Solved - NEH 676: Alba No. 1 - 1952

[Carnut]

What is this car and when does it date from, for 1 point?

[DeAutogids]

 

[Carnut]

Experts?

[woodinsight]

Poll Special from the Netherlands?

[franck.kegelart]

Alba from Portugal ?

[Carnut]

Alba from Portugal ?

That is indeed what it is.
So which Alba model and when does it date from for that point?
Locked for your reply.

[franck.kegelart]

I just found "Alba 1953"...

[Carnut]

I just found "Alba 1953"...

Not quite the date I have...
But very close so have another go!

[Carnut]

You've 99% got this Frank!
Just finish off the other 1% will you then I can move it?

[Carnut]

Franck - you're just one digit away from a point!
Surely you will put this one to bed for me?  I can't open it up for such a trivial detail!

[Carnut]

Franck's lost interest in this one so I've given him a point for identifying it as an Alba but rather than move it to Solved (as the date is still not what I have anyway) I'm moving it to the Pro's and will give another point to the Puzzler who can say what distinguishes this Alba from any other Portuguese Alba (and there weren't many of them..) and when specifically it was built.

[Paul Jaray]

1952

[Carnut]

Yes!
And what distinguishes this particular Alba?
Locked for PJ!

[Paul Jaray]

Automatic translation:

In the 1950s, there were several national brands, who raced in various circuits. ALBA was one by António Augusto Martins Pereira, son of the owner of metallurgy Alba in Albergaria-a-Velha.

Portugal was, at that time, at the forefront of competitive automobile manufacturing (ALBA, FAP, DM, Olda, PE, MG Canelas), as reported in ' history of Motorsport English», by José Barros Rodrigues (ed. Talent).

Entirely designed and Built in Albergaria-a-Velha factory ALBA (Metalurgica) in the year 1952 by António Augusto Martins Pereira, with 1500 cc (motor also designed by him), 90 HP, 4-cylinder and 4 speeds and totaled 200 km/h, with fiberglass Italian style

ALBA was one of the most consistent national automotive maker and in its curriculum was the construction of a four-cylinder engine, a square – course and 78 mm diameter – with 1500 cc, twin overhead camshafts, two sparkplugs per cylinder, all-aluminum.

Three cars were built; two almost equal and another, shorter and lighter, but also very similar. The first, designed and built on a 508C chassis in 1952 with a Fiat engine 1089cc.

With Francisco Corte-real Pereira, the Alba won the Cup City of Porto, in 1953, but with António Augusto Martins Pereira – entrepreneur of the Indústria Metalúrgica Alba and first responsible for the appraisal of the brand and also pilot of regularity – Alba has other successes, in particular the victory Rally in port, in 1955, with the engine 1500 Alba.

Currently, are known two cars: OT-10-54 – 1500 (released in 2006 to Caramaulo Museum for restoration) and TN-10-82 – 1100 (red). The other was damaged.

[Carnut]

OK, so the puzzle car is the first Alba made (in 1952) - on a Fiat 508C chassis with 1089 cc engine.
That's was distinguishes it (although there were only 2 more made and believe the 2nd one was written off in an accident soon after being made and was never rebuilt, leaving just two - the first and the last!)

[Otto Puzzell]

Able was I, ere I saw Alba

[barrett]

I stumbled on another picture which might be worth sharing

[barrett]

Two more pictures, the first one shows the Alba chasing a Panhard in a GP race in Portugal in the early '50s. the second shows the car as it stands today