Fellow AutoPuzzlers, as today is the first anniversary since I discovered AutoPuzzles, I am celebrating with what I believe to be one of my most difficult puzzles yet.
So, for a point, can you please give me the make and full name of this car, and sorry for the poor quality photograph.
Up to the Experts...
Can the Pros solved this mystery?
Looks like the offspring of a golf cart and a Panther 6
Sure does, but it's neither of those, although there is an obscure link with the Panther!! ???
Does it have four wheels or only two rollers? ;D
See what you mean, but it does have four wheels.
Autobianchi A 112 Giovani (Pininfarina), 1973
No, not that, but thanks for bring this puzzle back to life before it slides into the Black Hole.
Is it made by a design house or a private person?
Neither, as it was designed in-house by a vehicle producer.
Okay let's start to crack that! ;) From the UK?
Yes! ;D
Okay....thanks! ;D
Mini-based?
Quote from: Djetset on April 28, 2010, 12:25:11 PM
Neither, as it was designed in-house by a vehicle producer.
So, I guess by vehicle you mean something a bit different from cars?
No, not Mini-based, but it is from a manufacturer that builds cars and vans, etc.
Do you mean a company which created kits or fully-built turnkey vehicles?
Morris?
one-off? Never intended for production?
Three questions at once so three answers;
The company creates turn-key cars; it is not a Morris, and it is a one-off prototype design study for a potential production car that never happened.
Hope this all helps to narrow the correct solution down.
Jaguar?
Vauxhall made some experimental designs in earlier times.
Not Jaguar, but Allemano is really on to something with Vauxhall, so locked to you for 24 hours for a model/project name.
The Equus for instance was based on a Panther Lima chassis...
Was is built under Wayne Cherry's lead?
Yes it was built under Wayne Cherry's lead, and has a very lose connection with the Panther Lima chassis, in that it used a Vauxhall Viva as a base. Gosh, I'm too good to you!
So, any ideas on what it was called, or anything else about it? I will award the point for either a model name, and/or what it was intended for.
Quote from: Djetset on April 29, 2010, 11:42:35 AM
Yes it was built under Wayne Cherry's lead, and has a very lose connection with the Panther Lima chassis, in that it used a Vauxhall Viva as a base. Gosh, I'm too good to you!
So, any ideas on what it was called, or anything else about it? I will award the point for either a model name, and/or what it was intended for.
I'm afraid I won't find anything in the next few hours... :-\
As this is such a difficult one, I will give you 48 hours for an answer.
Don't bet on me as I only have the internet as my source.
But old yellowed Vauxhall books are on top of my wishlist. ;)
I tell you what, as you got both the Vauxhall and Wayne Cherry connection, I shall be generous and award you a point anyway, as I am 99% certain that you will not find this on any website nor indeed in any Vauxhall book.
So, now open to all comers. It's a Vauxhall, but what's its name, and/or what was it designed to be?
Thanks! :)
To me it doesn't look like a production car at all.
Is it maybe another weird present for the Shah of Persia or for one of his relatives?
Must think about the Panther Lazer..
No, nothing as exotic as a gift for a Shah, King, Queen, President, etc.
A touring car to visit the Factory?
Nice idea, but not that.
Was it planned to be a 'real' production car? ???
If not was it designed for any special purpose?
Yes, it was planned as a 'real' production car, and it was also designed for a specific purpose!
It looks like it was meant to go in a straight line only, so was it meant as a dragster?
The Nash-Rambler style lack of wheel arches is a bit odd, but it was designed to turn around corners as well as drive along straight roads, so it's not a dragster.
beachcar?
Hmmm, not quite, but sort of getting closer. ;)
Golf cart?
No, not that.
amphibious?
No.
Popemobile? :D
Only for small Popes, but no :P
Aaah now I see why I've found it that strange proportioned... A toy car? Maybe electrically driven?
No, full size and Vauxhall Viva-powered.
:idea:
:bag:
parade car?
Movie\TV series car?
Not a parade car, nor designed for TV or film.
Testing something?
Like materials, technics of construction, style elements....?
No.
Was it intended like a transport vehicle for a defined cathegory of people?
Yes and no! It was designed for some specific markets.
Like Caribbean or resorts in general?
You're getting closer to a solution ;)
"specific markets", "designed for a specific purpose" "close to a beach car".... like Taxies in Capri? Too small...
Like a tender for big boats?
Sorry PJ, but I've just noticed that I didn't answer your questions back in April. So, it was not designed as a tender for big boats, but it was designed for specific markets.
It looks like it has rollers rather than wheels so was it for rolling tennis courts?
A fun idea, but no, not that, as it does have four regular wheels.
A Zoo-Safari car?
Or is it close to the sea?
Not a zoo or safari car as I fear the occupants would be eaten by the animals as it has no doors, roof, etc!
However, it was intended for use in locations where the sea is usually to be found.
For sand-dune excursions?
A boulevard train-tractor?
Not a train tractor, but it could have been used for beach excursions, although probably not sand dunes due its low ground clearance. This wasn't its sole purpose though.
A rent-a-car proposal for holiday excursions, esp. for sea resorts?
Does it pull parasails or hang gliders?
It would have made a popular rent-a-car, although I don't think pulling parasails, etc., would have been factored into to its development.
So, we know it's a Vauxhall, but to bring us back en piste. Does anyone want to have a stab at the model name, which is the information I was originally looking for?
I've found similar vehicle in a Vauxhall book called Traka Concept car 1984
Oh please, let this be the right answer!
Sadly this is not Vauxhall's Traka concept car of 1984, as this one is a few years years older.
