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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2012 => Topic started by: Carnut on July 04, 2012, 11:10:15 AM

Title: Solved - NEH 1871: Home-built electric car on 1930s Vauxhall chassis
Post by: Carnut on July 04, 2012, 11:10:15 AM
I don't know if this car has a name or not, so for the point describe what it is and what is its base?

ANYONE FOUND GIVING ANSWERS GLEANED BY USING GOOGLE SEARCH BY IMAGE WILL BE BANNED FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD!
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: JonathanPoll on July 04, 2012, 06:00:05 PM
Don't know why, but it makes me think there is something to do with Mini in there... Is it Mini based?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 05, 2012, 05:36:27 AM
Quote from: JonathanPoll on July 04, 2012, 06:00:05 PM
Don't know why, but it makes me think there is something to do with Mini in there... Is it Mini based?

No Mini parts that I'm aware of!
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 11, 2012, 04:50:32 AM
Experts?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: gilescooperuk on July 11, 2012, 05:21:49 PM
looks like a pre-war car under that lot.

Seems to have huge brake drums which would make it 1920s / 30s
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 12, 2012, 04:23:51 AM
Quote from: gilescooperuk on July 11, 2012, 05:21:49 PM
looks like a pre-war car under that lot.

Seems to have huge brake drums which would make it 1920s / 30s

You're right - it's from the 1930's.
Don't actually know which year specifically.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: gilescooperuk on July 13, 2012, 12:09:06 PM
Well looking at the base I guess it is probably a british base car?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 13, 2012, 01:41:53 PM
Quote from: gilescooperuk on July 13, 2012, 12:09:06 PM
Well looking at the base I guess it is probably a british base car?

It is, yes.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: gilescooperuk on July 13, 2012, 01:54:37 PM
OK so we are looking at a base british car from the 30's. Judging by the size of the brakes it is most likely a sports car.

Let's start the guessing with - Jaguar?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: RayTheRat on July 13, 2012, 01:58:02 PM
Ok.  I'll play along.  Austin?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 13, 2012, 06:37:35 PM
Neither Jaguar nor Austin.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: gilescooperuk on July 14, 2012, 03:26:38 PM
rolls royce
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 14, 2012, 07:14:36 PM
Quote from: gilescooperuk on July 14, 2012, 03:26:38 PM
rolls royce

No R-R connection.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: geology on July 15, 2012, 03:34:48 AM
MG?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 15, 2012, 08:09:55 AM
Quote from: geology on July 15, 2012, 03:34:48 AM
MG?

No.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: gilescooperuk on July 18, 2012, 06:09:21 PM
Jaguar?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 18, 2012, 06:28:24 PM
Quote from: gilescooperuk on July 18, 2012, 06:09:21 PM
Jaguar?

No, not Jaguar either..
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: gilescooperuk on July 19, 2012, 06:24:14 PM
OK let me try a different style of question

is the donor car small (Austin 7), medium (bullnose morris) or large (Bentley)
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 20, 2012, 03:52:06 AM
Quote from: gilescooperuk on July 19, 2012, 06:24:14 PM
OK let me try a different style of question

is the donor car small (Austin 7), medium (bullnose morris) or large (Bentley)

More medium-sized, but I only know the make not the model..
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: gilescooperuk on July 20, 2012, 03:44:46 PM
Ok that narrow the choice of manufacturer down. Looks more mainstream.

Ford?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 20, 2012, 04:32:26 PM
Quote from: gilescooperuk on July 20, 2012, 03:44:46 PM
Ok that narrow the choice of manufacturer down. Looks more mainstream.

Ford?

No, not Ford.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: RayTheRat on July 20, 2012, 04:51:19 PM
Hillman?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 20, 2012, 06:31:35 PM
Quote from: RayTheRat on July 20, 2012, 04:51:19 PM
Hillman?


Nope..
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: RayTheRat on July 20, 2012, 06:56:47 PM
Lea-Francis?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 25, 2012, 04:39:15 AM
Quote from: RayTheRat on July 20, 2012, 06:56:47 PM
Lea-Francis?


Sorry Ray - this was another one that didn't show up as a 'New' reply on my computer so I didn't see it.
It's not a Lea-Francis anyway, no..!

It's time to move up to the Pro's now...
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: woodinsight on July 25, 2012, 07:17:34 AM
Morris?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 25, 2012, 07:29:47 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on July 25, 2012, 07:17:34 AM
Morris?

No, not Morris-based.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: woodinsight on July 25, 2012, 09:44:28 AM
Standard?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 25, 2012, 10:11:15 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on July 25, 2012, 09:44:28 AM
Standard?

Not Standard!
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Tom_I on July 25, 2012, 02:24:57 PM
Those brake drums look too big for a medium-sized car. Could it be based on a truck chassis?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: woodinsight on July 25, 2012, 02:54:12 PM
Moving through the well-known UK makes - next on my list is Vauxhall?
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 26, 2012, 04:24:32 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on July 25, 2012, 02:54:12 PM
Moving through the well-known UK makes - next on my list is Vauxhall?

Yes - Vauxhall chassis it is!
So now all that's needed for the point and a move to 'Solved' is a description of what the car actually is.
I'll lock it for woodinsight for 24 hours since you've got the correct chassis..
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: woodinsight on July 26, 2012, 08:41:18 AM
Well Vauxhall was a lucky guess but I have to say I really don't know any more about this strange-looking car.

If I just give you my observations on what I can see and a guess on dates - that might lead to the solution.
My immediate thought is that the car is based on a pre-WW II Vauxhall (or could it be a Bedford van/light commercial?).
I say that because the driving position seems quite high.
Secondly I would say the wheel diameters are smaller than what one would expect on a pre-war car.
Perhaps the car was built during or just after WW II as the bodywork seems fashioned from any metal available at the time.
My other thought is that I find it strange how the bonnet (hood) opens in that fashion and there appears to be a lot of wires visible but no sign of the top of the engine.
I would guess the car is powered by some type of alternative engine/fuel owing to the constraints of the day.

Those are merely observations and I could be way off beam.
Please open it up again if I'm wrong.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 26, 2012, 08:56:21 AM
You're on the right track.
We'd already established that it was a pre-war chassis plus the fact it was a Vauxhall.
So what about the engine?
It's not a conventional petrol engine as you say.
It's a post-war home-built car with no (known) name so there's just that bit of info to fill in - its motive power.
Still your puzzle.
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: woodinsight on July 26, 2012, 09:38:02 AM
The only other thing I can think of, owing to all those electric leads is that it's powered by some heavy duty batteries?
Performance must have been on the sluggish side though if that's the case......
Title: Re: NEH 1871
Post by: Carnut on July 26, 2012, 10:59:19 AM
Quote from: woodinsight on July 26, 2012, 09:38:02 AM
The only other thing I can think of, owing to all those electric leads is that it's powered by some heavy duty batteries?
Performance must have been on the sluggish side though if that's the case......

Indeed it is an electric car!
So let's call it solved, and here's the original picture:

Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1871: Home-built electric car on 1930s Vauxhall chassis
Post by: sixtee5cuda on May 01, 2015, 12:45:24 PM
More information on this car.  Nice to have something more than "1930s electric Vauxhall".  :)
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 1871: Home-built electric car on 1930s Vauxhall chassis
Post by: Allan L on May 01, 2015, 02:21:30 PM
That last photo looks a bit like an attempt at perpetual motion ;D