Light problem 6 - Opel Ascona, Vauxhall cavalier and a myriad others!

[gilescooperuk]

Here is another light puzzle.

This is used on at least two cars - points will be awarded for each match found. If anyone finds another example I am not aware of then you will need to PM me some proof (or post a picture in the puzzle).

Rookies get one week before I push it up to the experts.

[gilescooperuk]

Must be harder than I thought - off to the experts then....

[Oswald]

GM, right?
I believe Vauxhall Cavalier.

[tonyola]

1984-ish Opel Ascona

[gilescooperuk]

Both of you are right with one car - the ascona was sold in europe and the cavalier was sold in the UK but they are the same vehicle.

I'll be generous and give you both a point...

But this was used on another car as well - it wasn't a GM product though.

[Oswald]

Yes. The Alto Duo.

[StudebakerHawk]

Midas Gold.


The Midas Mark 1 coupe made its debut at the 1978 Performance car show. The Mark 1 was based on Mini running gear and featured the all composite monocoque that is the Midas signature. The styling was by Richard Oakes, who has become one of the leading kit car designers and has styled all the Midas coupes since.


Every Midas features the all-composite monocoque, which is still unrivalled for its strength and longevity. In 1985 the Midas Gold became the first all-composite car to pass the ECE12 30mph crash test and other essential safety features, such as the seatbelt mountings have also passed the relevant tests.

The quality of the design and construction of the Midas means that the bodies are less prone to crazing than other GRP cars. Many early cars are still on the road, but as Midas owners tend to use their cars frequently it is not unusual to find that the cars are on their second or even third set of running gear.

Indeed such was Gordon Murray's enthusiasm for the car that he suggested some aerodynamic improvements. These were incorporated into the Mark 2 coupe of 1981 and the Mark 3 Gold coupe of 1985.

In 1989 the Gold convertible was launched to much critical acclaim, but a disastrous factory fire led to the end of the original Midas company.

After a false start with Pastiche Cars Ltd in 1990, GTM bought up the rights to the Midas range and re-launched the Gold convertible. In 1995 GTM commissioned Richard Oakes to design the Mark 4 2+2 coupe, now known as the Cortez. The Excelsior 2+2 convertible was added to the range in 2002.

Alternative Cars Ltd took over the reins in January 2004 and have focused on producing the Gold convertible and 2+2 models in kit form.

[DeAutogids.nl]

Yes. The Alto Duo.

Just to provide a picture:

[gilescooperuk]

OK thats two more (I had forgotten about the Midas and hadn't ever seen the Alto) but still not the car I was looking for.....

More points remain to be awarded then.

[Carnut]

Upside-down on a TVR Griffith?  Or was that from the later Cavalier?

[gilescooperuk]

No that was the final version of the escort estate i think.

[gilescooperuk]

Time to go professional (I didn't think it was that hard)=

[guido66]

Carcraft Cyclone

[guido66]

Peter Lee's modified Eagle SS

I'll understand if you don't accept this, since it's a one-off conversion

[gilescooperuk]

And obviously not...

Were you waiting for this one then?

[guido66]

  Yes, I had a list ready and just happened to be online at the right moment.

I also give you the Hammond & Thiede Ascona cabrio, which (at least in the Netherlands) was officially registered as such, and not as an Opel. 

[Djetset]

As well as the CC Cyclone, Midas Gold, and Alto Duo, I can also add three more cars that used these Opel/Vauxhall tail lamps, as follows;

RV Nemesis  (can't find a rear-end photo at the moment.  Will post proof soon, but meantime here's a front 3/4 view)
Birchall McCoy (same as above!)
Pohlmann EL (below)

[guido66]

  I'd completely forgotten about the Pohlmann, even it was in a puzzle of mine very shortly 

[gilescooperuk]

ok, I'll accept the nemesis, and the Pohlmann.

But I need proof of the Birchall McCoy as I can only find pictures of the front...

The H&T ascona is a bit strange as in the uk it was sold as the Vauxhall Cavalier convertible and I've already given points for both the cavalier and the ascona.

I won't award any points to you two until this is tidied up.

[guido66]

Here's a screenshot from the Dutch RDW site:

[Djetset]

If the Hammond and Thiede Ascona Cabrio counts, then so should the Panther Cars Cavalier Convertible prototype. 

[DeAutogids.nl]

And if so: Voll (Fahrzeugentechnik) as well.

[DeAutogids.nl]

And there is Keinath as well. It was sold as Keinath C3.

[DeAutogids.nl]

ok, I'll accept the nemesis, and the Pohlmann.

But I need proof of the Birchall McCoy as I can only find pictures of the front...

The H&T ascona is a bit strange as in the uk it was sold as the Vauxhall Cavalier convertible and I've already given points for both the cavalier and the ascona.

I won't award any points to you two until this is tidied up.

Actually, you are a bit right here:

Das viersitzige Cabrio mit vollwertigem Kofferraum wurde unter der Handelsbezeichnung "Hammond & Thiede" zunächst durch den Münchner Opel-Händler Häusler, später über das Opel-Vertriebsnetz verkauft. In England wurde es unter der Bezeichnung Vauxhall Cavalier Convertible vertrieben.

Which means so much as: "The four seater convertible with a proper boot was sold under the brand "Hammond & Thiede", first by the Munich Opel-dealer "Häusler", later by the complete Opel dealer network. In the UK it was sold as Vauxhall Cavalier Convertible."

[DeAutogids.nl]

Here's a screenshot from the Dutch RDW site:

Just to proof it's not a once off:
http://www.ascona-cabrio.nl/upload/Dutch%20ascona%20Convertible%20license%20plates%202010.pdf