This one really kills me...
The truth is out there somewhere... ???
As this one is taking a while to resolve, I will add another clue and confirm that it is from 1977. Not sure if this will help, but...
For holiday use?
Not specifically for holiday use, although this would have almost certainly have been used for leisure activities.
For towing sightseeing trailers along seafront promenades?
I think we had a similar sugestion to that before, but no, it's not that!
Two anniversaries today; the first birthday of this puzzle, and the second since I discovered AutoPuzzles, so as a special treat, here is a rear view of a model of this mystery Vauxhall.
Remember, I am looking for the model name for you a gain a point, not what it's function was planned to be (although this might help you find its name!).
For observers to watch runners or bicycle racers who follow?
Nice idea, but not it's role in life.
:scratch:
Built for a specific event, or for a purpose that spanned a longer period of time?
Not built for a specific event, and planned as a regular production model, if this helps answer the question ???
Olimpics?
Not for a specific event, such as the Olympics!
The intended customers must have been young (or at least very limber) and not averse to getting sprayed with dirt and water through those holes in the side. Could be a dune buggy, but the enclosed front wheels seem to be at odds with that type of use.
Not a dune buggy, but it was intended as a distinct vehicle type. Not only for young either!
I don't know if we had it before, but was the purpose simply sight-seeing?
I think we did have site-seeing before, but it was not specifically for that.
To stress though, it was a specific vehicle type, just as a Land Rover is a 4x4 SUV, a Lotus Elise is a sportscar, Mayers Manx a dune buggy, etc. is, so it might be worth exploring what sort of vehicle segment this was intended for.
As I reminder though, all I am really looking for is the model name for this Vauxhall!
amphibious?
No.
Is it under Vauxhall brand?
Yes, it would have been sold under the Vauxhall brand, but also under the GM brand is certain markets.
for a driving school?
For a movie or TV?
None of the above.
I read again all the clues,
(built by Vauxhall under Wayne Cherry's lead
one-off prototype design study for a potential production car, Viva-based.
Not electric, amphibious and not a Golf Cart, a dragster, a zoo safari car, a train tractor, a glider puller, a rental car for sea-resorts, a tender, a gift for personalities, a parade car, a test car, a movie-tv serie car, a touring car for visiting the factory, a popemobile,
Not a beachcar (but close) and designed for specific markets)
The only time when we seem to be close was when there was the sea involved. That plus the 'specific market' hint.
If I have to connect this with the 'vehicle segment' clue... I'm lost!
Could it be a car for people without a licence because they are lost in an island?
Good thinking Paul.
Make me think of another idea: maybe to pull boats out of the water? The interior seems to be water-resistant (?).
Maybe these are not openings, but windows in the doors?
Some wild guess to tow or pull some kind of wing, parachute or any similar stuff
Maybe it´s an exclusive little design piece, built for a snobbish billionaire for his yacht to discover all the places where it enters a harbour?
Thank you for your excellent 'state of play to date' summary PJ, and thank you all gentlemen for your other exotic suggestions. Sadly it is none of those though.
As PJ has correctly highlighted, so far the closest answers have been that this was designed for specific markets, usually based by the sea.
I fear this puzzle may still be here for another 12 months, so to help get it solved, a clue to consider is markets where Vauxhall Viva-based vehicles have been built and sold (and I don't mean the UK!).
The reward for the correct name of this Vauxhall is now increasing to 2 points as an added incentive! :D
New Zealand?
No, New Zealand was not one of the markets this car was designed for.
Australia?
Not there either!
Canada?
Getting colder.
Europe?
South Africa?
Neither Europe, nor South Africa.
Caribbean?
Israel?
No to Israel, but yes to the Caribbean!
Jamaica?
The Caribbean as a region is close enough, as it was intended for many markets there, including Jamaica.
Now, to get this one solved before Christmas, remember we are trying to find the name of this Vauxhall, so as a big clue, what is popular in the Caribbean ???
Rum, Music and beaches!!
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g106/pan1968/Gifs/76aa69b2.gif)
Reggae and Grass?
:lmao: Good response! Oguerrerob, you are on to something here, so which one of the three 'past times' are you going to choose?#
Ah, I see you've just posted another answer, but it's not Reggae and not Grass!
Must be Beaches
No, not Beaches!
Is it to drive drunken tourist at home, resp. back to their hotel resorts? :drink:
Rum?
Not Rum, and hopefully not driven by drunks!
Music is left!
So it must be music... a kind of driving beat box?
The model name is connected to music, but not to beat-boxing, which came much later than this car.
I finally feel we are getting close to the correct answer, so the race is now on. Good luck all!
Steel band
Ska?
Not that (Vauxhall Steel Band would be an odd name for a car), but keep on trying...
Or Salsa
Calypso?
OK, stop the race! Allemano has got it, at long last! Sorry Oguerrerob, and well done Allemano. Christmas has come early, so two points to you ;D :applause: :applause:
This is the Vauxhall Calypso, a second-generation BTV for the Philippines and Caribbeen markets. It was planned to replace the previous GM BTVs from the early 1970s which used Vauxhall Viva running gear.
I will post some more photos of the car shortly, but for the moment here is one revealing the name on the side of the body.
Thank you! Calypso seemed sound to me, but anyway: it was sheer luck!
Please excuse my ignorance, but what does BTV stand for? Beach Taxi Vehicle perhaps?
Basic Transportation Vehicle
HALLELUJA!
This is the most stylish attemt for a BTV I´ve ever seen.
I wonder if it would have had a chance really.