Solved - NEH 86: Rometsch - bodied Porsche Racing Car (road version)

[Carnut]

Any ideas what this is for 1 point?

[Carnut]

Up to the Experts then..

[João]

It´s a Volkswagen (Porsche?) with special body by Rometsch

[Carnut]

It´s a Volkswagen (Porsche?) with special body by Rometsch

Rometsch bodywork it is, and I have it down as a Porsche engine so it's another point for you!

[fnqvmuch]

sorry can't remember where this was found ...

[barrett]

Ok, the mechanical base of this should be easy, and I don't know who built the body. A point if you can name the donor car, another if you can tell me who owned when the photograph was taken, and another for the designer/builder. So three possible points at stake here!

[Carnut]

We've had this one before!
It was one of my puzzles about 9 or 10 months ago.
Will see if I can find it.

Edit:
Here it is:

http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=8d2558d789de95e448028234d2ea5a2a&topic=10067.0

[Ray B.]

So the second point offered by barrett is still at stake.
They can't be merged before.

[Otto Puzzell]

Repost another's puzzle, and ask for more information.

Wow - a whole new puzzle category! 

[barrett]

Sorry, as I didn't know the coachbuilder this was tricky to search for. If I can find the website where I got the photo again, i'm sure they will be very interested to know who built the body.

If someone can merge this, i'll bump up the 'solved' topic and offer my other point to all.

[barrett]

This can so straight to the pros.... A hint - the owner was a racing driver, but not a famous one

[Paul Jaray]

Mr Schroder ?

[João]

"The unique Rometsch Porsche was built for a little group called "Renngemeinschaft Berlin" in 1952-53, possibly 1954. This was a sort of race team, but with common ownership and shared driving. The car was raced extensively in 54 and 55 and has been found on participant lists at Nurburgring and other known tracks.

Here are some period pictures of both action and victory from a race in the city of Leipzig in 1954. The driver was/is Mr Schroder and it raced in the 1100ccm class.."

[Paul Jaray]

Mr Cappenberg is the man behind the design of the Rometsch Porsche Spyder.

[João]

"After 2 or 3 seasons in the race stable of the Renngemeinschaft Berlin, the Rometsch Porsche Spyder changed hands and was entered in a few races by a used car dealer named Harry Merkel. In 57/58 Mr Merkel replaced the then 1500 ccm Porsche race engine, fitted a standard 1100 unit and converted the Spyder to a ... street Speedster. Full windshield, two seats and lights made it a street car. After a few years it was sold and disappeared until it showed up in Munchen earlier this year.

Here is a picture from 1958 showing Ingerid Merkel at the wheel of the street version of the Rometsch Porsche Spyder. Girlfriend, daughter or wife...

Again - this was a VW-pan, rear engine car. With running gear and engine from Porsche. Body by Rometsch Karrosserie"

[barrett]

Wow, an excellent full answer! Harry Merkel was the name I was looking for here. You more than earned the point!

Can this topic now be merged please?

[Otto Puzzell]

Merged

[Wendax]

I have seen the car today. It was restored quite recently and is on display at the Prototyp museum in Hamburg. The body number given by Rometsch is RS-01.

[grobmotorix]

Was it this one I wanted to post long time ago?

[Wendax]

Looks like a different car to me.

[grobmotorix]

The problems begin...

[Wendax]

What it looked like today in the museum:

[Wendax]

Two more period pictures: