AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2011 => Topic started by: barrett on October 28, 2011, 02:56:47 PM

Title: Barrett's #229 - Solved - Salvatori - Manoukian Bugatti special, 1954
Post by: barrett on October 28, 2011, 02:56:47 PM
An unfinished car.... who built it and when, and what engine did it use for a point. I'll give a bonus point to anyone who can provide a picture of it with finished bodywork!
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: Julien1A on October 28, 2011, 03:35:22 PM
John dodd's beast with rolls royce merlin engine?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on October 28, 2011, 08:32:03 PM
Not that, this car pre-dates that by several decades!
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 03, 2011, 09:23:57 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 06, 2011, 11:58:48 AM
Not much action here, moving up a level
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: faksta on November 06, 2011, 01:19:26 PM
European, late 40s - early 50s?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 06, 2011, 01:27:29 PM
European, late 40s - early 50s?

Indeed, I think it dates from around 1954
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: woodinsight on November 06, 2011, 01:39:12 PM
British?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 06, 2011, 02:39:28 PM
The car was being constructed in the UK, but the drivetrain is from a foreign car
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: woodinsight on November 06, 2011, 03:07:16 PM
Is it a known make or a one-off?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 07, 2011, 03:54:28 AM
A privately constructed one-off
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: woodinsight on November 07, 2011, 05:12:01 AM
It reminded me of the one-off Kieft-Oldsmobile but I guess that's not it.
Is it an American engine/drivetrain?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 07, 2011, 06:42:10 AM
Not that, and the drivetrain is European
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: faksta on November 07, 2011, 11:57:15 AM
Any Bugatti parts?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 07, 2011, 12:45:20 PM
Any Bugatti parts?

Yes! The motor is ex-Bugatti, Locked for your next reply to see if you can find out who put it together
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: faksta on November 07, 2011, 01:51:26 PM
Is it a T57 straight-8 then?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 07, 2011, 05:00:21 PM
I'm not entirely sure. The article just describes it as a 'Bugatti 5 litre' but isn't specific about it's provenance. Here's a front view which may be helpful;
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: bentleybob on November 07, 2011, 05:39:59 PM
Is this still locked?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: faksta on November 08, 2011, 09:34:21 AM
Maybe a Frazer-Nash - Bugatti by some Mr.Pittaway?

If not, it's your turn, bentleybob.
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 08, 2011, 04:08:57 PM
Maybe a Frazer-Nash - Bugatti by some Mr.Pittaway?

If not, it's your turn, bentleybob.

It's not that one.

Please go ahead bentleybob
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: bentleybob on November 09, 2011, 10:20:37 AM
Bugatti 50 base, adapted to hold the early 1950's Saoutchik coupé body?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: faksta on November 09, 2011, 10:45:41 AM
The usual question from my side: was it (intended to be) raced?
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 09, 2011, 07:30:55 PM
Bugatti 50 base, adapted to hold the early 1950's Saoutchik coupé body?

No, this car has the Bugatti engine, and parts from many other cars. I believe the chassis was built specifically for this project.

HOWEVER! There is a very strong link with the Saoutchik bodied T50....! I'm locking this for you to see if you can find that link...

I'll also answer faksta's question; I don't believe this was built with any sort of competition in mind, but as an 'ultimate road car'
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: bentleybob on November 10, 2011, 04:23:16 PM
Motor dated July 7 1954 explaining what happened to the spare engine owned by mr. George Salvatori and Mr John Manoukian, who imported the Saoutchik bodied Bugatti Type 50 for Harry Hyams, with a home made tubular chassis (like a D-type Jaguar), Hobbs semi-automatic transmission, disc brakes to the front, Gregoire-inspired independent suspension, De Dion rear axle, HWM differential and Riley steering. Buiding these is usually more fun than getting all the faults out – an endless process, and I do not know if ever a body was fitted.
Title: Re: Barrett's #229
Post by: barrett on November 10, 2011, 04:38:41 PM
That's the one, well done. Not easy, I think.

The article states that Mr. Salvatori was actually responsible for the styling of the Saoutchik Type 50 which was built to his design...
Title: Re: Barrett's #229 - Solved - Salvatori - Manoukian Bugatti special, 1954
Post by: bentleybob on November 10, 2011, 04:43:02 PM
Probably the reason it looks more like a Talbot-Lago Grand Sport and a Facel Metallon Bentley Mark VI than the usual Saoutchik creations which were rather more flamboyant.
Title: Re: Barrett's #229 - Solved - Salvatori - Manoukian Bugatti special, 1954
Post by: barrett on November 10, 2011, 05:58:06 PM
Right, I'm not a huge fan of Saoutchik's work to be honest, even the stuff by Charbonneaux (one of my favourite stylists) but the Type 50 is one of the most beautiful cars of all time.
Title: Re: Barrett's #229 - Solved - Salvatori - Manoukian Bugatti special, 1954
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 11, 2011, 05:32:13 AM
This one?

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=14767.msg132262#msg132262