we're likely to get.

We can put a fork in this one - it's done!
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: sixtee5cuda on July 08, 2014, 10:40:35 AM
Time to pull that fork out.

The puzzle car is in fact, the Calvair.  Special Interest Autos #168 from November/December 1998, has a full writeup by Michael Lamm.  The Hemmings blog posted a copy of the article in December of 2013.
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: sixtee5cuda on September 05, 2015, 11:39:59 AM
Another view of the non-V8-powered Calvair:
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: sixtee5cuda on February 13, 2016, 11:15:47 AM
Is there a book or web site, indicating this is a Corvair with an aluminum V8?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 14, 2016, 05:45:03 AM
Yes
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: sixtee5cuda on February 14, 2016, 12:45:39 PM
So, did they make two hump-backed Corvair prototypes with completely different drivetrains, or was one car both the V8 mule and the Calvair at different times?
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: Otto Puzzell on February 15, 2016, 04:11:36 AM
I don't know
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: sixtee5cuda on February 12, 2022, 11:56:59 AM
The attached image from Guido66 indicates:

... "small iron V8 mounted backwards in a body that was stock except for louvers in the rear fenders and a bulged-up fiberglass deck lid."

This is not the Calvair as shown in the original puzzle image.  Guido66's attached image says the second prototype V8 Corvair only had a grill and oversize tires to distinguish it from a normal Corvair.

Presenting, the first Corvair V8 prototype described in the attached image from Guido66:
Title: Re: Pro Puzzle - Open to All - Solved! Aluminum V8 Corvair Test Mule
Post by: sixtee5cuda on February 12, 2022, 11:58:50 AM
View of the engine: