Solved - MJW #309 - Jaguar Mk VIII with a 1935 Arnold body. Built by Arthur Billard 1965-1972.

[woodinsight]

This one looks somewhat familiar don't you think?
That's true but it's not quite what it might seem from first glance.
I require the base car, coachwork, which car the body came from, when it was built and most importantly who built it?
It might be worth two points but let's see what the response is first.

[woodinsight]

I'm moving this one to the PAFW section

[woodinsight]

Perhaps this one may be better in the Pros' section - open to all.......

[Allan L]

Well that seems to be the body of an SS Jaguar of about 1936.
The wheels are much more modern so perhaps there's an XK120/140/150 rolling chassis underneath.
As to who would have built that, the only name that springs to mind as a special-builder of an old-looking XK Jaguar special is Rixon Bucknell, but I don't remember he had one like this.

[woodinsight]

Well you are correct is guessing that the chassis of this car is a Jaguar.
However it's not an XK model.
The body was built by a specialist coachbuilder and was fitted to another British quality car prior to fitting onto the Jaguar base.
The work is really an ongoing project by a retired British gentleman.

[Allan L]

Well I still think the body is from an SS but might also be off a post-war Jaguar as they carried though. Not many other bodies hinged the cut away rear door on its short side - most hinged them on to the "B" post.
Jaguar bodies were made in house, as the company developed from Swallow Coachwork. Therefore it could have been a Swallow body for something else.
The other body with a rear door like that was on the 2 litre Triumph Dolomite, but the door was not as wide.
As for the chassis, Jaguars did not have a real chassis after the XK's time so if it's not one of those, perhaps it was off a Mk VII or VIII.

[woodinsight]

Point one to you Allan. The base car is a Mk VIII Jaguar (it has a later 3.8 litre engine fitted)
As to the bodywork, let me post other views of the car over the weekend to give you an idea of the car from a different perspective.
I think, to be fair, I'll lock the puzzle until after I post the additional photos for you to identify the coachwork that is fitted to this car.

[woodinsight]

Two extra views -

[Allan L]

Well that front looks like a Bentley, so as there was a 1939 4¼ saloon body that looked rather similar, perhaps it was one of those.

The rear door seems too wide, but perhaps there was a long wheelbase version I haven't seen. Front of the front wings differs, but not an important matter, I'd say.
As Rolls Royce owned part of Park Ward from 1933 and all of it by 1939, probably one of their bodies.
I have no idea who might have built it.

[woodinsight]

It's true the body was fitted previously to a Bentley and the radiator has been retained and modified.
Apparently the front wings were also reduced in size.
However the body is not by Park Ward but by a British coachbuilder, not unknown but not particularly popular.

What I'm going to do now is to award Allen a point for his answers and open it up again to all to guess the coachbuilder for another point.
Perhaps someone out there knows who built it and the story behind this car.

[grobmotorix]

Is this a Mallalieu Saloon conversion?

[woodinsight]

Nothing to do with Mallalieu

[woodinsight]

Just to remind the everyone that a point is available for who built the coachwork on this car.

[João]

Harrington?

[woodinsight]

Harrington?

Not Harrington......

[Aaron65]

Thrupp and Maberly?

[João]

Carlton Carriage?

[woodinsight]

Not Thrupp & Maberly or Carlton Carriage

[Aaron65]

Abbott?

[woodinsight]

Closer but not Abbott.....

[Wendax]

H.J.Mulliner?

[woodinsight]

H.J.Mulliner?

Not that either

[Aaron65]

Barker?

[woodinsight]

Not Barker but you're still in the right area of the alphabet - doesn't begin with B though

[Wendax]

Arnold of Manchester?