AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!

Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2012 => Topic started by: Carnut on November 30, 2009, 09:26:30 AM

Title: Solved - NEH 114: Talmadge Judd's home-built Humming Bird Special 1945
Post by: Carnut on November 30, 2009, 09:26:30 AM
Tell me what this is and who built it for 1 point:
Title: Re: NEH 114
Post by: Carnut on December 07, 2009, 08:25:01 AM
Movin' on up..
Title: Re: NEH 114
Post by: Carnut on December 15, 2009, 12:06:30 PM
And again..
Title: Re: NEH 114
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 15, 2009, 12:08:38 PM
Is this Crosley-based?
Title: Re: NEH 114
Post by: Arunas on December 15, 2009, 12:14:19 PM
1946 Hummingbird. Built by Talmadge Judd, Kingsport, Tennesee. Austin Seven-based.
Title: Re: NEH 114
Post by: Carnut on December 15, 2009, 02:25:53 PM
Quote from: Arunas on December 15, 2009, 12:14:19 PM
1946 Hummingbird. Built by Talmadge Judd, Kingsport, Tennesee. Austin Seven-based.

Yes again!
Title: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 03, 2012, 08:41:58 AM
For one point: Who built this little car, and when?

Only a complete and specific answer will earn a point!  

If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply.  You can do so by clicking here (http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?action=register)

If you have not done so, please familiarize yourself with the AutoPuzzles Rules (http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=6857.msg44401#msg44401) before attempting to solve this puzzle.
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 09, 2012, 04:01:56 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Zerk on November 09, 2012, 11:57:34 AM
It's a neat little thing. Proportions are pretty good. Is it based on a 1930s Ford/Mercury chassis?
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 09, 2012, 12:27:26 PM
I'm sorry to say, I don't know. I know only the builder, and the year.

Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: RayTheRat on November 09, 2012, 12:31:32 PM
USA?
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 09, 2012, 12:34:28 PM
Yes, from the old USA.
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: RayTheRat on November 09, 2012, 01:12:44 PM
American Bantam?
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 09, 2012, 02:21:59 PM
I'm sorry to say, I don't know. I know only the builder, and the year.
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Bill Murray on November 09, 2012, 05:45:16 PM
OK, I am totally lost on this one at this point, but........

To give some pointers to others that are perhaps smarter than myself......

In the background seem to be a 1939/40 Chevrolet and what I think is a
similar year Ford.

I think a major ID point is that it seems the car has some sort of retractible
top.

As Ray suggested, it seems to have some American Bantam roots but Google did not help there.
Nor did a search on retractible hardtop/roof/top.

Perhaps someone with good knowledge of different roof systems can go from here, I am lost.
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Zerk on November 09, 2012, 06:01:58 PM
That's very interesting, Bill! :o
I had just about made up my mind that this car had Pontiac DNA, like a sort of 1938 Fiero. After having no luck searching there, maybe I'll try your suggestions.

EDIT: I tried to thumbnail-guess the size of this car, and it seemed to be in Crosley territory. If anyone else has a guess in this regard I'd love to hear it.
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: RayTheRat on November 09, 2012, 10:45:07 PM
I noticed what appears to be a retractable hardtop, too, but didn't follow it too far.  It looks too small to be a Pontiac, but anything's possible.

RtR
Title: Re: Mystery Roadster #362
Post by: Otto Puzzell on November 10, 2012, 03:50:39 AM
After digging up more information, I've discovered it's a re-post.  :(

This car was used by George Judd (brother? Father? Son?) to promote Judd's Lock Shop in Kingsport, TN, through at least 1955. The location of the lock shop is now occupied by Lender's Title & Escrow‎ and Title Ventures.com. According to the article, it's called Humming Bird, not Hummingbird. Merged, and title fixed.

I see no mention of a direct Austin 7 connection; American Austin engines produced 17 HP, vs. 20 quoted in the article. The later American Bantam '3 main' engine (an evolution of the American Austin) was said to produce 22 HP, so perhaps the RayTheRat is on to something.

Here is an article about the car, and some additional photos:

Title: Re: Solved - NEH 114: Talmadge Judd's home-built Humming Bird Special 1945
Post by: Zerk on November 10, 2012, 10:02:25 AM
It's a sweet car, and IMHO the new picture makes it worthy of a repost.

Hey, maybe sometimes a repost can be not so much an error as serendipitous.