Solved - NEH 189: Rootes Group Swallow 2 prototype 1963/4

[Carnut]

1 point for identifying this one:

[Carnut]

Up it goes...

[guido66]

The C-pillar makes me think: Triumph?

[white12]

It is a Rootes' proyect named Swallow that never enter in production.

Why did the Swallow not make it into production? Rootes had already felt the financial effects of the new Linwood factory, and the profit margins of the Imp were already looking slim. Management insecurity over this led to the Swallow project being re-appraised. After all, the smaller, cheaper Arrow project (which ran concurrently with the Swallow since late 1962) managed to look favourable, and had potential as a bigger car, as well. In November 1963, management bit the bullet and issued the edict that the Swallow was cancelled. Given that Pressed Steel had already built one prototype body, the car was completed anyway, and it was ran in 1964. It was academic by then, and soon after, the Swallow was mothballed. A sad end to an interesting idea.  

[Carnut]

That's pretty well it, yes.
This is actually the 2nd Swallow prototype from 1963/4 (think it was also rear-engined, like the first prototype which has already featured as a puzzle on Auto Puzzles).

[sixtee5cuda]

This appears to be a non-running mockup.  It has no interior, and there is a line in the front-center of the car, making it look like the left and right sides of the car may have used different styling.  As is common with mockups.

[Carnut]

You're probably right.  Below are pictures of what I believe was the running prototype, which differs quite a bit in detail: